If I do not have any gear for my first drill weekend, do I just show up to my unit in civilian clothes or what?

SPC Bradford Bolden — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:32:50 -0400

This is my first drill weekend for the Army Reserves since leaving Active Duty in sep 16.

I have no gear, turned it all in when I left AD, so do I just show up To my unit in civs or what??

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 11:38 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:38:16 -0400

Contact your platoon sergeant or first sergeant. Whatever you do, don't show up in the wrong and when asked why say, "somebody online told me to".

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 11:40 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:40:09 -0400

If you have a uniform, show up in that. If you don't have any uniforms (which would be silly), contact your new Platoon Sergeant and ask for clarification.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Aug 3 at 2017 11:41 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:41:06 -0400

You don't have any of your uniforms from AD? We normally did not plan for uniform replacements for people coming off AD or from original ADT, where they should have been given a full issue. I would contact the unit supply to see if they have uniforms available and what they are allowed to issue.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Aug 3 at 2017 11:41 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:41:22 -0400

Do you have a uniform?
That was all I had when I arrived at mine from AD. Get in contact with supply ahead of time, and see what they can get for you, particularly if you need a uniform. Sometimes they have extras lying around. Everything else will have to come in due course.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 11:52 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:52:56 -0400

We recently had a few new people who had a break in service similar to your situation. Several did not have uniforms or even PTs. They were informed by our CoC to show up in business casual civilian clothing. Our S4 ordered them uniforms but they've been behind in fulfilling our orders so they continue to be in business causal for the moment. Definitely contact your CoC to see how they expect you to report in since you have no uniforms.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Aug 3 at 2017 5:57 PM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:57:46 -0400

question - Do you have an army surplus store near you? Pretty sure you can purchase one fairly cheap.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 6:08 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 18:08:35 -0400

Under Armor makes t-shirts with an Army logo. I think that should make the right statement. Just make sure that have a moto haircut and that your socks don't have any visible logos and cover your ankle bones and you'll be A-OK.

Response by SPC Bradford Bolden made Aug 3 at 2017 6:26 PM

SPC Bradford Bolden — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 18:26:35 -0400

Thanks everyone I got it figured out.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Aug 4 at 2017 8:24 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 08:24:46 -0400

You departed service with uniforms yes?
Put one one and go to drill.
Lacking a uniform ..call your unit... there are full timers there every duty day, call them and ask, get a name and rank of the person that gave you the guidance in case its wrong, and show up to drill as advised.

I was never in the reserves ....but I was a leader a day or two.. If you showed up in Civ clothes having made no attempt to contact the unit and get guidance, I would look at that as an "experienced" SM who knows what right is, and should have been proactive, to ask for guidance, keep the unit informed when they don't know and FAILED to do so. That will be the first impression you bring with you to your new unit.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2017 4:23 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 04:23:14 -0400

They put me in rear detachment for AT which came right after my first drill because I didn't have gear and they wanted me to get acclimated to the unit. So I would make contact with the unit, your Readiness NCO or 1SG and explain your situation. They'll probably still have you show up, do something light and admin related until your gear is in.

Response by AA Joseph Moody made Aug 5 at 2017 7:09 AM

AA Joseph Moody — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 07:09:19 -0400

When in doubt, call up and say: "I'm an idiot and I did/did not do X, or I don't have Y and need a Z"
Regardless of where you are in your career path, the people in charge like to know in advance whenever they can. It gives them a chance and time to adapt and improve on the situation as well.

Response by SPC James Anderson made Aug 5 at 2017 1:47 PM

SPC James Anderson — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 13:47:13 -0400

I had a 4 year break of service between active duty and Army National Guard. My first drill weekend was supposed to be in Jan, so I called my recruiter who was in the same building and asked if it would be ok to show up sometime during the December drill just to get an idea of what was expected and meet the leadership. He said "great idea, show up whenever". I show up at 10 am in civies excited to meet people and make impressions, well my first impression was my TOP losing his fucking mind. Im locked up at parade rest in the office with him reading the riot act about being late and lack of military bearing. Well there was a slight misunderstanding. My recruiter told TOP i would indeed be there that weekend, TOP thought that meant it would be my first drill. 5 min later things were cleared up, I spent the day with the guys, got gear issued and was all squared away for my actual first drill weekend. TOP and I became pretty close friends after that first ass chewing.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2017 3:58 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 15:58:02 -0400

Let the unit know if you do not have uniforms but professional street attire is usually acceptable.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2017 4:02 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 16:02:08 -0400

Wait, the Army took all your uniforms when you got out? You do not have one digital pattern uniform and a pair of boots left? I thought you kept your uniforms but turned in TA50. All you need is one uniform for a weekend BA.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2018 10:57 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 22:57:36 -0400

I got off active duty and took a five year break to go to school before going in the guard. My uniforms were long gone. I called my PSG and asked what he wanted me to do. He said just show up in jeans and closed toed shoes so I could still work. They ordered my uniforms my first day there but it took almost 4 months to get them. I just kept showing up in jeans. The key is communication though. Definitely call and ask. Don’t just show up jacked up.

Response by SSG Jason Penn made Jan 10 at 2021 5:14 PM

SSG Jason Penn — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 17:14:07 -0500

I retired in 2012, and unless I am mistaken (change in how things work that I'm not aware of) You only turn in TA-50 and only stuff that doesn't come in contact with your skin. This means that you should still have at least one complete set of uniforms. The only exception I can think of is that if you have been out of service for more than a couple of years and the uniforms don't fit anymore or if they are worn (unserviceable). Saying that you turned it all in when you got out doesn't seem to hold water.

Response by SSG Darrell Peters made Jan 10 at 2021 7:31 PM

SSG Darrell Peters — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 19:31:49 -0500

We would have people come in appropriate Civilian Attire. Blue Jeans were okay so long as they did not have holes. Same way with shirt and Jacket. For the love of heaven don't show up wearing flip flops. Sneakers are okay so long as they are in good condition. Definitely contact your Platoon Sergeant or Squad Leader or even the Unit Administrator for proper guidance.