Is there a difference between active Army Reservists and Active duty Officers?

Ope Oguntoyinbo — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:13:55 -0500

Hi Everyone..

Is there really a distinction between serving as an active reservist and serving on active duty? (I understand that active reservists are reserve officers who work full time)

How does the active reserve process work especially for Army Medical Corps Officers like Social workers? (Or is it only for those who would want to enlist and not as Officers?)

Do you get to apply for active reserve duty from being a regular reserve officer just like you are applying for active duty?

Which of the two categories of service allows access to benefits more than the other? (If any)

How long does the process take if I am interested in active reserve duty?

Do I need to fulfill my contract as a regular reserve officer before my desire to switch to an active reservist duty status?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2020 9:39 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:39:00 -0500

One is commissioned, one is not.

Are your referring to Active Guard Reserve (AGR) or being a drilling reservist?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2020 10:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 22:16:43 -0500

They are completely different personnel systems. Promotions, assignments, everything. Also, AGR isn't something you join like joining the AD. For AGR, you have to be a reservists and then apply to an open position. Just like any other federal or state job, there are other people competing and competition can be stiff. The activation is for a limited time period, usually three years, you can often reapply to continue in that role.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jan 14 at 2021 7:14 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 07:14:07 -0500

The majority of company grade officers and a smaller percentage of junior (04) field grade officers in the regular armed forces are reserve officers serving their initial commitment dependent upon the program they are in, i.e. a pilot will have a longer training period and active duty commitment than an infantry or supply officer. Once the reserve officer has fulfilled their initial obligation, they can then become an active (drilling) reservist by affiliating with a specific deployable reserve unit, or are assigned to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) that consists of persons who have fulfilled their active commitment, but are not in a drilling unit and are still eligible to recall and mobilization on an individual basis. Both drilling reservists and IRR reservists are eligible to apply for full time positions in support of the reserve community, but these positions are limited and extremely competitive. Reservists still serving their initial active duty commitment compete for promotion with their active duty contemporaries. Officers in drilling units, or on active duty in support of the reserves compete for promotion separately from those on active duty in the regular forces. Both regular and reserve officers are commissioned, but hold those commissions as regular or reserve officers. I am not qualified to comment on the guard community.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Apr 5 at 2022 10:12 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 10:12:12 -0400

Either you are a Regular USA or a Reserve USAR/AUS Officer, not both, simultaneously at the same time.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Nov 14 at 2024 8:51 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:51:01 -0500

Medical Corps officers are either MDs or DOs. Used to be MC Os were given rank of 1LT USAR and, if put on AD, promoted to CPT AUS. Not sure if that is still done.