What unique advice would you give a new reserve component soldier?

2014-07-06T21:15:21-04:00

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to a new reserve component soldier that is different from the advice you would give to an active duty soldier?

Response by COL Randall C. made Jul 6 at 2014 9:15 PM

2014-07-06T21:15:34-04:00

** Updated 11/9/2024 with TRS costs for 2025 and some rule changes that have occured in the last ten years **

Looking back over my mixed active duty and reserve component career, three bits of advice I usually give new reserve component soldiers are:

1) Maximize your points. Reserve Component soldiers can accumulate 130 points for non-active duty time conducted during the year. IDTs, unit membership points, correspondence course, etc. all count towards this 130 point cap. Annual Training and other periods of active duty are in addition to this cap. A soldier doing their "one weekend a month, two weeks a year" will normally get 78 points a year (48 from UTAs, 15 membership points, and 15 points from annual training). You can maximize this to 145 points. In the world of retirement calculations, that equivalent to a bit over 40% of the 'points' that an active duty soldier gets each year (total points / 360 * 2.5% = retirement percentage), or roughly a 100% increase in your retirement pay if you

One of the easiest ways to maximize those points MAY be correspondence courses (situations will different based on your service and component) - Previously, you would get 1 point for each 3 hours of instructions (regardless of how long it actually takes you to do the course) for correspondence course, computer based training, etc.

Much of that changed for the services around 2015/2016. For example, the Army generally disallowed retirement points for courses taken after 16 April, 2016 unless they are part of a structured Electronic Based Distance Learning (EBDL) program. It's still possible, but I won't address it specifically here (do an internet search on EBDL retirement points reserve xxxxx" where xxxxx is your Service).

2) Tricare Reserve Select (TRS). I know many people have horror stories about treatment at military facilities, but I'm talking about the health insurance side. TRS is basically Tricare Standard with a monthly premium. Before I came back on active duty, I had a very good health plan with my employer (I won't say it was gold plated ... more like silver+). TRS beat it. I have a special needs child and I've never had any issues with coverage on a whole host of medical care procedures and no referrals were necessary :) I was concerned about who would take it and found that even in the remote areas where my in-laws lived, there were still over 40 docs and hospitals within 10 miles that accept Tricare.

The kicker is the cost. I was paying about $200 every pay period (this was back in 2014) through my civilian employment ($5,200 a year just for premiums - and then add on top of that the co-pays, deductibles, etc). TRS costs $256.87 (for CY2025) a month for the member and family ($3,082.44 a year for premiums) with a family catastrophic cap of $1256 annually. That means the most you'll pay out of pocket is $4,338.44 a year (normally .. there are a few situations where it could go higher, but they are the exceptions, not the rule) compared to the $5,200 as a starting point with the other plan.

3) Retired Reserve vs IRR: Since RC soldiers don't start collecting until age 60 (normally - it can be reduced for certain types of active duty after Jan 2008), when they get to 20 years, you have a couple of choices - it's much better if you have an idea in advance of what you want to do. Most either continue in their current status (Reserve, Guard, etc) or retire (transfer to the retired reserves). If you're going to transfer to the retired reserves, you may want to consider transferring to the IRR instead. The main differences are that you will still be able to accumulate points in the IRR, can still be promoted, etc.

Probably the worst option (benefit-wise) you can chose is to request you be discharged. I've seen some reservists who had 'a bad taste in their mouth' because of something and instead of being transferred to the Retired Reserve or the IRR, opted to be discharged because they wanted nothing to do with the Army and/or didn't want to face even a remote possibility of being recalled to active duty (which is possible if you're in the IRR or Retired Reserve based on declared mobilization status). If you are discharged, then you won't have benefits of being a 'gray area retiree' (i.e., being in the Retired Reserves) or a current member of the IRR. Until you start collecting your military retirement you'll only have those benefits a former service member would have based on their service history.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2014 11:18 PM

2014-07-06T23:18:19-04:00

Make sure if you want to lead that your realize it is way more like active component than reserves. It is not just one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Rather that is the time off you may have. Be willing to put in the extra effort to advance your career and make it meaningful. Otherwise just stick to being a member of a squad. Even then you need to do medical appointments and online training throughout the month. It is not your Cold War reserves, it is the new online is everything and you cannot show up unless you are medically ready with your GOVCC with zero balance.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2014 12:33 AM

2014-07-07T00:33:42-04:00

As for me, I'm active duty sailor temporarily attached to a reserve support unit. My first and foremost advice: get to know ins-and-outs of travel. Systems such as DTS and orders writing systems are crucial. Get a second opinion before submitting ANYTHING, especially as a rookie, ESPECIALLY if traveling overseas using foreign currency.

Ensure your orders are written picture perfect. Ensure you calibrate your numbers in DTS and submit ALL attachments. If you don't, prepare not to get reimbursed until year after next, trust me. IM me if you need further assistance in reserve travel. Navy or army should not differ much, so ask me anything related to travel

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 13 at 2014 9:37 PM

2014-08-13T21:37:05-04:00

You only have a weekend a month where you are together as a unit so use that time wisely Dress sharply, act smartly and show personal initiative to cover for downtime. If you're in line for that next promotion make sure you are getting face time with your rater & senior rater if they are in the same location. If they only know you through reports and an APFT score then they don't know you.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2014 10:03 PM

2014-08-13T22:03:43-04:00

Go Active for a couple of years first.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2014 11:10 PM

2014-08-13T23:10:21-04:00

Always remember you are a member of the U.S. Military. Your actions on or away from duty reflect upon the rest of your brothers and sisters. Upon activation you are an important part of the entire package. No your job, work hard and take pride in the uniform you year. And if you want to advance your career and take on leadership roles you are your best advocate. Nothing will be handed to you. It is up to you to earn respect and to advance your career.

Response by SPC Dennis Mullins made Sep 13 at 2014 12:23 AM

2014-09-13T00:23:21-04:00

Reserve soldiers take the initive to be as an Active Duty Soldier because you don't have the same log hours to be the effectives as someone does it every day!

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Sep 15 at 2014 10:14 AM

2014-09-15T10:14:51-04:00

Dedicate time outside of drill to your professional military growth. CBT's, DL Courses, and just knowing your MOS. The effort you put in outside of drill will reflect on you when you go to drill. You will be the person that is ready for promotion!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2014 10:24 AM

2014-09-15T10:24:36-04:00

I would say that you have to realize that there is one standard across the Army. There isn't a standard for the Regular Army, Army Reserve, and the Army National Guard. I have seen this and it tears at the fabric of being a soldier. When you have different standards you are setting yourself up for failure. I know it is difficult to maintain your PT while drilling but it is what soldiers do. You will have to put in hours of work during the week and not get paid. When I hear a soldier in the Guard say I don't have time for that it shows you that they are lonely committed to one weekend a month. What is dangerous is when a soldier is only committed one weekend a month becomes a leader. That is not the type of leader you want.

Response by LTC Barry Hull made Sep 15 at 2014 8:56 PM

2014-09-15T20:56:03-04:00

I did 10 years AC than switched to the Guard. After all that high speed AC training I thought I was a pretty good leader. It was in the Guard where I learned real leadership. After about 3 years in the Guard it hit me. Leadership is easy in the AC vs. RC. On AD an a leader has leverage over a Soldier: career, pay, time off etc. Not so in the Guard. In the Guard, how much pay, time off and career progression do you think a leader can impact? Negative leadership leads to a Guardsman leaving the Guard. that means you have a vacancy. Big Army pays State Guards based on man-days. No man, no man-day, no money. Guess who the primary recruiter is for the Company? the Company Commander. So, Company Commander, be negative, and your strength drops. Now go explain that to the Bn Cdr. Bravo 2-156 IN LAARNG is where I learned to be a POSITIVE leader, And I am a much better leader for it. Thank you COL Mayeaux, your guidance was dead on.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2014 4:45 PM

2014-09-16T16:45:08-04:00

I would mentor them that being a Reservist or a Guardsman is probably infinitly harder than being a traditional Soldier. You must balance life, family, a full time career in the civilian world and your military career. There is no "part time" in what we do and that our service is just as valuable, meaningful, and necessary as our active duty brethern.

I would also advice them to take advantage of services and benifits that are offered to all those in uniform. Commissary, Exchange, MWR, etc.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2014 3:29 PM

2014-09-17T15:29:05-04:00

I would add that not only should you improve you leadership skills by learning your military craft, but also improve you overall leadership skills through reading books from John Maxwell, Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar and many others. The goal in leadership should be to mentor and to influence subordinates, peers and even superiors to become better than they currently are.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2014 2:51 PM

2014-09-24T14:51:18-04:00

Stay engaged. Get a CAC reader. Check your webmail often.

Promotion opportunities seem to be more easy to come by in the USAR, especially if you are engaged.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 4:58 PM

2014-11-15T16:58:54-05:00

It takes longer to get things done; during the non military days there are only a couple full timers available. Request actions early and be patient. DON'T wait until the week before Battle Assembly; that is when the full timers are going to be busiest planning and preparing for the upcoming weekend.

Also, it is much more tempting to call the full-timers to get action. I know your first line leader also has a job/life/school and is just as busy as you are. You still should go through your NCO support/COC for actions, and not directly call OPS/UA for stuff without prior authorization

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 3:48 AM

2014-11-16T03:48:43-05:00

Sir, I'd say, take responsibility for your own personal development. And I'm not talking about completing SSD, though that is part of it. One weekend a month is not a whole lot of time to become familiar with your MOS. Find the FMs that regulate your MOS and at a minimum skim them. Get a copy of the Ranger Handbook, and read it. Then carry it on you. Don't be the guy that has to have a skill level one task explained step by step to him. Be ready to rock and roll when you show up to drill.
Take personal responsibility for your physical fitness. One PT formation a month, and morning PT at AT is NOT going to keep you in shape. There are very few soldiers who can go without any kind of PT and be able to pass the APFT and height and weight, every time. Much less, not fall out of a ruck march at AT. Or maintain a professional appearance.

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Apr 5 at 2016 8:12 AM

2016-04-05T08:12:21-04:00

Take your oath very seriously, be an example, and live by the Army Values.

Response by COL Tom Berg made Apr 5 at 2016 10:14 AM

2016-04-05T10:14:35-04:00

Maintain an active duty state of mind and standard. It's taken nearly two decades of conflict dating back to Bosnia for the reserve force to earn respect and parity. In my branch, JAG, we became interchangeable in every position of responsibility stateside and deployed. Of course that took enlightened leadership. But the key to success was not to think of yourself as a reservist or train to a part-time standard. That includes PT. Appearances count. So does a 2-mile run.

Response by SSG Arron Daniels made Apr 5 at 2016 10:28 AM

2016-04-05T10:28:38-04:00

Great question...
1. Things don't make sense like Active Duty - it makes sense for the Reserves and the duty station you are assigned. Have an open mind before you decide to judge a process
2. Remember that you have one weekend to get in as much training with your team and your Soldiers; make it count
3. Make time for your professional development courses; take them as early as possible
4. Get acquainted with USERRA
5. Prior to PCS to your reserve unit, get everythign you might need of extras from the PX, you may not be at another one in a while
6. Have patience; give the reserves a chance. It will take some getting used to.Don't write off the reserves in 2 or 3 drills
7. Look for an AGR job- best kept secret in the military

Response by CPL Corpral David Cyphers made Apr 5 at 2016 8:40 PM

2016-04-05T20:40:14-04:00

Don't think because you are in a reserve unit or a national guard unit that your are getting a free not go to war ride because YOU WILL GO!! Especially if you are transportation. And if you are trans 88 Mic, STAY AWAKE ON THE ROAD!! Its the convoys that have people sleeping in that the Hodjies hit..

Response by COL Stephanie Rivers made Apr 5 at 2016 9:09 PM

2016-04-05T21:09:46-04:00

In your first year select an additional duty and still with it for your first rating period- certified for urinalysis, be the reliable one helping Top with the sign in rosters, PMCS the Cdr's vehicle, collect the money and signatures at the noon meal, volunteer to operate the laptop at briefings if you are good with office, get the drift? Be seen but not overly visible. Be a pleasant pest to ensure you have all of your tactical uniform gear and you must have a 348. The Army wants to pay you extra via completing SSD. Do it. Lastly, look at the junior officer developmental form and keep track every month of those things about yourself. Help your rater write about you on the eval.

Response by SFC Ron Gitzendanner made Apr 6 at 2016 5:55 PM

2016-04-06T17:55:17-04:00

I read thru all the responses to this excellent question, and find there are tons of great advise. The Reserves/Guard is a lot more involved and complex than most people ever think. If you are going for retirement, that is 20 good years, learn the lingo. A "good" year is one that the Government recognizes as a creditable year towards retirement, you MUST earn a minimum of 50 points in your "RYE" (Retirement Year Ending Date), in order to gain a "good year". Note...NOT fiscal year, but RYE year!! Know the difference and keep them separate.

Keep ALL documents, paper work, all and anything to do with pay, and especially drills and ADT attendance records. Make a nice note book and keep safely, not at all hard to do. If you say you attended last July's drill period, be able to PROVE it. No proof, then no pay and no points, simple as that! You should get a points record statement every year, I believe in your birthday month. Keep them, check them, scrutinize them with a fine tooth comb. If you disagree with any of the points, jump on it immediately, WITH proof to back your statement up. Remember this....POINTS is the name of the game in the reserves/guard. It determines when (and if) you retire and at how much your retirement pay will be. Collect or EARN as many points as you possibly can stand, There are many ways you can earn points, learn them and use them. You can get paid for ONLY 48 drills periods per fiscal year, BUT you can earn more points by drilling for points only, with the commanders oky-doky. Not at all hard to get. You can take extra ADT's as well, if your civilian job can stand it. Not hard to get orders. Contact other reserve units, see if they need extra help. I never had a problem....I did 22 years in the active reserves, 3 years active duty (RA) and 3 years inactive reserves, but I did do some drills and several ADT's while in the IRR. All you have to do is request it, get to know a few folks in the right office and call them now and then.

Last thing from me for now. If your ever run into some problems during your reserve career and feel you need to take a break, maybe some family issues, health issues, divorce issues....whatever...DO NOT quit, strongly consider transferring to the IRR for a year or so, by doing that you stay in the system, you don't lose TIS/TIG, you don't lose what you have earned up to that point. Could be in a couple years your problem goes away or gets resolved, then you can pick it back up again and march on towards that retirement. Once you quit, as they say on "Shark Tank"...you're out! Just be sure, if you do go IRR, to stay in touch with them and make sure they just don't arbitrarily discharge you for non-participation. They do that.

Very few people know this, an added benefit: IF you have your 20 year letter (the Army's way of saying you definitely have 20 good years and qualify for retirement); and IF you are over 60 and drawing retirement pay; and IF you have 3 years of active duty (might be 2 years, I forget) not for training purposes (for instance you have 3 years normal active duty before joining the reserves), you are eligible to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery....3 IF's....check it out. A place of Ultimate Honor, and FREE!!!! Now, if anyone has any questions on any of this, or I can be of any further assistance to anyone, or you just want to converse, fell free to privately contact me at: [login to see]

Good Luck, Guys & Dolls!!!!

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 8:21 PM

2016-04-06T20:21:22-04:00

As a reservist, you need to be proactive in your career. This will allow you to enjoy your job and will make your upper chain of command happy. Plus, it will make your drill weekend a success.

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Apr 6 at 2016 9:43 PM

2016-04-06T21:43:51-04:00

Can we talk? My Land line in GA is [login to see]

2145 hrs on 4 April