Thinking of going active

[Maddog5150]

Im thinking strongly about going active from reserve. I am 11B1P so I would like to go to an Airborne unit. I know that there is that unit in Alaska, 82nd in Bragg, 173rd in Europe and now the 25th has an Airborne unit in Hawaii.
If I decide to go active can I scheme it to go where I want to?
How harsh is life in an active duty light infantry unit?
How bad are the hazings and what should I expect?

I only see my unit once a month and never think of things to ask when I do see them Also when I ask about going active, they just shrug and dont know (i got stuck in a rear det unit and the unit is temporary)
Thanks in advanced

[Rob454]

I dont think its that bad to be active duty. yeah there is some hazing but from what I understand its downplayed a lot now with all the scandals they had. Sometimes its boring as hell sometimes its fun. you get more training you get to go to different places. It all depends on what you like. if your bored with what you do now and want to go other places see other things then yeah go active. Problem is youll most likely end up in iraq or some country that ends with 'stan so its all up to you.

[goathead]

go for it

[stphnman20]

Do it bro!!

[Futurecollector]

nike swoosh that Shi*....or just do it lol

[gwl]

Go for it. A lot of my friends are staying on Active Duty (Army and Marines) due to the high unemployment rates back home. Most of them don't care if they had back to Iraq or Afghanistan. They figure they enlisted in the miilitary to do that anyway.

[JerryM]

Go for it Maddog. There is nothing like serving your country full time.

But be prepared to live in the Motor Pool, do all the details that need to be done (you know, mown the CSM's lawn, paint rocks, etc.).

Field training is usually challenging and fun. When I left active duty, field time was one of the things I've missed the most. I also longed for the camaraderie and friendships that can only be honed through sharing the most exciting and boring times of your life. You will learn the meaning of "hurry up and wait", "you don't have to like it, you just have to do it", and you will question the intelligence and competence of many a first line leader.

But overall, you will be a warrior (I hate how the army throws that word around). If you go airborne, you will truly deserve your beret and you will be doing an awesome job.

But also, you will learn to hate all non-airborne personnel, you will start to believe that you are better than other people, and you will see yourself change in ways you did not think were possible: physically, mentally and spiritually. Not all of the changes will be positive.

Just do it man. Many have done it, many are doing it, and many more will be doing it in the future.

Hooaaa!!! (which some think it stands for Head Up ***),

JerryM

[grammaton76]

I've never been in, but my dad spent a number of years in the 101st when I was a kid.

From what Dad was saying, there were two kinds of "going active" reservists, and they got treated very differently by the active duty guys.

There were the guys who could pass their PT tests with flying colors, seemed competent, etc... who decided they wanted to go full time for whatever reason. They didn't get a lot of crap.

Then there were the guys who could barely pass PT and were clearly just in the reserves for the paycheck until they decided to go active (folks would figure they failed epically as civilians and then converted over as a last resort). Those guys got hassled mercilessly.

Second-hand experiences (guess that's third hand by the time I relay them) from the Desert Storm era, but I can't imagine things being much different now... try and be "active duty quality" before requesting active duty and make a good first impression, and you should end up in the first list.

[CavTrooper]

Call me up young man! Ill make sure you get squared away.

877-206-7987.

[MrLogan]

Go for it!

I wish you luck, and I hope the state releases you.

[chris]

yeah dude do it.

i never was. good luck to you.

[L.A. Brigade]

Go for it, but PT your balls off before you go.

[Stockton]

Do it cause you want it....if anything else you'll know what its like to be a full time soldier. Being in a line unit whether airborne or not is high speed low drag experience you'll appreciate for a lifetime. Even if you decide after your tour to bring it back to reserve/guard status you'll have x2 the experience of most reserve/guard soldiers on what its like to live full time all the time. Suck up what you can while you can as long as you can and don't look back till its over.

[NiteQwill]

If you don't have any issues stopping you, go for it!