Questions about the reserves

[quicksilver]

First of all, thanks for your service guys - I've always had a lot of respect for those in the military.

I'm college-educated (with a Bachelor's Degree from a top US college) and have had a very successful career as a software engineer in Silicon Valley. Although I'm making a six-figure salary and have a pretty comfortable life, I still feel a need to serve my country in some form other than civilian life. My uncle served in the Army in Vietnam and my grandfather served aboard an aircraft carrier in the Navy, and I'm always envious of their stories. My live-in girlfriend is a Navy brat.

It's hard to leave behind the work I'm doing though, because my team here loves the work I'm doing and my civilian career's trajectory appears to be going nowhere but up. I've shifted myself into a position where I have flexible hours (I work 30-40 hours a week tops, when I used to work 120+) so I've been spending the past few weeks seriously considering joining the reserves. I've done a little research, and I took a practice ASVAB this weekend and got a 98 on my first try, no studying (or any idea, really, what was on the test.) I know I'll have to take some time off for basic, and my employer is cool with me taking a leave of absence in a few months or so.

For you guys that may have recruiting backgrounds - what should I expect from reserve service? From what I've read so far, I'm definitely more interested in Navy and Air Force service than the other branches. Who should I talk to to get more information? (I keep reading that recruiters are full of lies.) Having a bachelors' degree from a top school, will my track be different than if I had just enlisted out of high school? What is the *real* time commitment the reserves will usually want out of you? (I don't expect the minimum requirements really hold true for most reservists.) How hard is it to transfer to active duty if I decide I want to make military life a full-time thing?

If you guys have any good sources of information or good recruiters to talk to in the Bay Area, let me know. Thanks for your help.

[NiteQwill]

#1 suggestion: I suggest you commission. Skip all that enlisted crap. Since you have a tech background, Air Force Reserve is a good way to go.

Talk to a recruiter if you want answer. Don't sign anything. And understand that you have a strong possibility of getting deployed to either a) a cush-cush location or b) a place none of God's men should ever have to go.

Good luck.

[quicksilver]

#1 suggestion: I suggest you commission. Skip all that enlisted crap. Since you have a tech background, Air Force Reserve is a good way to go.

Talk to a recruiter if you want answer. Don't sign anything. And understand that you have a strong possibility of getting deployed to either a) a cush-cush location or b) a place none of God's men should ever have to go.

Good luck.

[VetteRacer]

Talk to a recruiter about the available jobs. Deployment is likely years away for someone just coming in, have to get certain training done before you are eligible, at least thats how it works for my unit.

Enlisted vs Commission, depends on the job you want to do... Most careers the Officers are management, want your hands dirty enlisted is way to go...

Reserve to Active, not sure how hard it is, probably depends on the career field manning at the time.

I can do anywhere between the minimum, 1 weekend a month 2 weeks a year, or I could be on orders most of the year doing various TDYs and in house work. It depends on the job & unit you are with...

College will obviously be needed if going commissioned, but for enlisted it will just get you E3 out of basic training, fresh outa HS would have to work their way there over time (18 months I think?).

Air Force AD 4 years, Reserve 2 years.
Any specific questions PM me and I will give you my thoughts.
The above is my experience with Air Force, YMMV, Navy I cant speak for.
Matt

[coyote43g]

Make the most out of your reserve duty, be an officer. For someone that is educated as you are, you can contribute to the military of any branch by serving as an officer. Good luck in your choice of branch and MOS. We all admire your aspiration to serve among the best of what this country has to offer. Remember, less than a percent of US citizens ever serve. Be proud that you actually want to do your part, sir.

[Grassninja]

I would definitely follow the advice of others here and get a commission in whichever branch. Look in to each one and see if your experience and knowledge in the software engineering field can land you a good gig in the reserves, I'm sure one is out there if you look hard enough. I don't know if this only applies to medical professionals, but I know some branches offer automatic O-3 or even O-4 commissions if they're in need.

[winnre]

My old unit had a Harvard graduate join up because he wanted to serve. he was as humble as you could imagine. I say go for it!

[develown]

Im with most of the others in this post. Go for the commission. I promise if you dont go officer you WILL regret it.

[leocrrnz]

Go officer its the best thing to do. As far as starting off reserve and deciding to go active I know the military isn't taking prior service...a couple of others and myself have tried. If you do decide to go reserve I'm pretty sure its a minimum of 6 years initially and it is possible to get deployed within 8 months after you report to your home unit. Its happened to one of my troops. Whatever you decide to do I know you will be able to contribute more than your share and its much appreciated good luck with everything.

[coyote43g]

Go officer its the best thing to do. As far as starting off reserve and deciding to go active I know the military isn't taking prior service...a couple of others and myself have tried.

Not necessarily true. It's all about timing at the moment. Once certain quotas need to be filled, you can probably contact a retention recruiter. I always get soliciting emails from an RRC recruiter to try and get me back to the USAR system. Also got an email from a Marine prior service recruiter asking me to go back but with a different MOS. Only reason why I am hesitating is because I applied to become a correctional officer here in CA. Once I get in, I will probably go reserves (Marines).