The Time has come

[Datdarkness]

Hey calguns, its finnaly that time to make a decision.
I Just graduated and am planned to start community college in 2 months.
Ive always wanted to join, but have wanted to make sure education was taken care of. Thats why ive been seriously looking into the reserves (every branch).
Today i have a meeting with the Marine recruiter, and an Army Recruiter.

Reason for reserves is:
I really want the training, to go to boot/basic and serve my country. I really want to finish my schooling as well, so i figured take a year off of school to go to boot/basic and then whatever job training i need, and hopefully come back in time to start school the next year. I understand theres risks of deployment, but thats part of serving my country (right?).

I dont really have much input from anyone else about this, and is kind of a gray area for me that im not sure what i really want to do. Basicly, Stay in school w/ no military at all. Or Military reserves, and start school when assigned my reserve unit. I would like to be close to my family, as its not one of the best situations to be able to help out my sisters and grandparents. And of course, my girlfriend (i know i know, let the flaming begin..) Financial aid is also paying me to go to Community College, but a university is going to be costly..

So i guess this thread is here to help me with my decision, and get other points of view on the situation.

Whats your input? what do you think i should do?

[spareparts]

The reserves are tiresome. You're not quite a civilian and not quite a soldier/Marine. You get some benefits but not full benefits of active service life. You still have to maintain a standard in your personal life but no one in the military respects you. We would torment the crap out of reservist Marines when they would join us for their two weeks per year. I was originally going to do the reserves for roughly the same reasons as you, but changed to active duty while I was still in the DEP. I was glad I did.

I recommend that you go to school, complete your BS/BA degree, and go in as an officer. It will give you a chance to mature a little more and learn to deal with the real world a bit and you'll appreciate your military experience more. Plus life is a little better starting out as an Lt. vs private.

[winnre]

I'd suggest go full active duty for 3-4 years then use your earned college benefits for school. if you do not want to go that way, then see if your college has an ROTC program where they will pay for a chunk of your school and you serve for a certain time frame upon graduation.

I do not suggest reserves alone. I have been in the Reserves for a while and having a length of AD time is almost required. There is nothing more frustrating than an E-6 or above who never had the uniform on for more than two weeks at a time. it is a lifestyle not a vacation, and the best way to experience it is to dive in feet first.

[laabstract]

I agree go to school go active, at times I was actually more scared of reservist/ national guard than the enemy in Iraq .

[rero360]

I enlisted between my junior and senior year of high school, went National Guard. I had the intention right from the beginning to attend college, however between three stateside deployments and one overseas, it took me longer than it should have, I graduated from high school in '01 and received my B.A. in '09.

At times I wish I had gone AD initially, and there have been times where I have considered transferring over to Active, but I think I'm probably just to set in my ways after 12 years to make a smooth transition. Probably would have had my 7 by now and considering getting ready to compete for the 8 if I had gone Active.

[epilepticninja]

I spent 12 years on active duty, 6 years as a traditional reservist, and 6 years as an IMA (reservist assigned to an active duty unit.) I highly recommend at least a four year stint on active duty prior to going into the reserves, or as the other poster suggested, go in as an officer after you finish your bachelors degree. Not sure about some of the comments posted here in regards to reservists. I certainly had respect for them as most had served quite a few years on active duty, and had wanted to continue their commitment to their country while pursuing civilian careers or school.

And for the most part, all were extremely proficient in not only their military job, but often in a secondary occupation they had gotten in the civilian community. As far as respect goes, I spent six years assigned to an active duty unit as a reservist, and I never once had anyone try to question my authority or my work ethic and job knowledge.

[rooster85]

If you would like to go to school why not go active? We get more GI Bill than weekend warriors and you get the military experience. Only going through basic and school then drill one weekend a month isnt how the military is. Depending on the job you get you may even be able to go to school once you get to your unit anyways. Knock out your G.E requirements then if you choose to get out after your first enlistment youre almost done. OR you could go to school now and if you still have the drive to join the military you can once youre done with school.

[TAK]

Don't join the reserves, you will get no respect from anyone in the military. You will have a nearly zero chance of deploying anywhere and if you do deploy will be grossly undertrained. Go active, take classes while you are in, get out and finish your degree. I am a grunt and when I eas I should only have a year left on my BA, a pog should have an easy time doing the same or finishing.

[Scuba Steve33]

Don't go reserve, don't go POG.

/thread

[ihorn]

I agree with what has been said. Dont go in the Reserves. I also agree try to find a school with an ROTC program, and get into that.

[chris]

respect is earned not given no matter your status. i bet some of you forgot that one.

[chris]

does Sgt. James Witkowski deserve this respect for his actions in Iraq. and rememer he was one of those "Reservists".

http://militarytimes.com/valor/army-sgt-james-witkowski/1220880

According to the soldiers in the convoy and an awards citation, Witkowski fired back with the .50-cal from atop his Humvee. During the attack, the soldiers in the Humvee heard him fumbling with something. They would find out later that a grenade had been tossed into the turret.

According to Souza, one of the passengers said he heard “a sound like someone exhaling after being punched in the stomach” coming from Witkowski. The passenger also said Witkowski kept shooting after the grenade landed in the turret.

“He laid his body on that grenade,” Souza said. “He took the full brunt of that explosion in his abdomen. Without a doubt, he saw that it was a grenade. Bottom line is, he put his body over that grenade.”

The explosion killed Witkowski instantly, said Staff Sgt. Michael Mulcahy, who was the convoy commander and a passenger in Witkowski’s vehicle. Shrapnel rained down on the other soldiers, but no one was seriously wounded. There was smoke and fire in the Humvee. The driver had shrapnel in his neck and down his right side. Mulcahy, whose left arm was injured, encouraged him to keep driving.

he recieved the Silver Star for that day and is being reconsidered for MOH. but nevermind he was just a Reservist. you never know who maybe next to you in combat and that someone may save your A** whether AD, NG, or USAR. we all wear the same uniform. it appears most of you forgot that.

remember this young Soldier. does she deserve any less respect? i bet not.

http://www.army.mil/article/1645/female

For the first time since World War II, an Army woman was awarded the Silver Star for valor June 16 in Iraq.

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester of the 617th Military Police Company, a National Guard unit out of Richmond, Ky., received the Silver Star, along with two other members of her unit, for their actions during an enemy ambush on their convoy.

Hester's squad was shadowing a supply convoy March 20 when anti-Iraqi fighters ambushed the convoy. The squad moved to the side of the road, flanking the insurgents and cutting off their escape route. Hester led her team through the "kill zone" and into a flanking position, where she assaulted a trench line with grenades and M203 grenade-launcher rounds. She and Staff Sgt. Timothy Nein, her squad leader, then cleared two trenches, at which time she killed three insurgents with her rifle.

When the fight was over, 27 insurgents were dead, six were wounded, and one was captured.

and she was in the National Guard.
this is to show that Reservists and National Guard serve with honor and distinction. they are no different from AD when it comes to combat. some of you need to remember that. nothing pisses me off more than someone who thinks they are better than someone else. the Army has standards for all whether AD, NG or AR.

these are just 2 individuals who recieved this award that i can think of.


not mean to thread jack but the lack of respect given to someone who chosses to serve their country in a manner they see fit is no different than AD, NG, or USAR.

it is your choice alone in the manner you serve. i have been a Reservist my entire 24 years and i'm not ashamed of it. most of you guys would'nt know unless i told you i was. since i don't carry myself like the Soldiers we see today.

it's about standards and SMA is trying to fix that and there are some things i agree and disagree with what he is proposing.

again it is your choice on how you serve no one elses.

[Snoopy47]

[Scuba Steve33]

not mean to thread jack but the lack of respect given to someone who chosses to serve their country in a manner they see fit is no different than AD, NG, or USAR.

it is your choice alone in the manner you serve. i have been a Reservist my entire 24 years and i'm not ashamed of it. most of you guys would'nt know unless i told you i was. since i don't carry myself like the Soldiers we see today.

it's about standards and SMA is trying to fix that and there are some things i agree and disagree with what he is proposing.

again it is your choice on how you serve no one elses.

I don't think anyone in this thread said they don't respects the reserves. Anyone who wears the uniform deserves respect, regardless of what branch, job or status. However there is a big difference in being active and reserves/guard. As active, it is your LIFE. You cannot get away from it. AR/NG do it for a fraction of the time active does. No one is saying people in the AR/NG cannot perform their duty when called to.

In the years I served I guarantee I have more time in the field sleeping out in the woods training for JUST Battle Drill 1A than AR/NG do in all their drill time combined. You cannot deny the difference. Like I said I don't think anyone said they don't deserve respect but you cannot say it is the same. There are countless acts of valor and heroism from active personnel as well. A squad leader in my platoon, PL in my platoon and XO in my company received the Silver Star during my deployment.

You just have to realize the huge difference in AR/NG and active.

[steelrain82]

Don't go reserve, don't go POG.

/thread

^^^^^
This FTMFW!