Army reserve prospect... UPDATE: I made it!!!!

[AregularGuy]

Hi all. I have been seriously considering a visit to a recruiter to discuss my prospects. 20 years ago I took the asvab and did the Army physical only to be told I have a red-green color deficiency. That meant I was qualified for about 5 jobs in the military. I was not interested at the time. Flash forward 20 years and I've still got the itch to serve. My circumstances are thankfully different now. I work in the healthcare field. I'm still very fit, no tats, drugs, or record. I'm mainly interested in joining the Army reserves. I'd appreciate any thoughts, ideas, guidance. If I did sign up, what should I expect during training, weekends, work, etc? If you need more details about my training or field of work send me a PM. Thanks in advance for your thoughtful comments.

[brando]

The Reserves without being prior service (ie having at least a few years of active duty) is pretty lame. You will never get the full "Army experience" and you'll probably never be tactically and technically proficient in your MOS. Still, the degree to which it's pretty lame depends mostly on what unit you pick (yes, you do that in the Reserves) and your MOS.

Since the post-Cold War Reserve/National Guard realignment, all of the combat arms units (for the most part) have been moved over to the NG. Reserves is primarily support so my guess is you'd have the best time in some kind of medivac unit doing flight medicine, which would be more exciting that being part of a combat support hospital, I would suspect. Don't write off the Air Force either, but ultimately the selection of units in your locale is what's likely to be your main limitation.

I would suggest talking to a recruiter at a minimum, but it pays to do your homework before you walk in the door.

PS. the minimum advice I always give everyone interested in joining the Army is make sure you have Airborne school in your contract. You can thank me later.

[CBRN]

It depends, how old are you? The age limit is 34 at the moment. Honestly, I would recommend you go Active Duty or Army National Guard. I'm currently a reservist, and I hate it. The Army Reserves is the lowest on the military totem pole, we get the oldest beat up gear, and the least funding. If I could do it all over, I would be active duty.

That aside, if you go through with either the NG or AR, you'll go to Basic and AIT which will range anywhere between 4 months to 1 year depending on your MOS. You'll be working one weekend a month, typically saturday and sunday, although some drills depending on your unit, may include a friday. You also have the yearly 2-3 week Annual Training.

During Basic Training expect a lot of yelling, physical activity, lack of sleep, buddy f**ckers, and no privacy.

Generally when you get back to your unit everything, it will be very relaxed, , random details, pretty much doing nothing.

Across the board in the Army, expect Death by PowerPoint, APFT every 90-180 days, Weapons Qual twice a year, lazy sh*tbags, overly motivated soldiers, LTs that don't know what they are doing, police calls, waking up early, and a host of other things.

[DannyInSoCal]

Check the thread about the CSMR - http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...highlight=CSMR


Let me know if you have any questions.

I signed up at 46 - Similar eye issues kept me out if the Navy Nuke program when I was 19.....

[brando]

Last I heard, the age limit is 34 for first time enlistment and 42 for prior service.

[baz152]

Unless you took the ASVAB when you were fourteen, you are already timed out and that ship has set sail.

[AregularGuy]

Unless you took the ASVAB when you were fourteen, you are already timed out and that ship has set sail.

Thanks for all of the replies. From the literature I was sent it reads that 39 is the cut off or an age that would allow at least 20 years of service by age 60 With waivers possible. It also looks like allied health professionals are commissioned as officers. Again, this is according to the Army brochure. Not really looking for a good time, although i do have a bit of a wander lust. Just looking to do my patriotic duty. Any thoughts?

[xhy]

Army is now 35 (as of 1 Apr 11), Navy Reserve takes enlistments up to age 39. If you are a licensed physician and wish to join as an officer, you can be up to 46 years old.

Once you're past those age cutoffs, you will need to get a waiver.

[Snoopy47]

Army is now 35 (as of 1 Apr 11), Navy Reserve takes enlistments up to age 39. If you are a licensed physician and wish to join as an officer, you can be up to 46 years old.

Once you're past those age cutoffs, you will need to get a waiver.

Yes, I signed at 38 on March 28, 2011. The age was changed as I was in the middle of my MEPS process, and my recruiter rushed to find me a slot "ANYWHERE".

I think it's a crap shoot regarding your experience in the service. I'm reserve, and have been on orders nearly every day since I got out of training. So I've nearly been active since I left for basic. With this deployment coming up I'll have locked in my time to get 100% of the Post 9/11 GI bill. I'm on my 3rd DD214 release form active ending this fiscal year.

Though it's sounding like I'll be on one of the last deployments available.

Sounds like you are too old unless you are a Chaplin, Doctor, or Lawyer.

Only recruiter can give you an accurate assessment. Ask other services, but be prepared to take anything you can get, and take it fast.

[19K]

theres even a chance you wont even be sent to your school for your job, or even bootcamp for that matter. 2 of my friends were reserve and it was at least 12 months before they went off to bootcamp AFTER they had started drilling with their units. their time consisted of sitting around in a stripped down uniform doing lower level tasks.

the red green color blind will still be an issue too.

[AregularGuy]

Ok. I am resurrecting this tread to mention I am meeting with a recruiter this weekend. Any suggested questions to ask? No offense to anyone here but most of the replies are regarding enlistment and basic traing, etc. The position I am looking at is very specific - physical therapist. I would be commissioned as an officer. Looks like it starts with approximately 6 weeks of classes about military protocol and role of the physical therapist in the military. That's as much as I have heard so far. Hopefully you good folks can give me some talking points to bring up during the discussion. Thanks.

[Blitz]

Ok. I am resurrecting this tread to mention I am meeting with a recruiter this weekend. Any suggested questions to ask? No offense to anyone here but most of the replies are regarding enlistment and basic traing, etc. The position I am looking at is very specific - physical therapist. I would be commissioned as an officer. Looks like it starts with approximately 6 weeks of classes about military protocol and role of the physical therapist in the military. That's as much as I have heard so far. Hopefully you good folks can give me some talking points to bring up during the discussion. Thanks.

If you want to go officer make sure you go to an officer recruiter. enlisted recruiters will do everything they can to enlist you so make sure you like what you are signing for. I assume you have a bachelor's degree and you have a decent gpa. start preparing mentally and physically. the officer route is very competitive specially the reserves. prepare all your questions before meeting the recruiter and bring all your documents, passports birth certificate, marriage contracts etc... good luck!

[AregularGuy]

If you want to go officer make sure you go to an officer recruiter. enlisted recruiters will do everything they can to enlist you so make sure you like what you are signing for. I assume you have a bachelor's degree and you have a decent gpa. start preparing mentally and physically. the officer route is very competitive specially the reserves. prepare all your questions before meeting the recruiter and bring all your documents, passports birth certificate, marriage contracts etc... good luck!

Thanks for the tips. I have the necessary qualifications for an Army PT. I am meeting with an amedd recruiter. Any specific questions you recommend?

[Snoopy47]

You will need to speak to a medical recruiter. Lawyers, Doctors, and Chaplains are handled differently.

I'll bet the recruiter you meet will pass you onto a specialist.

The reality is, your local generic recruiters are experts at enlisting recent high school grads with no criminal history, and can get through medical without a hitch. Anything outside of that challenges them.

[AregularGuy]

Well, I met with a medical recruiter. The meeting did not go well in my opinion. The person I met with was not prepared, less than professional, and did not really have much info for me. I would be happy to give more details in a pm if someone wants. Perhaps there are recruiters on here who can help.