VANITY-Looking to join Military Reserves, Advice needed

self | 5/25/03 | libertythug

[LibertyThug]

I am very interested in joining the military reserves. I have been to an Army recruiter and I am eligible, but I am torn between the Army and the Air Force.
Also, I want to know of others' experiences with the reserves. I want to know of any cautions, tips, advise, etc... of fellow freepers that will help me to do this right.

I am a female, 31 yrs old, and a school teacher. I want to learn new things, find some kind of job that will help my country, and I am open to new opportunities.

[SAMWolf]

It'll depend on what your interested in.

Jobs are pretty different between the Army and Air Force. See which service has use of the skills you want to get. They may train you in a job but if the units have those slots filled you'll end up doing something else.

Rule Number one is: the recruiters will tell you what you want to hear so take it with a grain of salt.

[vavavah]

Forget the Army and Air Force....Go Coast Guard..best 20 plus years of my life....
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/reserve/reshmpg.html

[LibertyThug]

I minored in Russian in college. I wouldn't mind doing something with that. Thanks for the tips.

Since they tell you what you want to hear, when do you actually believe them?

[A Navy Vet]

"Rule Number one is: the recruiters will tell you what you want to hear so take it with a grain of salt."

HAHAHA. Rule Number Two: Never forget rule number ONE!
Actually, reserve recruiters aren't nearly as "pressured" as active duty recruiters are. I was a Navy Reserve recruiter for a short while. Even then, most deception perceived by many is a matter of "lie by omission".

Do your homework and ask LOTS of questions, and get any promises in WRITING! Thank you for considering serving your country.

[SAMWolf]

Most won't out and out lie to you. It's just that once you're in, the military can pretty much move you where they need you. The recruiter can pretty much get you the schools you want but take a "guaranteed" duty station with a grain of salt.

[Dale 1]

I am really surprised that you were accepted at 31. If you review your discussions with your recruiter, you’ll probably find that you were accepted to fill a specialist need the recruiter had. Based on the limited information available, I suspect they want you as a teacher. In this case, either Army or Air Force, or any other Service will be about the same for you. Military Service is a good profession. If nothing else, you should know that every serviceman knows the value of freedom and democracy. This alone is a good reason to join. Best of luck to you.

[LibertyThug]

Unfortunately, the ocean is the thing keeping me from the Coast Guard.

[LibertyThug]

They said they accept until 35 yrs old and the recruiter didn't say a thing about teaching (I don't know how teaching 3rd graders would transfer to the military!).
I am just worried they will say one thing and then I'll end up pulling clerical duty on my one weekend a month. That does not appeal to me.

[ReaganCowboy]

Since we're talking about joining a reserve unit, do something radical and insightful: attend a weekend drill of the unit you want to join, spend a half-day minimum with them, meet the commanding officer and first sergeant, and go to lunch with the troops. Call some of them in a week or two with follow-up questions.

All of this BEFORE you sign an enlistment contract.

I did 10 years active, three years in a drilling reserve unit, and am now on Active Guard and Reserve status. That's the approach I took before joining my reserve unit, and it worked very well for me. Gave me some good insights. By the time the slot opened up for me to join, it was nearly six months between my initial contact, the subsequent visit and my first real 'paid' drill. I got to know quite abit about standards and expectations before I ever joined the unit.

[LibertyThug]

Just so you know, it is the same in public education. I found out from a new teacher who was recruited from back East that the recruiter really played up the LA angle of beaches and vacation hotspots, but failed to mention that San Bernardino was at least an hour away from anything close to that.

A 'lie by omission' if I ever heard one! Thanks for your help.

[mystery-ak]

Have you considered the Guard or Air Guard..if not, look into it...doing basic at 31 is hard...good luck!

btw...I hope you get a 1sgt like my hubby...he's the best!

[LibertyThug]

That is a good idea. If I could ask, what type of work are you doing in the Reserves?

[LibertyThug]

Is your husband in the Guard?

My image of the Guard is left over from the LA riots (not the riots related to the Lakers winning) where the Guard had to come out.

[ReaganCowboy]

Nothing I want posted publicly - you have Freep mail.

[mystery-ak]

Yes, he's in the Il Army National Guard...Aviation..Chinooks...he's been deployed many times...Panama, Ghana,Honduras,Columbia, Guetamala....etc....You may like the Guard, they usually are activated locally..(not in my hubby's unit though..LOL)....I just got off the phone with him, he's on the Iraqi/Kuwaiti border with his two co's....he's now in charge of running his camp...the Kuwaiti's call him *the mayor*..LOL.....he flies all over Iraq and just got back from Balad and Baghdad today.

I hope you find your spot...do you know any active duty person who can go with you to the recuiter?...my hubby helped a few young men so they would get what they wanted in AIT.....my son enlisted and finished basic a year ago...he's in HQ in the ILArmyNat'lGuard......good luck ad don't sign anything untl they give you what you want....since you know Russian, maybe translating or Intelligence.....Good Luck!

btw...insist on OCS or OCT(officer candidate school)

[Future Snake Eater]

Despite being in the Army myself, or possibly because of it, I'd recommend the Air Force. They have much better opportunities for women than the Army (unless you're looking to go the officer route to become a pilot). Also, the quality of life and the pay are much, much better in the Air Force.

[LibertyThug]

You are very informative, I hadn't thought of the Guard before your post, I automatically discounted it. But, now that I know they travel, I may investigate.

In reference to btw...insist on OCS or OCT(officer candidate school) aren't I too old to do that? I was just going to go in as an E4 and look into that later. I thought I didn't qualify due to my age, etc...

Let me know if I'm bugging you with all of these questions.

[ASA Vet]

You've got FReep mail.

[Mr Rogers]

I dunno - some of the Army guys I met were about the 3rd grade level... ;>)

Of course, I've been USAF for 20 years, so I MIGHT be biased. Good luck to you, and get any promises in writing.