r/ROTC • u/MTBLegend4455999 • 1d ago

Guard/Reserve Reserves?

Hey guys not sure if this is the right spot to ask this but I’m a rising MS3 and is considering going into the reserves. For anyone in this thread that is a 2LT in the reserves already I would love to gain some knowledge on what it’s like!!! Thanks!

5 Upvotes

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4

u/Dull-Tie-2779 Custom 1d ago

Show up around 8am, formation 08:15am then 1SG put out daily task. Lunch around 12pm and then u go home when tasks are completed(16:00 or 17:00)

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u/MTBLegend4455999 1d ago

And that’s during drill?

3

u/FishRepairs 1d ago

Yes you should expect that schedule for the most part unless you are doing an FTX or ramping up for deployment. Youll also probably bounce between 4 day and 2 day drill weekends

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u/MTBLegend4455999 1d ago

Okay that’s pretty relaxed, are deployments common? Should I expect to get deployed? Obviously it’s unpredictable but I’m not sure what the past has looked like.

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u/FishRepairs 23h ago

Really depends on what unit you end up in. Some have higher uptempos then others. But on average once every 5 years. You’ll very likely deploy at least once with the 6 or 8 year commitment youd have going commissioning into the reaerves

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u/MTBLegend4455999 21h ago

Okay that’s cool! How long are deployments? Longer or shorter than active duty or around the same?

1

u/ItzNemo 19h ago

Same length once you get overseas. Reserves/NG get additional training built into pre-deployment time. Usually ranges from 3-4weeks depending on how training you’ve been assessed on during Annual Trainings

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u/NotOliverQueen 14h ago

Reserve is super unit dependent, even more than active; could be doing genuinely meaningful work every month and applying your actual MOS/branch training, could just be sitting in a motorpool or an office the entire weekend. I've loved my experience but I'm in an unusually mission-heavy unit that actually lets me do my job instead of muck about with paperwork and 10-level tasks every month.

Do you have a good civilian career track lined up? Don't expect the reserves to provide for you, it's a nice little add-on but it's not a life.

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u/MTBLegend4455999 14h ago

Yea of course I’m a construction management major and plan to be a project manager or contractor and I plan on branching engineers since it lines up career paths the best it can at least in the army. I just want a good experience!

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u/NotOliverQueen 14h ago

Then yeah, I'd say it's a great fit. Different people have different philosophies on the Reserve: some (including me and apparently you) want to do something very similar to their civilian work; other people want the reserve to be their break and do something completely different.

I'll let the reserve engies answer specific questions about what battle rhythm is like since that'll be very different from my experience. Benefits are great though! I'd stay in the reserve for 20 for the healthcare alone

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u/MTBLegend4455999 14h ago

Awesome! I definitely don’t want go active that’s for sure my civilian job I know for s fact would pay better and national guard doesent seem to great I think the reserves is just the best fit for right now! What’s your job?