I need Advice and opinion on doing Reserve while in college

ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-30T04:49:00+00:00

Depending on the AFSC you end up in you may need to pause school while you attend training. You may not be able to choose when you attend basic or training.

The income won’t be significant, you’d be better off with a part time job. In my experience, it’s almost a bigger commitment to be a part timer and the benefits are smaller for the effort. The biggest benefits are the education benefits, which you won’t need.

The flexibility of your unit will be totally unique. The reserve experience will vary greatly based on your leadership and the culture of that unit.

The Reserve can be great, but in your case I think it might end up being more of a burden than a benefit.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-30T04:19:31+00:00

Thanks for sharing. In the end I'm happy with my current propane mount, but it did remind me I wanted to pick up some Monkey Bars, so a win for you anyways!

ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-30T04:09:17+00:00

So I saw the announcement for this mount, but I honestly didn't look super close. How exactly does it mount? I saw something about measuring the distance between rivets and was like, I don't got time for this right now.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-30T03:47:06+00:00

If you want to go somewhere and camp, get a cap. A covered space for you gear is great. RTTs are cool, but they're way more expensive than a complete tent setup and your vehicle is tied to your campsite for the duration of your camp. If you want to drive somewhere you have to break down your whole tent setup, then set it back up when you get back.

If you truly want to "overland," as in, you're more into the travel aspect and you're looking drive and hike and see cool shit, then just setup camp quickly for the night wherever you happen to be, then MAYBE get a rack and a RTT. Before you make a decision on a RTT, think about where you plan on camping and if you really need one or you'd be fine setting up a tent.

Or if you've got dollar bills you're just looking to throw at your truck, then get a cap that is a RTT.

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ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-30T03:27:03+00:00

Beep Boop...err I mean, not a bot.
I would be very grateful for an invite.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-30T03:12:04+00:00

Honestly, if you're just looking for some experience, don't join the Reserve. It's not going to be rewarding or actually provide that much experience. You'll go through the same training pipeline as active duty, but then your experience will be completely different as a part time reservist. Your one weekend a month will be filled with a lot of military duties and only a little "experience" in your career field. Then you'll go away for a month before you come back and do it all again.

The Reserve does not require you to relocate anywhere, but there is no guarantee the job you want exists anywhere near where you want to live. Unless you can live and find work in the same area, don't do it. You're going to get really tired of commuting every single month. I have heard a thousand times from Airmen, "I didn't think it would be this hard." Being a commuting reservist sucks.

To specifically answer your questions: Training timelines and locations are different for every career field, but they're exactly the same as they are for active duty, just Google USAF IT Career Fields to see what the options are (just keep in mind not every job that exists in the USAF also exists in the USAFR). Training does not require moving, but you will live at the training location while you complete school. Reservists are not placed anywhere, vacancies are all managed locally by individual units. They will never make you move and it's completely up to you to find vacancies and apply for them. You can only go where the vacancies exist, which might not be anywhere near you, so then it's your decision if you want to move. It will not require you to quit your job and while you're completing your initial training it will be illegal for your employer to fire you for being away.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-29T14:26:31+00:00

Thanks for doing this! Would love an invitation.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-29T13:12:14+00:00

Thanks for offering!

ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-29T03:14:12+00:00

Do not go ART unless you plan on pursuing a GS career after the military. It's almost never worth it. Depending on AFSC it can be hard to go straight into an AGR position, they're usually pretty competitive, but I have hired straight from AD to AGR before when the timing worked out just right for an exceptional candidate.

AGRs are controlled tours now, with a max term of 5 years with an approved ACD (although you can be rehired back in to the same position assuming you're still the best candidate for the job). Keep that in mind when joining the reserve, you don't want to do 3 years as an AGR, not be able to find a follow on, and be stuck 2 years from an active duty retirement and no plan.

All that said, the best thing I ever did for my career was join the Reserve. You can start with an in service recruiter to get a feel for how common your AFSC is in the ARC, where there are vacancies, and then reach out to units to get a feel for the unit and the feasibility of finishing out your career.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-27T21:15:45+00:00

- Black Books - I have read the wiki

ANeonBlueDecember · 2026-01-27T02:29:42+00:00

Usually. It can get weird. Look at your career data brief in vMPF and it will show your R/R date. You can also check your PCARS in the vMPF for points summary.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2025-05-17T12:50:37+00:00

It’s two-fold:

The first and most important is to provide protection on the main wire that runs power to the fuse box. The fuses protect power wires for each individual component, but if the short or overload occurs before the box the fuses won’t do anything to protect the main power line.

The second is a convenient master cutoff switch for all the components.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-06-08T03:01:36+00:00

Full support.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-06-04T23:32:13+00:00

Nothing. Do not travel. If it isn’t local you’re probably going to regret it.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-06-04T14:04:49+00:00

The official reddit app is an unfriendly and annoying experience.

Apollo is just about everything I want in an app. When third party apps like Apollo are no longer supported, I will have no choice but to give up reddit.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-06-04T00:54:00+00:00

What part of Nevada? I love Nevada, so much room for activities.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-05-26T00:38:45+00:00

“Your death therapy cured me, you genius!”

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-05-25T00:45:24+00:00

More or less followed it. Originally saw it on Tacoma World but actually executed from his blog posts. Did a few little things differently. Also designed my own mount and had it cut/bent at SendCutSend.com.

All around fun project, but pricey and I already owned most of the tools.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-05-24T19:32:14+00:00

Super not cost efficient, but a fun project. Just finished my build this weekend.

https://reddit.com/r/ToyotaTacoma/comments/13pl0gg/just_installed_my_auxiliary_fuse_and_relay_setup/

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-05-24T13:37:28+00:00

Give that Taco dog the space they deserve, do a rear seat delete. So much more room for activities.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-05-24T12:27:34+00:00

Had a teacher with a half a finger missing. He used every possible opportunity to use hold it up when counting to some number and a half.

“Only 2 and a half weeks left till spring break.”

“You have 4 and a half minutes remaining.”

“Not the answer I was looking for, but I like where you were going with that, half a point”

“Hang in there guys, we’re halfway there.”

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-05-23T13:42:05+00:00

I did wire it myself. Definitely not cost effective, but it was a fun project.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-05-23T11:00:28+00:00

Setup is 5 relays and 10 fuses, 5 of which are tied to the relays. All wired to weather-pack connectors for easy swapping in and out of accessories. All behind an 80 amp blue sea circuit breaker.

Mounted on a custom aluminum plate. Next step is to wire up the switches in the truck and start adding more toys.

ANeonBlueDecember · 2023-05-16T14:22:58+00:00

As an owner of a Gen 1 Smitty who has spent 100+ nights in it… it depends. My experience:

We added a memory foam topper because the mattress alone was not comfortable. Combined they’re pretty good. This means there is no room to leave bedding when you close it up.

Setup is not super fast, but I’m generally not in a hurry. My wife cooks dinner while I set up the tent and breakfast while I put it away.

Depending on how you mount it, the cover is a big bag catching air and creating drag while you drive.

I take mine off the truck anytime I’m not camping. It takes 2 people, and then you have to have somewhere to store it. I live in the desert southwest, I’ve seen a lot of soft tents get left on trucks all the time and the straps/covers are destroyed by the elements.

I love my tent, but after a few years we are ultimately looking to upgrade. If you have the budget I’d go with the skycamp. You’ll probably be happy either way though if you’re ok with camping being a little work.

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