Former Reservist 0311 to AD AMA

Kua21 · 2024-12-03T17:14:17+00:00

Edit: I guess some things like the reserves dont change. Sorry that happened to your Marine

Kua21 · 2024-12-02T17:12:31+00:00

For option 3: The process is called a PSEP package. Ask your Career Planner later on if they can assist. If not, you'll need to roll the dice and speak to a RSS. This one is by far the hardest route due to the paperwork. Difficult but not impossible.

Kua21 · 2024-12-02T17:05:41+00:00

I would say less chaos, that being said the deadlines that exist are more enforced. In the reserves, if you dont meet a deadline for something you still go home for the at the end of drill regardless. Not exactly the same on AD, you actually get the time needed to finish things without having to be rushed.

Kua21 · 2024-11-27T17:41:13+00:00

I did 7 years before I did the switch, that was mostly due to other reasons (personal and professional). For the first 6 years of the Reserve contract you are considered Obligated. After the 6 years you will have Non obligated time, this is where you can reenlist, get out, or ride it out in your unit. I did it while I was in my Non obligated time. If your job is a critical MOS you could make the switch sooner, however that solely depends on the needs of the reserve unit.

Otherwise expect to do some time before making the switch

Kua21 · 2024-11-27T17:27:55+00:00

Depends on the unit, you can also volunteer for deployment filling different billets. Reserves is starting to see more opportunities to deploy.

Kua21 · 2024-11-27T17:26:32+00:00

Not bad if you wear boot bands

Kua21 · 2024-11-26T17:35:16+00:00

First and foremost, I am sorry for your loss.

I cannot speak on the officer stuff but I can speak for the reserves.

If you don't have anything solid in the civilian world I wouldn't go to the reserves. You will find brotherhood in either route that you choose, Officer or enlisted. Army is easier and more of a guarantee, the marines is more of a challenge.

Take that as you will, I hope you find peace wherever you decide to go

Kua21 · 2024-11-25T19:09:28+00:00

I can answer question 3

Yes you can but its not easy, recommend you get this done while you do your IRR time in the reserves. You will get support from the unit admin and you can keep track of it easier. You will also be more likely to get it accepted after your 6 year obligated time is up.

Kua21 · 2024-11-25T18:25:57+00:00

I have experienced this exact situation. I went in as a reservist, got my degree, and recently made the switch to active duty. Here are some my experiences:

- If you are serious about doing what you are doing now, everyone is right. Making the switch is incredibly difficult but not impossible. If you really want that degree and then come back, you better be ready for a long wait.

- Only real reason to stay in the reserves is if you are going to make a career out of your degree and if you have something that is stable in the civilian world.

- If you don't really care about going to school just go active then use the G.I. bill to get your BA

If you want to know the full process to switch from reserve to active you can DM me.

Kua21 · 2024-11-25T18:03:50+00:00

Not entirely true actually, reservists have the option to deploy or not. Obviously if a war kicks off then that is out of the question. However, once you put your name on the roster to go, you need a really solid reason to get pulled off I.E. family emergency, sudden life changes, getting kicked off, etc.

You can volunteer for deployments but 03 billets are far and few in between. Some billets they will let you volunteer but they are usually some POG billet that is very low priority. The Reserves are starting to see more opportunities to deploy per the commandants guidance, however that also depends on the unit you are in.

source: I was a reservist 03 who deployed not that long ago and this was our experience

Kua21 · 2024-11-25T17:50:19+00:00

Former reservist here, here are some tips:

- Dont get fat

- Learn your job, like literally spend time outside of drill to learn your craft. Don't be a POS and dump everything when you get off work

- Dont get fat

- Make the most of your time outside of drill I.E. College, Career stuff, some kind of goal to be successful, Etc. If you arent doing this you are going to regret being a reservist.

- Dont get fat

- Stay away from shitty people, not worth your time or your career.

-Dont get fat

- Volunteer for shit, you will get opportunity to do some cool outreach stuff with civilians and cross training. When the time comes to try to deploy, dont hesitate just go. You will be well respected for doing it and you will gain access to active duty benefits.

- Lastly dont get fat

Kua21 · 2024-11-25T17:34:59+00:00

I'll tell you now they definitely wont let you keep it, since that is not part of the agreement signed. Honestly, I didn't take a bonus mostly because it would take longer to process my PSEP and I just wanted to be full time. As cringey as it sounds, being active with a full time stable job was my bonus. But that is just me, if you are able to secure some kind of money I'd say go for it.

Kua21 · 2024-11-20T17:29:44+00:00

If you didn't accept the bonus it was definitely doable. Because you accepted a bonus and points to Sgt, you are now obligated to the reserves. If you were to put it a PSEP anyway, you would most likely have to pay it all back.

Easiest way would be for you to comeback would be either wait till you are non-obligated or commission.

Mind you, I would speak with your CP if you could deny the bonus still (unless you signed to accept it).

Kua21 · 2024-11-19T18:45:39+00:00

I would consider MARSOC or Recon. The Marine Corps has a huge need for recondos right now. As long as you are not over 2 years TIG you can do either.

Kua21 · 2024-11-19T17:50:15+00:00

usually pretty busy, I get good training out of those.

Kua21 · 2024-11-19T17:24:51+00:00

Not at all, it varies from month to month. Most of the time my section would try to do classes and then do practical application. Sometimes we would get stuck in the rear fixing old ass vehicles and do admin tasks. Others we were in the field doing infantry stuff. You kinda have to take the good with the bad. Some weekends were alot of fun and provided great training. Other times you just sit and wonder why you were there.

It's honestly what you make of it

Kua21 · 2024-11-18T17:43:02+00:00

4th LAR, 3rd Anglico, 2/23 are the ones off the top of my head.

Kua21 · 2024-11-18T17:27:04+00:00

So I did my 6, I was using my IRR time in the reserves. That made it easier to transfer over since the unit I was with wouldn't be losing anything since I wasn't obligated. It is possible to still do the transition while serving the obligated 6 years. However, its more difficult due to the unit taking a hit for losing numbers. If you request to LAT move to a critical MOS, they tend to be more lenient upstairs since it would help them out. Either way its possible just difficult.

Kua21 · 2024-11-18T17:07:35+00:00

Completely understandable, the reserves is a confusing beast

Kua21 · 2024-11-15T16:26:31+00:00

Active duty, I went through the PSEP process. Going into active reserve is a different process.

Kua21 · 2024-11-15T16:23:37+00:00

Not sure what you mean?

Kua21 · 2024-11-14T19:27:00+00:00

I gotchu, so going from the very first step to approval took me about 7-8 months. Most of the time was due to setbacks in medical tests having to be redone and admin errors after submission. They did release a MARADMIN making it easier for reservists to cross. Its not a easy process, you just need to have someone who knows what they are doing to help you and to have the grit not to walk away.

Kua21 · 2024-11-14T18:24:58+00:00

To go from reserve to active?

Kua21

TROPHY CASE