Balancing the Army Reserve with a Civilian Career
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- Опубліковано 16 сер 2023
- Today I'm answering some of the common questions about how I manage pursuing a civilian career while doing the reserves and some of the details about what it entails. It's not easy but there are a lot of things to consider.
The whole "one weekend a month, two weeks a year" mentality is long gone in the Reserves. As you rank up, the more you are pulled into other tasks, responsibilities (reports, emails, fixing problems, conference calls, drill weekend planning, etc). Make sure you always submit at least non-paid drill requests so that your between-drill-weekend time gets accounted for. It may not sound like much, but those non paid drills add up and factor into your retirement pension. Ask for paid additional drills and then if not available, request non-paid drills. If your Command still won't approve non-paid drills (which would be surprising), then look for another Reserve job and ask those same questions when you are job/billet shopping.
When I took command of my old company in 2020, I basically worked full-time for the army for part-time pay. I was so fortunate my civilian employer at the time was a veteran and understood why I had to leave sometimes to put out fires.
The key to having a good reservist career is to be assigned to a good reserve unit. The unit you are assigned to is "EVERYTHING". If you are assigned to a crappy unit, you will end up hating being in the reserves.
I am a truck driver right now and doing very well financially. I’ve considered going reserve as a 88m. Not for money but for a challenge,physical fitness, serving the country among other reasons . Perhaps have a GI my son can use in the future. Extra pension would be nice at 60 when we retire from work
We appreciate you
Wanted to join the Army Reserve so bad but unfortunately the multiple recruiters I’ve talked to won’t let me join due to my hearing disability
Cool video, thank you for your service!
Why are you wearing a combat flag, sir
Just a question... Is it possible to be in the army reserves while living abroad- as in live abroad commute regularly to your home unit for training?
Sir, you have the same Unit Badge as mine
Im a teenager and this is the best explanation ive ever had. I plan on going to trade school first and then getting a career in a trade to pair with the guard.
Great video, you’ve given me a lot to think about. I just got out of active duty AF in 2022 got a job I thought would be a great stepping stone for my career at a fortune 100 company and right when my son was due we got hit with lay offs. I survived but I had to take a demotion, and I feel stagnant in my career plus the job market is so jacked up it's hard to jump to a new opportunity. Was thinking of the reserves mostly for financial reasons (extra money plus benefits) but you're reminding me of a lot of the things I saw in my active career and I was very naive to think they’d just go away on the reserve side.
I really appreciate this video. I was recently given a tentative job offer with the State Department, but I'm also looking into joining the Army Reserves because, like you, I've always wanted to do some kind of military service. I really hope if I actually end up joining the Reserves, I can complete the training while also being able to be in line for this job with the State Department. You really gave some great insight in this video, I'll take my verification test for the Reserves tomorrow and you helped put my mind at ease.
Very helpful. I'm active, 7 years so far, and im trying to start over with in the reserves.
I'm also a PM in tech and considering the reserves. I love the first hand experience and context you provide regarding the challenges and impact to my FT career.
hey my guy! keep going : )
just join the Army Reserve my M.O.S.92 golf. I appreciate you explaining this very vital information!!!🙏🙏🙏
I'm currently in my command time and since I'm lacking two AGR positions for my Company, I've easily lost over $35k each year doing orders, and helping my unit to ensure it's successful.
Great video!
Great video my guy! I am really struggling on getting the questions I need answered. The biggest concern is I’m afraid my work will find a way to “fire” me before I go off to basic even though I’m devoted to them and have a great relationship with them. The reason the fear comes of that is I would imagine I would not be working my civilian for 6 months because I would be at basic, officer training, and tech school (whatever my job will be preferably intelligence). Obviously to maintain my good standing I would need to provide full transparency of how long I would be gone. Is there a time you recommend that I approach them? Is there anything you recommend to make my fear go away? Any advisement would help! Also thank you for your service!