Please explain this whole commissioning into the Reserves thing to me...

marysue42

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I am planning to accept an AROTC STEM Scholarship and am not sure whether I will try to commission Active Duty or into the Reserves.

My first question is to confirm that I can indeed commission into the Reserves with a scholarship. It says on goarmy.com that "You can serve full time in the Army for three years (four years for scholarship winners), with the balance in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Selected Cadets may choose to serve part time in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career." So, is a 4 year AD commitment required for scholarship winners?

Next, how much influence do you have on location and are you tied to that location? For example, suppose I graduate college in Michigan and accept a job offer in California. Is this allowed? After 2 years in California, can I move to New York and drill there? Or am I tied to my unit?

Also, do you have to train for a specific Army job as well? If I study computer science, do I have the option of branching aviation and still joining the reserves? Do I have to go through the same security clearance process?

Thanks for all the help in advance
 
I am planning to accept an AROTC STEM Scholarship and am not sure whether I will try to commission Active Duty or into the Reserves.

My first question is to confirm that I can indeed commission into the Reserves with a scholarship. It says on goarmy.com that "You can serve full time in the Army for three years (four years for scholarship winners), with the balance in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Selected Cadets may choose to serve part time in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career." So, is a 4 year AD commitment required for scholarship winners? Yes you can, if I remember correctly, there's an option to specifically lock in with the Reserve/National Guard.

Next, how much influence do you have on location and are you tied to that location? For example, suppose I graduate college in Michigan and accept a job offer in California. Is this allowed? After 2 years in California, can I move to New York and drill there? Or am I tied to my unit? I don't know enough to give you an answer. But I do know that sometimes duty station assignment can be dependent upon your MOS.

Also, do you have to train for a specific Army job as well? If I study computer science, do I have the option of branching aviation and still joining the reserves? Do I have to go through the same security clearance process?
By "job", I am assuming you mean MOS - so yes. But that does not occur until after you commission, which you will then attend BOLC for your particular MOS. Yes, you can major in underwater basket weaving if you so choose and branch aviation (There have been specific threads in the recent past regarding branching aviation in the National Guard, you may want to take a look at them). All contracted cadets fill out the SF-86 security clearance form.

Thanks for all the help in advance
Response in blue.
 
I am planning to accept an AROTC STEM Scholarship and am not sure whether I will try to commission Active Duty or into the Reserves.

My first question is to confirm that I can indeed commission into the Reserves with a scholarship. It says on goarmy.com that "You can serve full time in the Army for three years (four years for scholarship winners), with the balance in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Selected Cadets may choose to serve part time in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career." So, is a 4 year AD commitment required for scholarship winners?

Next, how much influence do you have on location and are you tied to that location? For example, suppose I graduate college in Michigan and accept a job offer in California. Is this allowed? After 2 years in California, can I move to New York and drill there? Or am I tied to my unit?

Also, do you have to train for a specific Army job as well? If I study computer science, do I have the option of branching aviation and still joining the reserves? Do I have to go through the same security clearance process?

Thanks for all the help in advance

-Reserves is 8 year or 6 and 2 years IRR (one weekend a month/2 weeks a year) commitment

-You can pretty much move wherever your job takes you, just get a release from your unit and find another that has your job or AOC

-Reserves has no OML per say which means if a unit has a job opening you can branch whatever is open be that aviation, MI etc...

-Major doesn't matter
 
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Thank you for the detailed responses.

I now see clearly the commitment levels for AD/Reserves.


What is the main difference between what you do, and the process for commissioning into the National Guard versus Reserves?
 
you can choose either, but remember that National Guard is a state force, so if you are looking to move from state to state you will have a few extra hoops to jump through to get your release. When I joined the Texas guard back in the 90s I remember part of the oath I took when I joined was to obey the orders of the Governor. The other big difference is that Reserves doesn't have any Combat Arms units (infantry, armor, aviation). If you are looking to fly you will be looking for a National Guard slot usually.
Remember that your other option is to knock out your 4 years of active duty and then go be a STEM somewhere. It goes by fast.
 
I know this has ben answered before but I could not find it. In the new OML system, when does a cadet make the decision between AD, NG and Reserves? Do they know their AD OML status at the time they make that decision?
 
I know this has ben answered before but I could not find it. In the new OML system, when does a cadet make the decision between AD, NG and Reserves? Do they know their AD OML status at the time they make that decision?

I was under the impression you needed to make that decision before accessions.
 
QUOTE=clarksonarmy;321273]you can choose either, but remember that National Guard is a state force, so if you are looking to move from state to state you will have a few extra hoops to jump through to get your release. When I joined the Texas guard back in the 90s I remember part of the oath I took when I joined was to obey the orders of the Governor. The other big difference is that Reserves doesn't have any Combat Arms units (infantry, armor, aviation).
Except in Hawaii - where the lone USAR Combat Infantry Bn (as opposed to a USAR training bn with Infantry lineage) is located (100th/442d Infantry). Your chances of getting into One Puka Puka are roughly equal to making snowballs in hell however unless you are a local boy:wink: With Sen Dan Inouye now gone- it will be interesting to see if the "Go fo Broke's" continue with that unique distinction.
 
Except in Hawaii - where the lone USAR Combat Infantry Bn (as opposed to a USAR training bn with Infantry lineage) is located (100th/442d Infantry). Your chances of getting into One Puka Puka are roughly equal to making snowballs in hell however unless you are a local boy:wink: With Sen Dan Inouye now gone- it will be interesting to see if the "Go fo Broke's" continue with that unique distinction.

Haha I have heard about the unit before and it's history but I was still surprised when I saw reserve 11A slots on my unit vacancy list.:wink:
 
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