USMMA to the Air Force

@Mr2020 , just asking, do Reserve/NG veterans (weekend warriors) get less veteran's benefits compared to AD veterans? I am not asking this because I want more veterans benefits, I'm asking because i dont like the idea of weekend fighting.
 
@Mr2020 , just asking, do Reserve/NG veterans (weekend warriors) get less veteran's benefits compared to AD veterans? I am not asking this because I want more veterans benefits, I'm asking because i dont like the idea of weekend fighting.
Your statements show a preconceived notion of what it means to be a reservist. These notions are not undeserved but are outdated. The reservist of old who spent their days in the reserve center reading the newspaper and drinking coffee are long gone. The focus today is on "operational support" the reserve chain of command does not want you doing "reserve stuff" all the time but pushes you to be at the active command working side by side with the active duty component. A person sailing could easily spend a couple months a year practically but not technically on active duty.
 
@KPEngineer , what about the benefits? Also, I like the idea of sailing for months, but I don't want to eat up 8 years worth of weekends with that.
If you do the SSOP then there are no weekends. This is part of the Individual Ready Reserve in which you do not drill and only do the two weeks of Annual Duty for Training.

If you do SELRES then there is a requirement for 48 drill periods in a fiscal year. 2 drill periods per day (4 per weekend) for 12 weekends per year. The Navy encourages you to do active/operational support during the work week, side by side with the active component. You can also combine your 12 months of drill periods into a single stretch of 24 days if that is better for your active command. If you are ambitious you will most likely be able to drum up additional orders if it means regular work with the active command.
 
@KPEngineer , what about the benefits? SSOP seems cool, but I would also like to know a little about the benefits after discharging/retirement for reserve vs AD. THX

Same retirement system. You would be under the BRS (Blended Retirement System). With a 2% match into your thrift savings plan and 40% of your pay if you last 20 years. Previous classes like mine are under traditional system which is 50% of your pay.
 
@KPEngineer , what about the benefits? SSOP seems cool, but I would also like to know a little about the benefits after discharging/retirement for reserve vs AD. THX
You have basically the same benefits but they may be limited some being a Reserve retiree vs. AD retire. A lot depends on participation, i.e. you get out what you put in.

You can earn the same retirement but it is pro-rated based on participation. Meaning AD earns 365 points a year, if a reservist earns 120 (very doable) you will get 1/3 the paycheck of AD. Downside is reserve retirement checks don't kick in till age 60 but AD kicks in the day you retire.

If you are IRR you will have to work extra to get a good retirement year (50 points) if you are SELRES you will probably average just under 100 just doing the minimum. I was four years in before I got my first good year because I had to figure out the system. You were kind of one your own back then.

Personally, I loved being an MMR (what we called the SSO back then) because of the flexibility it gave me. Once you go SELRES you are out of the clutches of the SSO program office and you have a ton more ability to determine your own fate. I started drilling with MSC, then got a billet with a Navy police unit, could have went to a Ordnance handling unit, instead went to Major combined command. The key is to understand the manpower system and how to maximize your civilian experience.
 
@KPEngineer , are these all benefits after retiring from the Naval Reserve? I'm thinking about doing my 8 years and leaving the Navy, instead of 20.
To receive any benefits after leaving you must have earned 20 "good" retirement years as defined as 50 points or more in an "anniversary" year (commission date to commission date). The only exception may the GI Bill which is also related to type of service, such as AD recall, deployment, war zone, etc.

I left the Navy after 12 years with 8 good retirement years. I think I can get some GI Bill benefits because I was recalled during OIF/OEF but otherwise I get nothing.
 
@KPEngineer , so in case I go to ADAF/ADN, and serve for my required 5 years, don't get recalled for any wars, don't get disabled or harmed during service, I don't get any veteran's benefits?
 
@KPEngineer , so in case I go to ADAF/ADN, and serve for my required 5 years, don't get recalled for any wars, don't get disabled or harmed during service, I don't get any veteran's benefits?
If you are AD there is no "recall". You would get some GI Bill benefits from being AD for 5 years but I am not the expert on the specifics. Pretty much though, no long term benefits for the "five and dive".
 
@KPEngineer , by the way, is it easier to become an SWO or go to ADAF than becoming Air National Guardsman? If I want reserve, I kind of want to do Air force NG.
I have heard of people doing it but I cannot speak to what is easier. Based on my general knowledge of the military it is likely easier to ADAF first, then transfer to ANG.
 
@KPEngineer , is it possible to go from Naval Reserve to ADN? If it is possible, is it very difficult?
There are such a large number of variations to that scenario that it is difficult to answer. Yes it is possible, the how and difficulty level depends and varies.
 
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