Reserves after AROTC

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USNA2016bound

5-Year Member
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Nov 11, 2017
Messages
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Hi all - was wondering if I’m selected for the AROTC 4 year scholarship if I can go straight into the reserves from there, or if I have to do some years in active duty.
 
Scholarship status doesn't really have anything to do with active duty in AROTC. Typically, there are more cadets seeking AD than there are slots, so if you don't want AD, I think that will generally be accommodated, always subject to the needs of the Army of course.
 
Aglahad said:
Absolutely, I was going AD and switched to reserves near commissioning. Best career decision I made, even 10 years later.
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Could you explain why switching to reserves was such a good decision for you?
Thanks.
 
USNA2016bound said:
Hi all - was wondering if I’m selected for the AROTC 4 year scholarship if I can go straight into the reserves from there, or if I have to do some years in active duty.
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AROTC scholarships are not exclusively tied to active duty service after grauduation.

Army Reserves & National Guard always have a need for junior officers. The reason is that most aspiring 2nd lieutenants are hard-chargers who want active duty & they usually get it.

In the Reserves you can have a civilan career & move from state-to-state & with relative ease transfer to a new Reserve unit.

In the Guard you are tied to a state unit & they typically are hesitant to let you go.....due to the need for officers.
 
Day-Tripper said:
AROTC scholarships are not exclusively tied to active duty service after grauduation.

Army Reserves & National Guard always have a need for junior officers. The reason is that most aspiring 2nd lieutenants are hard-chargers who want active duty & they usually get it.

In the Reserves you can have a civilan career & move from state-to-state & with relative ease transfer to a new Reserve unit.

In the Guard you are tied to a state unit & they typically are hesitant to let you go.....due to the need for officers.
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I never heard of anyone having an issue transferring from one state to another, or even from the Reserves to the Guard and visa versa.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
I never heard of anyone having an issue transferring from one state to another, or even from the Reserves to the Guard and visa versa.
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From word of mouth (I have one son who was active duty Army, another Army National Guard) I've heard the Guard is more possessive. By no means is this an official or expert opinion. Take it with a grain of salt. Others on this forum may have better information to offer than I.
 
Day-Tripper said:
From word of mouth (I have one son who was active duty Army, another Army National Guard) I've heard the Guard is more possessive. By no means is this an official or expert opinion. Take it with a grain of salt. Others on this forum may have better information to offer than I.
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I served in the Guard and Reserve both enlisted and as an officer. I never had an issue.
Having said that, the Guard can be more “parochial” than the reserves and it may be challenging for an officer from another state to come in and take a spot, but that also depends on their rank and their branch. As an experienced UH-60 instructor pilot my skill set was in high demand.
 
AetosSA said:
Could you explain why switching to reserves was such a good decision for you?
Thanks.
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Quality of life
Career-wise, I make much more money on the civilian side. The Army significantly underpays my medical specialty.
Reserves soldiers who keep up their military skillset have a TON more to offer the military with their civvy experience.
 
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