Balancing the Army Reserve with a Civilian Career

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.

[hangarby]

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.

[NaturalStateDepths]

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.

[roythousand]

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.

[GVA]

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

[austinstash]

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.

[valstutz]

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.

[_C_G]

Very helpful. I'm active, 7 years so far, and im trying to start over with in the reserves.

[GrantSchulte]

This video addresses the exact issues that I've been wanting to talk to current reservists about (unfortunately I don't know anyone in the reserves). As a software engineer with a strong career trajectory in my current job, I've been concerned about jeopardizing my career advancement by taking on such a large and unrelated commitment. I am a bit skeptical about the "1 weekend per month" advertised schedule because I find it hard to believe that one can maintain true proficiency with such small exposure to a complex job. Your discussion of context switching confirmed for me that the reserves really is a larger commitment than advertised. I have some thinking to do to decide if being an officer in the reserves is a path I want to go down, and I worry that foregoing the opportunity to serve will leave me regretting that decision in the future. Thank you for this video discussion :)

[zayyirthomas]

just join the Army Reserve my M.O.S.92 golf. I appreciate you explaining this very vital information!!!🙏🙏🙏
I go to boot camp on June 13th.

[steveton]

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.

[meredithhall]

I have an interview tomorrow through army reserve! Wish me luck!

[lemonsquidsec]

I'm considering joining the reserves primarily for security clearances to transition out of my non-technical role and into cyber. I've got several certs, done tons of labs, CTFs, etc. but with no work experience, no degree and no clearances, it's been rough. I can't afford to drop down to $50-60k and spend the next few years building up. The reserves seem like a good stepping stone for my career, even if it's just for one term.

[JWZRD]

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.

[josephchan]

I am glad I joined and hard various career in the service.

[Genericmember]

Cool video, thank you for your service!

[dakotachambers]

I went active duty first, then reserve, now back on active duty but as AGR. Reserve is cool if it was legit 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year but it’s not and as far as retirement there’s literally no point in the reserve retirement. Makes much more sense to do your 20 in AFS then get out and start a new career afterwards, which honestly you may not even have to because pension and VA can be enough.

[Eyes_of_Oryx]

Explain the benefits of having a time limit on social media applications???? 🙏

[JohnDumas-wz]

I had to get out of the National Guard (Captain) because I had a contract as the lead architect for a hospital design in Central America. I was required to live in El Salvador for six months. The National Guard had no alternative method to allow me to stay in the National Guard and perform my career responsibilities.

[gmurayama]

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!

[lukeneilan]

As someone who wants to join ROTC, Thank you for this video. I have a question
In BOLC, is it treated like basic training where they are screaming at you even though you have gone through ROTC?