What is your opinion of Reservists?

Question

Particularly in the UK. I overheard a group of Marines on the train recently saying how they thought all reservists were 'wannabe' soldiers and not good, or 'hard' enough, to be the real thing.

I found this quite hurtful as I have ambitions of becoming a Royal Navy Reservist after I leave University (whilst being a school teacher). I want to do this primarily because I love the sea and Naval life, but have ties at home which prevent me from joining the full-time force; the Reservists would seem a logical step for someone such as me to take.

I am not in it for the money, as I would still quite happily sign up if it was completely voluntary. I can serve whilst staying at home for the most part, but would still be able to answer my country's call should the need ever arise, and get to see a bit of the world.

I would be interested in hearing any service-people's views of the reservist forces in the UK at present; what do you think of them (civvies can answer too!)?

Thanks!

Answer 1

i have my reservations

Answer 2

Reservist get dogged by a lot of active duty members. But most of the active duty guys are ignorant when making accusations about reservists. What the active duty members don't understand is that reservists have a civilian job where they work how ever many hours a week. On top of that Reservists have to review their military job while at home, so information won't be lost or forgotten. Military active duty pt's atleast 3 times a week as part of the day, while reservists PT on their own through discipline and still meet the military's high expectations. Also reservists don't have the luxuary of living on base when they are deployed. So there are no assistance for their families around them. Reservists get deployed just like active duty. They do everything that active duty can.

Answer 3

My father was in the TA for many years, after coming out of the army full time. He was a very proud man and loved serving as both full time and as a reservist. After retirement from the TA, he went on to lead a cadet corps for many years before retiring again!
It is an excellent choice and to have the best of both worlds is good, a life on civvy street, plus the opportunity to still serve, and don't forget, reservists have been called up for active service in the recent years.
He never ever did it for the money, but for the life and training...

Answer 4

In the UK reservists were for a longtime little more than a club for ex serviceman and a few weekend soldiers who got a good bounty and a chance to play with a gun.That as changed and they are now an essential part of the armed forces due to governments cuts the military have come to rely on them as can be seen by the large numbers serving in all recent conflicts.

Answer 5

As a serving soldier i've got great respect for reservists. Sure, they take abit of abuse in the forces, but pretty much everyone does one way or another.

Reservists are extra bods on the ground where it counts, and to give up a cushy life back home to potentially get shredded takes some balls. Good on ya mate!

Answer 6

I have a high opinion of the National Guard and Reserves. I've been in the NG for 21 years. I've been deployed to Bosnia and currently deployed to Iraq.

No other soldiers in the US conduct the dual role that the National Guard does. We help during disasters, civil disturbances, and war fighting. That makes us the BEST QUALIFIED soldiers to conduct operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those who think that we aren't meant to fight the fight should only look to RAVEN 42, 1/34 BCT, or my own 1-149th IN BN to see that we are having a MAJOR impact on what is going on in Iraq.

Look at Afghanistan, too. The MAJOR role in training the Afghan National Army and operating in thier environment is the Army NATIONAL GUARD. In 2004, the National Guard made up 40% of the combat units in Iraq. 1 in every 6 soldiers killed were frontline National Guard soldiers.

Our dual roles help us to work with the population. Many of us are teachers, carpenters, lawyers, policemen, etc. We can solve problems based on the experiences we bring with us.

After all this, I will be back home in the Fall. Next summer, I'll be on the Southern border.

We are some of the most versatile soldiers anywhere.

Answer 7

I spent 21 years in the Navy (US) training and working with reservists. There are some that I would count on no matter what, and others I would prefer they didn't get anywhere near anything important. So the answer to your question is that ultimately your fellow soldiers will decide on what they think of you. You seem to have the proper atitude though so I think you would be OK and prove very quickly that you would be an asset in any circunstance.

Answer 8

truly some the solutions from human beings are being wondered with reservists and t.a. they are completely diverse contained in the u.ok. t.a could properly be deployed an identical to iraq and afghan. yet what do you distinguish as a reservist? the answer is; he/she has served before in a protection stress status , they are on the reserve record because they have EX protection stress, they are positioned on a reservist record and obtain fee each and each april from the military for his or her standby status. human beings contained in the t.a practice to develop into infantrymen yet have civilian jobs as their residing.[ and are duly obliged to in reality attend military excercise thre/4 cases a year] to get carry of their bounty. they are deployed yet many do no longer see lively service or maybe elect to [no longer all because there are a range of volunteers]. they don't have any field journey like an familiar soldier of 5/10/22 year service as usual...and who now a reservists. t.a serve their u . s . in different ideas, yet reservists already have, and are on the reserve record because of this. so reservists contained in the u.ok a minimum of .......are literally not weekend warriors, many have served in wars from the falklands onwards.

Answer 9

A lot of reservists are actually ex regular so their training and experiences are exactly the same as their regular counterparts.

It is accepted that the general level of training of a reservist is lower than a regular, but this gap is very quickly closed in time of need.

Reserves are exactly that, reserves for the regulars. Over the last few years many have been mobilised to be sent to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, to name but 3 and for the most part have served alongside the regulars with no problems what so ever.

As always there are a few bad apples, those who are only in it for the money and the beer, but they are being weeded out.

The concept of One Army joins us all together now.

good luck to you in your choice

Answer 10

My understanding from talking with British Soldiers is that the TA doesnt deploy as whole units the way that Regular British/Active Duty /National Guard US units do.

That their initial entry training isnt like in the USA. Here every Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman go to the same Basic Training that regulars go through alongside them.

TA handles that at unit level, so depending on how competant the Directing Staff cadres are is how good Or bad these units become.

Answer 11

Whatever branch of the Forces a Reservist is in, they get exactly the same training as a regular. I have in the past been on exercises with the marines, ghurkas, and even the 82nd American Airborne, And out of them al, it is the marines who always think they are the cats whiskers. Don't take any notice of what you heard.