Heres my question, I am currently a High School Senior and plan on going to community college for 2 years for my core classes and then go to Virginia Military Institute for my remaining 2 or 4 years. I recently talked to an Army recruited and he says that If I joined the Army Reserves, I would spend the next summer in boot camp and then I would be in the Reserves for 2 years as a MP until VMI picked me up and I would no longer have to be in the Reserves if I no longer wished too. My question is, what do you think the likelihood that I would be deployed during my two years in the Reserves? I would rather not have my College interrupted so I can go into the Army with a college degree and as an Officer.
2007-03-09 19:47:48 · 15 answers · asked by Bob W 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Do not go into the Reserves first. There are two reasons:
1. You will be an enlisted member whereas if you wait until you get 60 credit college hours, you will be an officer. The difference in the respect you receive is ENORMOUS.. also in money.
2. If you join the reserves, it is highly possible you will have to leave school and be called to active duty.
RULE #1. NEVER TRUST A RECRUITER...
2007-03-10 17:59:12 · answer #1 · answered by BeachBum 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you have the wrong idea regarding what the Reserves are about - the Reserves are just that, a reserve component to the active duty Army.
As soon as you're doing with your basic training and AIT, you are a soldier in the US Army. You're a soldier in the Reserves, but in the Army all the same.
Now, as a Reserve soldier, you will be able to go to school and collect drill pay for the weekends during which you drill. However, if the Army at any point needs your unit to deploy, you can be deployed - whether you're in school or not. Since you're choosing to become an MP there is a very, very high chance that you will get deployed, period.
When and where you deploy also largely depends on the unit you're with. When we were called up for OIF, I was in a Garrison Support Unit - we ended up deploying stateside and preparing and training other troops who were going overseas. The people in my unit that were taking college classes prior to deployment were able to take classes at the local college during our deployment, others were taking classes online through AMU (http://www.amu.apus.edu). If you have a computer, you can take AMU classes anywhere.
The likelihood of you deploying as a Reserve soldier depends on both your unit and your MOS more than anything else. So if you choose to go into the Reserves, you need to be aware of this.
2007-03-10 05:40:18 · answer #2 · answered by Abby K9 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to get enrolled in your local colleges ROTC program. That will put you into the SMP(Simultaneous Membership Program) an ROTC member actively drilling in a Reserve unit. Your MOS changes to 09R Cadet, putting you into a nondeployable status. You need to look a North Georgia College, full 4 year college and the Army Reserve will pay 100% of the cost, in fact you'll make money while attending the school. Email me if you have any questions.
2007-03-10 13:52:52 · answer #3 · answered by JimFinSC 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a 100% chance of being deployed! The Military / Army is scouring its ranks to find Soldiers who haven't already been deployed 3 or 4 times already and they can't find them. Re-enlistment as you can imagine is not very high and recruitment very low as well.
If you "Enlist" in the reserves your Academic pursuit will be severly deminished. You will be too busy being rotated back and forth to war to complete your degree in any sort of a timely manner. You essentially will have put college on hold for 2-4 years.
Consider This - who says you'll survive the deployment? There are soldiers killed everyday! What plans for thier life do you think they had? Do you think they all planned to be killed?
Why not just continue your academic pursuit. Get your College degree and move on with your life! If you really have Military asperations then get 3 years of College Under your belt and Join a ROTC program. There will be no deployments etc. You'll Complete your Degree and then be a Commissioned Officer.
Do Not Fall For The "ENLIST" now and get commissioned later fairy tale.
If you do not get it in writing...it ain't gonna happen!!!
2007-03-10 04:09:59 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. Ackmadia 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋
yeah, i would say that the likelihood is pretty good that you would be deployed. My fiance joined the Marine Reserves in 2004, and he has yet to complete 2 consecutive semesters due to deployments. They will definitely tell you anything to get you to sign those papers. do your research and know your rights in the beginning. it may benefit you later.
2007-03-10 11:32:10 · answer #5 · answered by Marines<3Girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would try to get into VMI on my own merits first. You'll do better in the Corps if you spend the entire time with them. Otherwise you will be an outsider. VMI accepts transfers, but it is better to do everything at one school if you can.
2007-03-10 05:51:47 · answer #6 · answered by kittenbrower 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My suggestion would be to go split option. That gives you one summer to do your Basic Training and the next summer to finish your AIT.
I would check with VMI to make sure your commitment can be negated, though. I would have to see that in writing, first.
2007-03-10 03:53:27 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Simple Answer is this...THE RECRUITER WILL TELL YOU ANYTHING TO GET YOU TO SIGN THOSE PAPERS..THENwhen it comes to the realiation on your part that you are the property of the US govt. you will have wished you went to VMI... If you go into the military you will enjoy better service by being an officer .
2007-03-10 03:59:56 · answer #8 · answered by cesare214 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We have a lot of deployed reserves... I would bet on your being deployed.. and yes, interrupting your college plans.
2007-03-10 04:01:52 · answer #9 · answered by Amy S 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
From what I've seen, reserve units are usually the first to go! My es was a reservist and they were always deploying him.
2007-03-10 03:53:58 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋