I want to enlist but...?

Question

I am in college right now. I want to enlist. An try for active duty after college, and go for OCS. BUt while I wait I was going to do reserve. If I do reserve would I be called up while in college? Thanks for the input. Semper Paratus.

What if it is Split-Time Reserve?

Answer 1

I am in the reserves and going to college. I haven't been called to deploy yet but I have been told I will have to soon. Being in the reserves no longer means you get to do your weekend a month and two weeks a year anymore. It means that you are volunteering to be used by the military any way they see fit. Iraq is filled with reservists. Being in the reserves or guard just means you get to do the same things as active duty but without all their training. But that doesn't mean don't do it. Weigh your options carefully. If you aren't willing to go to combat while in college then wait to join until you are done. Besides, the military will pay off all your loans when you join, that was an option for me.

Answer 2

It's my understanding that if you go Reserve/Guard then you're fair game for an "activation" if called upon. Once you're activated you are considered "Active Duty". OTS and OCS positions for "current" military members have gone down over the last few years. The military has only so many slots open to "current" military members vs slots people considered civilians (non-military). I'm currently Active Duty in the Air Force and went through OTS after college but wasn't in the military during college. Hope this helped.

Answer 3

Are you going to a university? If so, you should try for an ROTC scholarship so you can just get a commission right after college. If not, then the reserves might not be a bad idea, and you might get some money to help you go to college.

Answer 4

Please don't go active I got here on Active Duty 2 months ago and I'm stuck here for 36 months. I was in The Reserves for year getting 800$ in VA, 250$ in Drill pay + 3500$ from TA because I signed up for selected reserves I was driven to Active Duty because I'm young and wanted adventure + trouble at home get your degree and ROTC while in college I'm telling officers get more money and I gotta salutes these pricks every time I see them I'm only 19 and still have time to finish my degree here or do it when I get out but when I graduated high school it took me 4 1/2 months to complete my initial active duty training therefore missing an entire semester of school. ROTC is the best route because you can strive to be the best and get sent to one of many schools us enlisted wish we could get into, do the army and get specialized schooling at your own pace and ROTC has its own scholarships. I was going to to do SMP Simultaneous membership program while I was in the reserves that means go to drill and do the ROTC **** at school couldn't collect VA money but had the ROTC scholarship. Cadets don't get sent anywhere until they have a comission half of them come here not knowing **** but the basics ROTC is for civilians hoping one day to become leaders it does not mean they're in the army.

Answer 5

Does your college have an ROTC unit? If so you can get a leg up on your training and enter with your commission rather than enlissting and trying to go to OCS

Answer 6

The recruiting office can answer your questions about reserve.

Thanks in advance for your service. Brave young men and women give all Americans their freedoms.

Answer 7

Yes you will be called, Join ROTC, it is actually reserves

Answer 8

Yes you would be. Most colleges would give you an incomplete but would allow you to make it up when you come back.

Answer 9

sounds like a good idea to me.

Answer 10

It is very much possible.