As you are leaving the service, something you will need to consider is whether or not to join the reserves. There are many different factors that go into this decision, as well as different levels of participation in the reserves which maintain some affiliation to the US Military. As in any decision, you must weigh the pro’s and cons of joining the reserves.
Pro’s:
• Continue to serve your country
• Camaraderie with your fellow servicemen and women
• Earn more money
• Keep some military benefits
• Work towards a partial retirement
Con’s
• Added time away from family if you have a busy career
• Potential to be deployed for a long period of time
• Potential injury and/or death during training or combat operations
Ready Reserves:
There are many different sectors of the Military Reserves where you could have the possibility of serving, however the two most frequently discussed Forces of the Ready Reserves are the Selected Reserves (SELRES) and the Internal Ready Reserves (IRR)
Selected Reserves
The Selected Reserve or (SELRES) is what most active duty service members think about when they think, “Should I join the reserves?” This is when service members are assigned to a specific military unit, and are required to “drill” a specified amount of times per year – generally one weekend a month and two weeks of training per year. This is the component of the reserves that is likely to be called into action, should your unit be needed. Although there is a much higher level of risk of mobilization here, the benefits are significant.
The Selected Reserves is designed to treat members as Civilians who are also participating in the military, not vice versa. As a general rule, members are expected to pursue a civilian career and maintain an active role in their communities. Their participation in the military is primarily to maintain their unit’s force readiness and maintain their own proficiency in their military duties. With all of that being said the Military Reserve is a critical part of the armed forces and each reserve unit can be recalled when needed. As a member of the reserves, you will receive many benefits, but you may also be recalled or “Mobilized” on very short notice and can be forward deployed indefinitely. This is something that all members of the reserves must understand in full before signing up.
Potential Benefits for the Selected Reserve
Retirement
• In the Selected Reserves, you will have a chance to earn a partial military retirement, through earning “good years” in the reserves (more detail is explained below). The Selected Reserve force utilizes a point system to determine your benefits, your pay, and your qualification for a “good year” towards retirement. In short, all of your years of active duty service count as “good years” and you need to earn a total of 20 “good years” to qualify for retirement benefits. This includes retirement pay, benefits, and access to most of the facilities available to you as an active duty serviceman or woman.
• Retirement Pay – Reserve retirement is computed off of a percentage of your base pay paid and begins at the age of 60. (This age is an often-debated number in congress, so it is always possible that they will continue to extend it further). Your retirement, as with any other pay computation, is based off of rank and your time in the service. For more detail on the exact amount you would get at retirement, visit your services reserve website. (Also listed below)
Pay
• As a military reservist, you will be paid based on your participation – which is generally one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Most reservists don’t exclusively participate in the SELRES for the money. However the financial benefits are certainly a nice supplementary source of income. In addition, for members who are interested in participating more than the minimum required duties, a potential to earn money is available. There are also additional opportunities to increase reserve income. For example, aviators get - double points/ double the pay - for each reserve drill day they are flying. In addition, if you do not live near your unit, the military will reimburse you for a portion of your transportation expense and your housing on drill weekends.
• Bonuses – each service has carved out bonuses for personnel who they would like to retain. All services are different and bonuses may vary based on rank, specialty and a variety of other factors that you will need to research on an individual basis.
• Many benefits for Selected Reservists are the same as their Active Duty counterparts. SELRES reservists get full access to the Commissary and Exchanges, uniform allowances, and many others benefits that Active Duty Servicemen and women get. Medical and Dental benefits are available when you are on Active Duty orders (i.e. when you are drilling or re-called).
• Education: There are additional educational benefits for reservists that many people don’t know about. Some of these benefits include supplemental pay in addition to a traditional Montgomery GI Bill, and several others. For detail on educational benefits, visit your services reserve website.
• Base Privileges – Members of the Selected Reserve and their dependents have full base privileges. There is almost no difference in access rights to many of the on-base benefits given to Active Duty service members.
Requirements
In the Selected Reserves, servicemen and women are assigned to a unit and will be expected to participate with that unit’s drill activities. Each unit will have select Active Duty personnel that maintain the unit’s readiness between “drill” periods. For the most part, each unit will have their own pre-assigned “Drill Days” or “Active Duty Training”, and also a full two week long annual “Active Duty Training” session.
• Drill Days – Each Reserve Unit will have a pre-assigned “drill” schedule, in which all members of that participating unit will be expected to attend. Typically, the “drill” schedule is posted well in advanced, so civilian Reservists can plan their schedule accordingly.
• Active Duty Drill Period – Each Military Reserve Unit requires that its members mobilize for about two weeks each year for training. Depending on what unit you are attached to, the two week period may consist of training at your home unit, or being forward deployed.
Retirement “Points”
The military reserve “point” system is extremely complicated, and seems to feel like an always-changing algorithm. You can earn reserve “points” in several different ways including taking online courses, obtaining new qualifications, and for Selective Reservists, through participation in unit mobilization, online training courses, training weekends, or other voluntary activities offered by each military service.
• “Good Year” towards retirement – in order to rate a “good year” towards retirement, servicemen and women must earn a minimum of 50 points in a single year. The Reserves automatically gives 15 points for free toward a “good year” so that leaves the balance (35 points) to be earned by the Reservist. Service Members must earn 20 “good years” in the service to qualify for retirement. This typically means that you take your active duty years, subtract it from twenty, and that is how many “good years” you will need in the reserves. Example: If you have 4 years of Active Duty Service, you will need 16 “good years” in the reserves.
• Earning Points: This can be done through online classes, and through participation in several programs such as military academy recruiting and others. The main ways to earn the balance of the 35 additional points needed for a “good year” towards retirement are:
• SELRES drill weekends (4 points per weekend)
• Correspondence courses (points vary per course)
• Active Duty Training (1 point per day – usually about two weeks, or 14 points)
• If you participate in all of your drill weekends and Active Duty Training, one will easily receive their required 50 points and achieve a “good year” towards retirement.
The Internal Ready Reserve (IRR) is the component of the Ready Reserve that does not require you to drill, and you do not receive any pay. IRR members do receive limited benefits – some of these can include an ID card for members and dependents and limited access to military benefits. Generally, when a member initially signs up for Active duty, they have a Military Service Obligation (MSO) for 8 years in the IRR, so whatever time you have served on Active Duty counts towards the 8 years. The main requirement for members of the IRR is that they perform an annual, virtual “muster” screening, to make sure your contact info is up to date and that you are aware of any changes to your specific program. In certain instances, you may be called back to Active Duty from the IRR, especially if you have specific skill sets that are in demand from the Active Duty force.
Potential Benefits
Retirement, Pay and Benefits
• Members of the IRR do not get paid any salary or stipend. The one way that members of the IRR can rate some sort of retirement pay is to qualify for a “good year towards retirement (Described below). If you qualify for a “good year” you will earn a percentage of normal retirement pay, but you should consult a reserve recruiter to understand the exact number. It is also possible to earn commissary and exchange benefits by earning a specific amount of points each year. If you do not achieve the required points, you will not get any of the traditional benefits
• Access to most Category “C” facilities on the base. These would primarily consist of clubs, marinas, golf courses, etc.
Earning “Points”
• The military reserve “point” system is extremely complicated, and seems to feel like an always-changing algorithm. You can earn reserve “points” in several different ways including taking online courses, getting qualifications, and for Selective Reservists, through participation in unit mobilization or duties
• A “Good Year” towards retirement – in order to rate a “good year” towards retirement, servicemen and women must earn a minimum of 50 points. This can be done through online correspondence courses and through participation in several programs such as military academy recruiting. In general, since you will 15 “free” points toward a “good year”, you will need to make up the balance of 35 points through correspondence courses or other means. Since members of the IRR will not typically be drilling on weekends like a Selected Reservist, it is more difficult to achieve a “good year” toward retirement.
• “Good Standing” – Good Standing is a much more achievable level of standing for members of the IRR. In order to maintain “Good Standing” in the IRR, you must earn a minimum of 27 points. Since each year, reserve members get 15 “free” points; one must only earn 12 additional points. If you are in “Good Standing” you will have access to a military ID card, exchange and commissary privileges, and several other on base privileges.
Structure
• Members of the IRR are essentially civilians that can be recalled to active duty in extreme circumstances. With the exception of minimal requirements such as annual virtual muster and keeping uniforms serviceable, there is not much required from members of the IRR.
Requirements
• Virtual Screenings - The IRR’s primary requirement for most members is an annual “virtual” screening. Each year, depending on your listed home of record when you leave the service, you will receive a notification for a “virtual screening.” The “virtual screening” can be done online, and will require you to update your residence, marital status, changes in education/skills, civilian employment information, and changes in your physical condition that could affect your readiness.
• Uniforms – you are expected to maintain your Uniforms in a notable condition.
