Spiritual Minded Military Georgia Army Reserve: Should I Join the Reserves After Active Duty—The Transition Protocol

 

You are retiring while on active duty. The DD214 is on its way. The civilian world is waiting. Your family is very excited. Your pals are organizing. You feel as though you're finished.

However, you are not certain.

It doesn't sit well with me to just walk away completely. The uniform is like home. Mission is like purpose. The brotherhood is like a family. There is no time like the present.

You can't sleep at night because of the question. Would I want to join the Reserves after active duty? What will I lose? What will I gain? Is it possible for me to be a balance of both worlds? Am I going to regret walking away? Will I be sorry if I don't stay?

You are not alone. This is a question that is asked by thousands of soldiers annually. The enemy would have you make this decision from fear. Worry about not being with the civilians. Anxiety about being confined in the military. The threat of incarceration or imprisonment.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." — 2 Timothy 1:7

WHAT YOU GAIN THAT NO ONE TALKS ABOUT

All will say the word money. Drill pay. Benefits. Retirement points. They will discuss TRICARE Reserve Select and the GI Bill. Those are real. Those matter.

The benefits, however, are the ones that no one speaks of, but what matters the most.

You're given a family of two! Your unit is being broken up and deployed throughout the nation. Your battle comrades are advancing. The Reserves provide you with a new unit. A new formation. A new tribe of soldiers who get it.

A soft landing is achieved. Leaving the military service to civilian life is a harsh experience. One day you find yourself in formation. The following day, you're left alone. The Reserves provide bridging opportunities. You are still a soldier. You simply have more time to spend at home.

You gain perspective. Your life is all about you being on active duty. The Reserves give you a glimpse of the rest of the world. You retain your military identity. You create your civilian profile. You turn into a more fulfilled person.

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THE REAL QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ANSWER

Do not ask if Reserves "are good" or "are bad." Begin to ask the questions that are important to you.

Have you developed a plan for your civilian career? The Reserves will NOT be used to pay your mortgage. You need a job. Do you have one? Do you get training for one? Have a network? Yes, the Reserves make a fabulous addition. If not, then active duty might be your better choice.

Is there family to support you? Your spouse is used to active-duty benefits. TRICARE Prime. Commissary access. Base housing. The reserves are used for other purposes. TRICARE Reserve Select is good, but different. Discuss the matter before deciding.

Is there a need to serve other than for a paycheck? The Reserves will not get you rich. The retirement is a good one. The results are very positive. However, if you're just in it for the cash, you will not stay in the game. You must have a deeper motivation. You need purpose. You need a mission.

Are you self-disciplined enough to keep yourself prepared? It will not disturb anyone for PT. No one will make you go to the range. There will be no one to monitor your fitness. Each person must be prepared! Can you do that?

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THE TRANSITION DECISION PROTOCOL

1.  Run the Numbers

Do not guess. Record your net income while on active duty. Write down your expenses. Then work out how much you'd make as a reservist if you had a civilian job. Be honest. Be specific. The figures don't lie.

2. Test the Schedule

A weekend each month and two weeks each year are needed at the Reserves. That sounds simple. It is not always easy. Talk to real Reservists. Inquire whether there is a real time commitment. Inquire about the stress. Inquire how their families have been affected.

3. Do the trial run before purchasing

Now is the time to make a decision. The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) program is available to those separating from active duty. You remain in the system! Not drilling. It's up to you to decide. Use that time.

4. Make the Decision with Your Family

This is not up to you. Your spouse will have to deal with the repercussions. Your children will be affected. Sit down together. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages. Decide as a group.

5. Commit or Walk Away

There will be no half measures. Enlist in the Reserves and do it right! Show up to drill. Maintain your standards. Stay fit. Stay qualified. If you don't think the Reserves are for you, walk away without any remorse. You served. You've successfully completed the DD214. There's no point in proving anything.

"Plans are established by seeking advice, so if you wage war, obtain guidance." — Proverbs 20:18

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WHAT NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT THE RESERVES

The Reserves are not "duty lite"; the Reserves are their own culture.

Yes, active-duty soldiers gripe about crazy formations and irrelevant items. Reservists voice out frustration due to unmaintained equipment and short training hours. The question types vary. The irritations are distinct.

Active duty soldiers live on base. Reservists live in the civilian world. You will have a civilian boss who does not understand drill weekend. You will have coworkers who think you are in a militia. You will have neighbors who thank you for your service and have no idea what that means.

The Reserves require a disv fferent kind of resilience. Not the resilience of the battlefield. The resilience of navigating two worlds that do not understand each other.

You are not leaving the military. You are learning to be a soldier and a civilian at the same time. That is not a demotion. That is an upgrade.

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Conclusion

Georgia Army Reserve, you asked, "Should I join the Reserves after active duty?"

The answer depends on you. On your career. On your family. On your purpose. On your discipline.

The Reserves are not for everyone. The Reserves are for soldiers who want to keep serving without sacrificing everything else. The reserves are for soldiers who can maintain their own readiness. The Reserves are for soldiers who have a plan for their civilian life and want to supplement it with military purpose.

If that sounds like you, the Reserves are worth it.

If that sounds like a burden you do not want, walk away with your head held high. You served. You did your time. You have nothing to prove.

The Transition Decision Protocol gives you the framework. You make the choice.

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The Remnant does not transition. The Remnant re-enlists.

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