Any of y’all in here been in the reserves or national guard while going through the academy? If so, how’d it work out? My PRD isn’t until 2029. My unit usually drills 4 days bi monthly. Would that create any problems or are they cool about it?
Reserves & Academy
r/AskLE
Comments
When I went through my first academy, I was still in.
Told my SSgt to pass it up. 1stSgt put me in as not required.
Did my 6 month academy with no drill..
Afterwards ,was allowed to go get on orders for x amount of days that I missed to make up for my drills.
Got paid from my PD and DoD 🥹
You usually get an exemption from drill status.
You already have some good answers, here, but I just wanted to condense things as well as provide my own experience:
You might be able to be excused entirely. This varies widely and wildly from unit to unit, often on the same base. You will not draw pay, obviously. If you have that reserve component Tricare, you will go into debt (it was like $8 a month when I was in, so, one UTA will easily clear that), or you can call them and pay it off yourself (I think; either way, don’t worry about it). Some places don’t care at all, others will look at you like you’re insane if you ask for this and demand you fulfill your contract to the letter.
Sounds like your unit executes MUTA-8s (or 4-MUTAs? IDK, I was never one for the admin side of things, and I believe ANG, ARNG, and the federal reserves all use slightly different terminology, anyways), so, that’s good. Just means you’ll miss fewer consecutive blocks. Anyways, if they don’t waive you entirely, you’ll be offered either RUTAs or SUTAs. RUTAs are far more likely. They’re just “rescheduled” UTAs. They’ll pack them all together, all the days you missed, that is. Expect a hefty pay check, as UTA blocks pay more hour-per-hour than active duty time. “Split-training” UTAs are less likely, and may just be used in-case your unit doesn’t want to explain to someone in the chain of command why they’re “using” RUTAs.
When I became a local, I had been a civilian reserve officer already while active duty. Attended a reserve academy. This academy, combined with my reserve LE experience, and my military experience (certain non-LE careers in the military are still granted academy waivers in certain states) won me a full-time academy waiver. Just had to attend a “bridge” academy. It’s a weekend, just make sure you understand your new state’s laws and the state constitution, know how to fire a weapon, etc. But… it fell on my UTA weekend. I had commissioned into the ANG post-AD.
No big deal, missed that. The next month, I missed again; I had my final field training check-off ride that weekend.
Next month, I missed again, and again, and again. 5 months I missed, all excused, obviously.
Let me tell you something, man. Missing those five months was weird. Totally changed the vibe and people were very cold and distant towards me. I had been with them for about a year prior to missing the UTAs, and we had a good relationship. I came back and barely anyone spoke to me. I dunno, it was weird.
Anyways, between this, and only having three weekends a month, and missing out on two weeks in the summer, I peaced-out the moment my obligation was up. I had done all my cool guy shit on AD, anyways, and I had three trips to Afghanistan under my belt. I don’t know what I was doing goofing-off in the Guard.
I got out, and it felt as-if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Just something to consider. Please don’t feel pressured to stay-in when your time is up.
I love this job more than anything, at least career-related, but there are some weeks that are harder than others. On the weekends that follow, the last thing I want to do is to babysit a bunch of wannabe operators and then go back to work Monday.
Especially if you’re not already prior-service, get the heck out, man. Do your time and peace-out. When you’re older you’re not going to wish you spent more time working. This may sound very self-aggrandizing, but I gave a lot of myself, I went in at 17. Got out after 6, commissioned into the ANG, started full-time LE.
31, now; A medical issue over the last year has been the first time I’ve had a break since 17.
At some point, you gotta look-out for yourself, man.
Best of luck