I remember some catch phrase from JPME about "rational actors" lolz... currently exempt. I don't see that changing anytime soon...
What do you want to do, or maybe a better way to ask is what do you think you want out of the Reserves? If we start there, then we can figure out what may be the best path, including potentially NOT going to the Reserves. Until you slow down a bit and answer that question, everyone is just going to throw more info at you and make it harder to grasp all the ins and outs.
To be fair, I guess what I want from the reserves is a retirement. I've got 12+ years towards my 20 right now, and I just am averse to leaving that on the table.
I don't "need" the additional drilling paycheck, although an extra few grand a year would be advantageous as a regional FO. I'm doing OK and holding my own, I'd just like to set myself up for later in life and having an eventual pension to look forward to that I've already earned 60% of would be appreciated. I don't even know if I'd need to fly... I'm flying for my main career now, and having a second airframe to keep current on would just be a pain (even if it would keep me in the Rotary world perhaps). However, I see what others have said about an involuntary deployment at the most inopportune of times. That would be aggravating, even though the regionals/airlines are super accommodating of the reserve requirements.
Purdue, good luck, and I think you're in good shape here. Gatordev is right about letting everyone know what you want, I think yo did that.If you have 12 years of active service, then you have quite a few points (probably close to 4400) so yes, leaving those points behind would be bad. I have been out of SelRes for a number of years, but the guys here can tell you which wickets you need to hit if you want to promote - which will have a substantial increase in your retirement.
2c) Do 35pts worth of courses ASAP--this will give you a "satisfactory for retirement year", and a little breathing room.
-Do 35 points (or slightly more, to be safe) of NETC courses, but don't submit until your next anniversary year--you can print these out and do them while you're flying around the country
-Do 35 points (or slightly more, to be safe) of NETC courses, but don't submit until your next anniversary year--you can print these out and do them while you're flying around the country
To be fair, I guess what I want from the reserves is a retirement. I've got 12+ years towards my 20 right now, and I just am averse to leaving that on the table.
I don't "need" the additional drilling paycheck, although an extra few grand a year would be advantageous as a regional FO. I'm doing OK and holding my own, I'd just like to set myself up for later in life and having an eventual pension to look forward to that I've already earned 60% of would be appreciated. I don't even know if I'd need to fly... I'm flying for my main career now, and having a second airframe to keep current on would just be a pain (even if it would keep me in the Rotary world perhaps). However, I see what others have said about an involuntary deployment at the most inopportune of times. That would be aggravating, even though the regionals/airlines are super accommodating of the reserve requirements.
[This post is 65% venting... 35% pleading for help.]
I was 2xFOS'd and left the Navy last March.
I've since been hired by a regional and am flying for them.
I tried very hard to talk to my CTO and figure out how to do the Reserves... but since I was bouncing around the country for training at my regional (SanDiego/Dallas/Chicago) and I didn't know what part of the country the company would base me in (or when I could get off work since I was in flight training)... I couldn't pick a unit to affiliate with. I also had no idea how to pick a unit, and asked him how to figure out what units did what or needed what officers... but he wasn't very forthcoming with answers... his plan to place me in a unit at the current city I was staying at a hotel in and then find me a more permanent command/billet later sounded suspiciously like the old "Hey, just go into the Navy as an undesignated Seaman and then when you pick a rating, maybe Rescue Swimmer!, it will be something you'll know is right for you!!" then my CTO left his billet and was replaced by a Petty Officer who called me and started asking all the same questions, and out of exasperation he just put me in the IRR when I told him I had been living out of hotels for 6 months and didn't have a home-city yet.
There was a circle-jerk of "Log in to the website to find a command/billet you like!" / "You can't log in to the website until you are in the reserves and gained to a unit" / "Why haven't you chosen a unit? Log onto the site to find one that you like!" / "Sorry, you don't have access to that website."
All the military bubbas around me here at the regional are ex-Army. They seem to make the Army Reserves and National Guard seem like they are super easy to understand and better organized than the Navy does our reserves... Their hands were basically held throughout the transition process, whereas I was kicked off my ship on deployment and told to go home and figure it out... TAPS didn't cover how an Officer deals with the Reserves, and I'm at a loss. Send the flames if you feel it's warranted... I just naively expected to be welcomed and walked through the transition a little bit...
I admit to being woefully uninformed on how the Navy Reserves work, or how to find a billet that fits me in the community. However, now that I'm in the IRR... what/how do I do anything? At this point, I'm just working my ass off at the new company to start my next chapter. I don't need the reserves, but isn't it possible to do some type of online correspondence to have the year count towards a retirement later? How do I find these courses and take them? How time consuming are they?
Also... I apparently just made O-4 as a reservist?
Have you considered the air guard? There is a Reaper squadron at March who is always hiring guys. That is close to LA, and will get you what you're lookin for. I am currently in the process of joining an ANG unit as I am on my way out of the Marine Corps. I can give more info about the transition if you'd like.
Once you are in the IRR, is there anything that needs to be done to remain in the IRR year after year until you hit 20 years? Reason I ask is because i'm a Mustang officer and when I was prior enlisted, you literally had to sign a two-year re-enlistment contract every two years to remain in the IRR. Do we need to do anything like that as officers, or are we simply in the IRR until we effectively let the Navy know that we want to resign our commission or something to that effect?