Naval Reserves

[mikedjp]

Is anyone on the board in the Reserves? If so did you join as a non-prior? It seems like the basic training is really short, especially if you don't have prior service.

I'm waiting for a decision for a decision on my OCS package now. If I don't get picked up my next plan of action is to join the Reserves and work on my Master degree and try to get my GPA up and get some prior service to make myself more competitive. Then I'm going to resubmit my application for OCS.

Anyone apply from the Reserves and get picked-up for OCS? Were there any problems getting released from your committement with the Reserves to go to OCS?

How difficult is it to get into the Reserves as an officer?

 

[wink]

I went from active straight to the Reserves, and have served in support of Reserve recruiting among other things. First, keep in mind that time in the Reserves does not count toward prior service for an age waiver on an OCS app. Only active duty counts. If your age is an issue rethink your plan now. If you are non prior service and enlist in an advance paygrade program then you may attend a shortened "basic training". Even full boot camp is something like 6 weeks these days. Getting a commission in the Reserves is tough. All non prior service apps to an officer program in the USNR are Direct Commission Programs. That means there is no OCS! Just raise your hand and you are an officer in three minutes. Since this is the case you can not join the Reserves directly as an officer in a Unrestricted Line (URL)Office program ie. pilot, swo, subs. All those guys currently in the reserves were trained and served on active duty. The only way into the Reserves as an officer is direct commission for Restricted Line and Staff Corps positions, ie. Supply, Medical Corp, Nurse, CEC, etc. These people need signficant work experice or training to justify a direct commission. If you do enlist in the reserves it WILL look very good on your OCS app. There is no problem with the app. Just a signature from your CO and that is never withheld unless the guy is simply unworthy on the face of it. I never saw a CO not recommend anyone for commission. Enlisting in the Reserves shows dedication to the Navy. Someone who has prior service, even Reserve only, is coming from a position of unique knowledge about what OCS and a Naval Officer's career is like. For other questions, I'll be off line for about a week. If you can wait. I'll check back.

 

[mikedjp]

Thank you for answering my questions. I wasn't going to join for the age waiver, so that is no problem. I was thinking of enlisting for just the reasons you said: to show my dedication, and gain knowldege of what I'll be in for in when if and when I make it into active duty.

I speak both Chinese and Japanese fluently, at least on a regular conversational level. How would those skills translate into the Reserves? Am I correct to assume that the language skills alone won't be enought to translate into a Direct Commission? If I were to qualify for a Direct Comission in the Reserves, I would need to reapply for OCS to become active duty Navy?

I'm pretty sure it is what I'm going to do if my OCS app. gets rejected this time.

 

[kabttu]

mikedjp,
I'm in the same boat as you it sounds like. I graduate next may but I already know my GPA will be less than 3.0, I plan on joining the reserves to help pay for grad school and to show my dedication. Figured that the extra money and having the reserves in my OCS app can't hurt right? Plus I figured it would be a great way to earn LOR's from people of high ranking. Well, good luck with your app, maybe you'll get picked up and you won't even have to worry about it!

Kevin

 

[wink]

mikedjp,
If you speak Chinese and Japanese, you would have a good shot at the reserves in a couple ratings (enlisted job specility), if they are open (Navy needs people). Call an Navy Reserve recruiter and tell him what you speak. They may like you for CTI (cryptographic tech, interputation) or IS (Intelligence Specialist). Depending on your degree, you just might qualify for a direct commission to Intelligence or Cryptology (very hard to get). Once a commissioned officer you would not have to go through OCS ever. DIRCOMs go thru a two week course in Newport RI to teach them how to salute, etc. Real gentleman's course, and when you are done, that is it. Problem with the commissioned route is that it WOULD be more difficult to make the transition to a active duty URL field, like pilot or NFO. Not because you haven't been to OCS, just that you are now going through an entirely different more complex process than the recruiting/OCS pipeline. You have to get permission from your professional community ie Intel, to leave, they may say no. And then you have to count on the aviation guys wanting to take a lateral. They just don't take too many quys that way to begin with, and those that do come from the fleet. Fleet laterals bring unique experience as an officer to the aviation community that a new Reserve DIRCOM just wouldn't have. If you don't mind doing the enlisted time I suggest that as an intermidiate stop on the way to OCS. If you really have bad luck with the OCS route, then you can work on the DIRCOM in Intel or Crypto for the Reserves from the inside. Then if you want active duty request it for the field you ended up in. Oh, the comment about good letters of recc is true. Nice to have a senior naval officer write a letter for your app saying you have officer potential and are a 4.0 sailor. Looks better than you freshman english prof saying you were a good student.

 

[mikedjp]

I'm shooting to be a part of the aviation community, either NFO or pilot whichever is cool for me, so I'll probably just stick with enlisted on the reserves. Thanks for the info. I'll probably wait to get the result on my OCS app. before I call the Reserve recruiter. I hope I can get picked up now but I've got confidence that I can get in later if I don't now. I'm excited to get started on something!

 

[JKD]

Something to remember is your initial training in the reserves. I'm taking the Intel route. I'm a Navy Veteran in an enlisted aviation maintenance rate. When I re-enlisted in the reserves, I changed rates (jobs). My initial training is 8 months plus a 2 week Annual Training. Until I complete these, I'm not even assigned to my command.

Before I can apply for a commissioning program (OCS or DIRCOM) I need to get settled into my command and get my CO's recommendation. I see this as a 6 month minimum after I start to drill with the command.

The point is - if you enlist, you will have to complete any initial training before you will be able to re-apply for OCS or even consider DIRCOM (This is in most cases - I don't know of any exceptions, but they may be out there).

(This is also the case if you enlist on active duty).

I knew all of this up front. I still have 16 months to complete my degree. This gives me a chance to get the feel of the Intel community before committing to that path.

IS2

 

[mikedjp]

dsweeney, i'm glad you pointed out the training aspect. 8 months is a long training period. The Reserves website makes it sound like after the 2 weeks of basic you are in. Just to be clear, I want to ask you if that 8 month training period will be full time duty or just training during your 1 weekend a month? I still have 2 years of grad school so the time frame is still not a problem assuming I don't have to postpone beginning grad. school another year.

 

[JKD]

It matters on the program.

With Intel (which it doesn't sound like you are looking for) there is a class specific to the reserve Intel community that allows you to complete the training on your weekend drills (8 months of one weekend a month). Your training is then completed with your 2 week Annual Training (active duty for 2 weeks). (Mine is scheduled for one month after I complete the weekend training, but that is not always the case - sometimes you have to wait for an open class. During that time you would be drilling with your unit).

If you look into the reserve route, just be sure to ask what type of training is involved. My experience with enlisted recruiters is that they will give you any information you ask for, but do not volunteer much. (And I consider the 2 I've dealt with to be more up front about things than some I've heard stories about).

 

[mikedjp]

Thanks for the info. I'll be sure to ask all the question when I call the recruiter. Actually I'm interested in the intel community in the reserves and the aviation community as an active duty officer...I think. I'll have to go over my options more with the recruiter. I want to use the language background if possible, hence my interest in Intel. As my GPA is less than a 3 and my test scores are average...(52oar and 5's across the board) I dont qualify for Intel now as an officer, and I want to fly anyway. Like I said before, ideally I'll get picked up for OCS now, but I know how competitive things are so I'm preparing to go the extra mile and join the Reserves and get my GPA up and give it another shot in a year or 2.

Thanks again for the help.

So one last question, if I were to enlist in the Reserves right now about how long would it be before I'm in Basic?

 

[JKD]

This would be a recruiter type question. You could time when you sign around when you wanted to go.

What area of the country are you in? Most Intel reservist have to drill at a Reserve Intelligence Area (RIA). There are several across the country. Your recruiter should have all of this info.

 

[mikedjp]

I'm in Austin, Texas.