The Naval Reserve is a force of highly trained men and women available
to meet the expanded needs of the regular Navy. Reservists serve as
officers or enlisted personnel, depending on their qualifications
and interests.
If you are interested in joining the Naval Reserve, you must be between
the ages of 21 and 35 without prior service. Prior service age limits
differ. You must have a High School diploma although in some instances
GED certificates can be accepted. You must also pass a physical, and
take the Armed Services
Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which will determine career
paths available for consideration.
Montgomery G.I. Bill - The MGIB allows you attend school full-time
while serving in the Reserve and get up to $272 a month in addition
to your Reserve paycheck and any other Reserve educational benefits
you may be eligible to receive. For more on the GI Bill for Reservists,
go to the Reserve
GI Bill section.
Tuition Assistance - The Naval Reserve offers you tuition assistance.
You can be reimbursed up to 75% of tuition costs for up to 15 credit
hours per fiscal year.
Credits for Experience - Members of the Reserve can also take
advantage of free College Level Examination Program tests (CLEP).
For every test you pass on a particular subject, you earn three transferable
college credits.
DANTES - You can also pursue college and university independent
study courses through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational
Support (DANTES) as a member of the Reserve. The program is comprised
of over 1200 colleges and universities nationwide which help sevicemembers
transfer credits from school to school and get college credits for
military training and experience.
Promotions and Career Path
The Naval Reserve bases its promotions on the criteria of job performance,
job knowledge and time in service.
Naval Reserve Accelerated Initial Accession (AIA) - The Naval
Reserve has an Accelerated Initial Accession (AIA) program which allows
the enlistment of non-prior service personnel into the Naval Reserve
to fill non-designated positions such as; FN (Fireman), SN (Seaman),
and AN (Airman) requirements.
You must enlist for a minimum of eight years, with four years in a
participating status. The last four years can be in the Inactive Ready
Reserve (IRR).
The AIA program requires 2 weeks recruit training (boot camp), followed
by the standard one weekend a month and two weeks a year reservist
schedule.
To be eligible for this program you must:
Have no prior service
Have a high school diploma or GED
Have an Armed Forces Qualification Test Score of 31 or above
Qualify physically and meet height and weight requirements
Meet the Naval Reserve's dependency requirements (Unmarried
applicants with dependents are not normally eligible, but a waiver
may be requested from the Chief of Naval Personnel).
Advanced Pay Grade (APG) - The Naval Reserve Advanced Pay Grade
(APG) program allows qualified civilians, whose occupations and experience
are comparable to Navy career fields, to enlist in the Naval Reserve.
Those with prior military service must enlist for a minimum of three
years. Those with no prior-service applicants incur a minimum obligation
of eight years, with six years in a participating status.
The APG program requires 2 weeks recruit training (boot camp), followed
by the standard one weekend a month and two weeks a year reservist
schedule.
The Naval Reserve Experience
In the Naval Reserve the length of your enlistment varies. If enlisting
in a permanent paygrade your term can be two, three, four, six or
eight years. Also enlistments can be extended in 12 month increments.
While in the Naval Reserve you must attend at least 90% of your scheduled
drills and a minimum of 12 active duty training days per year.
Drills - A drill consists of two days of training per month.
Your pay will also be adjusted automatically for cost-of-living increases.
You'll get pay increases for every two years of accumulated service
and may earn special duty pay. To calculate your drill pay, visit
the Drill
Calculator.
Annual Training - Annual training in the Naval Reserve is held
for two weeks per year. Depending on the unit and your specialty you
could be stationed at a shore location, with an aviation squadron
or aboard ship.
Travel - As a member of the Naval Reserve you will have the
opportunity to travel both on duty and off. You also qualify for military
Space Available travel within and between the continental United States,
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico. For more on military travel
options and benefits, see the Travel
Center.
Life Insurance, Medical Care - The Naval Reserve provides comprehensive
medical care while on duty. You also qualify for low-cost life insurance.
For more on these and other benefits, visit the Reserve
Help Pages.
Home Loan Program - Members of the Naval Reserve with at least
six years of service are eligible to apply for the Department of Veterans
Affairs Home-Loan Guarantee program. For more on this program, go
to the Home
section.
Base Privileges - As a member you can access to all recreational
facilities on military bases such as gyms, tennis courts and libraries.
You and your family can also enjoy unlimited access shopping at any
Military Exchange nationwide. Naval Reserve members and their families
are also entitled to use base commissaries for up to 24 days annually,
plus any days spent on active duty. For more on recreational and family
benefits, see the Reserve
Family and Individual Help page.
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career opportunities. Great information with no obligation!
