Though you are considered "inactive", you are still required to present yourself, or "muster" with your last unit once a year.  Also, in the event of a full scale mobilization you could be recalled to service with that unit.

Individual Ready Reserve

If you enter the Reserves or Guard through the delayed entry program this is most likely the category you will fall in while awaiting basic training.  If you have an enlistment that runs out after 4 years, you may also find yourself classified as Individual Ready Reserve, or IRR, in order to complete six years of total service.  In the IRR, though it is not required, you can still be promoted, compile retirement points, and participate in annual training.

While in the IRR you are not affiliated with any drilling unit, so it is up to you to complete any correspondence courses that may be required by your MOS for drill points.  Also, it will be up to you to find a command that has funding to send you to annual training if you want to keep accruing retirement points.  Postings for annual training slots open to IRR members can usually be found on the branch website or by contacting your personnel officer.

Selected Reserve

Active Guard and Reserve (AGR)

The AGR is made up of reservists who serve on active duty to keep their units functioning on a day-to-day basis in training or administrative roles.  There are other AGR members who serve as recruiters or instructors.  The AGR category is very broad and encompasses not only active Air Force Reserve, Army Reserve and National Guard, but also Navy Training and Administration of Reserves, and Marine Corps Active Reservists.

As a member of the AGR you are assigned a full time mobilization slot or billet in the unit you serve in on that one weekend a month/two weeks a year.  This affords the opportunity to continue a military career but not have to move as often as those in the active duty.

If you want to follow this path in the Navy, then you will be required to pull some sea duty as part of the Training and Administration of Reserves (TAR), but when you are ashore you will be assigned to administer a reserve unit.

Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA)

As part of the IMA you will be assigned to an active duty unit. So in a time of war or national emergency you could be called up quickly to bring your unit up to strength. 

You will be required to train with your active duty unit for two weeks a year.  However, in addition to annual training you will be required to earn 40 extra "drill" points per year for retirement. These points can be earned through working at your unit "for points only" (meaning you will not get paid), or by taking correspondence courses. 

All of the services have IMAs in a variety of ranks and skills, the Navy mainly uses the category for senior officer levels.

Selected Reserve Units

This is what most people think of when they think of the "weekend warrior".  As a reservist or guardsman you will most likely fall into this category.  This where you will serve "one weekend a month, two weeks a year".  You will be required to complete 40 unit training assemblies or "drills," and two weeks of annual training.

For the most part, drills are held once a month on weekends.  During your drill you will be paid for four days work, five if the drill weekend starts on a Friday.

Some things to consider before you join a unit is to ask about the unit's drill schedule to make sure you can work your civilian job around it.  Also be aware, with the downsized military, the Guard and Reserve are contributing more to the duties that were once performed by active duty units.  So be prepared to deploy.

Also, if you are in a job that directly supports an active duty unit, your drills may not fall into the "one weekend a month" category.  Positions in these units drill whenever they are able, sometimes even during the week.  This can be a benefit if your civilian job has irregular hours.

Military Technicians

These are full-time federal civilian employees who are also reservists. They are also known as "dual-status," and perform the administrative and training duties for the reserve units they serve.  What makes them different from AGR personnel is that they do not qualify for active-duty military pensions.  They do receive federal employee and retirement benefits and qualify for reserve military pensions.

Retired Reserve

Though this area may not seem pertinent to you as you enter the Reserve or Guard, we will throw it in anyway as something to aim for while you are in the "front leaning rest" position at boot camp.  After all, it's never too early to start planning your retirement.

Following a career in active or reserve duty, individuals are placed in what is known as the Retired Reserve while they continue to collect their military pensions and benefits.

Also in this area are "gray area reservists," who are reservists who are eligible for retired pay but have not reached their 60th birthday, to enable them to begin collecting their military pension. 

To reach the status of Retired Reserve you must be an active duty enlisted retiree of the Army or Air Force with more than 20, but less than 30, years of combined active and inactive service. Once you hit 30 years, you are fully retired.  If you are a retired enlisted member of the Navy or Marine Corps with 20, but not 30, years in, you are moved into what is called the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Reserve. 

So after you've had an exciting and fulfilling career in the service of your country, and have reached the 30 year mark, in addition to having an endless supply of stories to impress your family and friends, you will be assigned to one of three categories in the Retired Reserve. These categories depend on your age, physical fitness, and date of retirement from service.

If you are not yet 60 years old or disabled you will be placed in Categories 1 or 2.  Which category you are assigned to will depend on your physical condition and how critical your skill is. Here you are still considered eligible to be mobilized in the event of a national emergency or war.

If you are a disabled veteran or over 60 years old, you are still not free from being called back to the colors.  However in Category 3 your case is evaluated on an individual basis.

Standby Reserve

The Standby Reserve are reservists or members of the Guard who maintain their military affiliation, but are not members of the Ready Reserve.

Normally these reservists are key federal employees, such as senators, congressmen and senior agency officials.  They can also be civilians in the defense industry whose employers designate them as crucial to the national security.

This status allows them to maintain their rank and standing in the reserves while serving the government in other ways.

Active Status

These reservists can voluntarily participate in training for retirement, but receive no pay.  They are eligible for promotion, with the exception of promotion to the flag or general officer level.

Inactive Status

These reservists are not authorized to participate in training for retirement points and cannot be promoted.  Those who elect to be transferred to this status because of hardship or health reasons are allowed to maintain their military status because they have skills the reserve might need in the future.

It takes an Act of Congress to get the Standby Reserve recalled to active duty, and then only when there are not enough Ready Reservists to do the job.

What's the ASVAB?

The ASVAB is a test that measures your aptitudes. It consists of ten short individual tests covering word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, arithmetic reasoning, mathematics knowledge, general science, auto and shop information, mechanical comprehension, electronics information, numerical operations and coding speed. When you take the ASVAB prior to enlisting, not only do you receive scores on each of these individual tests, but several individual test results are combined to yield three academic composite scores: verbal, math and academic ability.

• Take a practice test.

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• Steady Income:  You are paid twice a month, on the 1st and 15th, every month, based on your pay grade and service requirements.
• Advancement:  You are promoted based on job knowledge, your performance, time in pay grade and service requirements.
• Paid vacation:  You earn 2.5 days paid vacation per month for a total of 30 days each year up to 60 days. 
• Training:  You choose your career path based on your aptitude, physical abilities, security clearance, motivation and determination. 
• Health Care:  While on active duty, you will receive complete medical and dental care at no cost.
• Life Insurance:  While serving on active duty (for instance during boot camp and annual training) members can select inexpensive term life insurance.
• Allowances:  While serving on active duty, you will receive additional tax-free money for Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), if government food facilities are not available in the area you are stationed; and a uniform allowance (for enlisted personnel only) to help maintain your uniform.
• Tax Advantage:  Only your basic monthly pay is subject to Federal or State income tax. 
• GI Bill:  The Montgomery GI Bill will help pay for college education or vocational training. 
• Tuition Assistance:  While in the Reserves or Guard, you may continue your education, and may be helped in defraying the cost of college-accredited courses.  Additionally, if you are in the National Guard some states offer substantial benefits such as free tuition to state colleges or universities.  To find out more on this bonus, talk to you recruiter or education officer.
• Additional Benefits:  There are exchange and commissary privileges, temporary lodging expenses, travel, Veterans Administration home loans and more.

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No. You do not have to join another service prior to joining the Reserve or National Guard.   

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Yes. The Reserve and National Guard accept people with prior service. 

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Only U.S. citizens or foreign nationals legally residing in the United States with an Immigration and Naturalization Service Alien Registration Card ("Green Card" -- INS Form I-151/551) may apply. Applicants must speak, write and read English fluently.

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No. The U.S. military cannot assist foreign nationals in obtaining admittance into the United States. 

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Regulations prohibit the forwarding of recruiting information through international mail, even to U.S. citizens living in foreign countries. Use our online form to reach a recruiter electronically.

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Basic training, or boot camp, lasts from eight weeks to 13 weeks depending on the branch. After you have finished boot camp you will be sent to Advanced Individual Training, or AIT, where you will receive in-depth training in your Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) or Rating.

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Yes. Prepare yourself for running and physical fitness training, and lots of it. 

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How do I become an officer?

The Reserve or National Guard seeks commissioned officers through several different sources. You must 18 or older (maximum age requirements vary from service to service), be of good moral character and be able to meet academic, physical, medical and security requirements.

What is the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)?

The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) is unique program offered by the Reserve and National Guard where a college-bound member of the Reserve or National Guard who is already assigned or has enlisted in an Army National Guard (ARNG) unit can also simultaneously enroll in an Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.  SMPs enter the Army's Advanced ROTC program while at the same time serving in their unit as a cadet.

This is on-the-job training and was designed to relieve a shortage of junior officers in the Army National Guard.  If you participate in the SMP you continue to serve and draw monthly and annual training pay while you are in ROTC.  Additionally, Army ROTC cadets receive a $200 monthly stipend.

An SMP cadet performs the duties of a second lieutenant under the supervision of a commissioned officer.  The requirements for this program is that you must be 30 years of age or younger, attending college full-time (usually about 12 semester hours at most colleges), and be in good physical shape.

The SMP is only offered on campuses where an Army ROTC programs exists, or if you participate in an Army ROTC program at a nearby college or university.  If you try SMP you will still attend ROTC Advance Camp during the summer between your junior and senior year.

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If you have a 4-year college degree from an accredited college and meet all age, physical and moral requirements, you may apply for OCS. The application process includes scoring well on the Armed Forces Aptitude Battery test (ASVAB) and passing your physical. Your SAT or ACT scores will also be needed. Upon completion of your officer package, you will have an interview with a board of your superior officers. The completed package will be submitted to a second board, who will select the top candidates from the packages they receive.

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As a professional lawyer, doctor, dentist, nurse or health care professional you may also qualify for a direct Commission into the Reserve or National Guard. 

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Yes.  Enlisted members may compete for OCS slots if they have four years of service, obtained the rank of E-5 or above and have at least 30 college credits. Enlisted members of the Reserve and Guard may also apply for acceptance into the Warrant Officer program. 

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What is a Warrant Officer?

Warrant Officers are found in the Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard. The definition is an officer appointed by warrant by the Secretary of the Army, based on a sound level of technical and tactical competence. The Warrant Officer is the highly specialized expert and trainer who, by gaining progressive levels of expertise and leadership, operates, maintains, administers and manages the Army's equipment, support activities, or technical systems for an entire career.

The Warrant Officer option is open if you are currently ranked an E-5 or higher in the Army National Guard (ARNG), a soldier in the Army Reserve, or if you are transitioning into the Guard or Reserve from active duty.   

You are eligible for the Warrant Officer Program if you:

• Are between the ages of 18 and 46
• Score 110 or above on the General Aptitude Area Test
• Are a High School Graduate or pass the General Education Development test (GED)
• Are a US citizen by birth or naturalization
• Are able to successfully pass all events on the Army Physical Fitness Test
• Meet certain mandatory technical qualifications for your specific MOS
• Meet certain medical, security and licensing requirements (depending on your specific MOS)

If you are applying to the Warrant Officer program to be a Rotary Wing Aviator, you must not be older than 27 years and 6 months at time of application.

To be commissioned as a Warrant Officer it is necessary to complete the Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS).

As a member of the Guard or Reserve you have two options for completing this training:

• A 6-week active Army resident school at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
• Two 2-week phases of WOCS-RC (Reserve Component) at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

After completing the Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS), you have 2 years to complete the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC). This is further training in your Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) and makes sure that you can effectively perform the required duties in the field you have chosen.

Again, you will have the option of attending the active component or reserve component WOBC. Depending on your MOS, the length of the active component WOBCs is from 5 to 20 weeks. In many cases, the WOBC-RC course is a correspondence phase and one or two weeks of active duty for training (residence phase).

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The Reserve and National Guard is also seeking qualified health professionals. For more information about medical programs you can have someone contact you about applying your medical trade in the Reserve and National Guard by completing this form. 

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By law, as a member of the Reserve or National Guard, you must, upon request, be granted a leave of absence to satisfy a requirement for military training. The Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act requires employers to provide Reservists with time away from their jobs to perform military duty. However, you must notify your employer that you intend to take military leave. You must be reemployed after completion of your military duty and return to your job within a reasonable time. You must be treated as though you had never left employment, including schedule pay raises, promotions or credit for longevity or vacation. Your employer only has to hold a job open for 60 months if you accept voluntary orders.  

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Army National Guard