Posted: 10/21/2004 12:25:04 PM EDT
| What rank are/were you at 7 years? I just made E-6 in the Navy reserves. I've got 6 years active Navy and 1 year, 2 months Navy Reserve. I'm thinking about joining the Army Reserves and I just want to know how I would be sitting as far as rank. Also what MOS is good. I do electronics in the Navy and I hate it. I want something like infantry. I don't know anything so please educate me. Thanks for any input you have. |
| I've been out of the USAR for quite a while, but I don't think the rules have changed too much. You will most likley loose one stripe unless you have some skill the Army can't do without. The NG may be easier on your rank because being a state agancy they have more flexability in what they do. The Army reserves recruits for the whole system, with a recruiter being your only contact. The guard recruits both through the individual units as well as the recrtuiter at your local station. If you do decide to go combat arms, be careful what you wish for. You're almost guaranteed to get deployed. |
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I made E-6 in just under 8, but that is usually the exception other than the rule. Promotions usually come slower in the USAR simply because you need to havean available slot to fill before you can get promoted. However, transferring in you will in all likelyhood retain your current rank. There are not many (but a few) infantry units left in the USAR, but lots of combat engineer and other fun units. What kind of stuff interests you? What do you enjoy doing or would you like to do? And what part of VA are you in? I will see what may fit you in the area. But if you wnat something like infantry..... as far as USAR goes combat engineer is as close as you will get in most areas of the country. If you want to deploy, if you move in the next 2-3 weeks we can proably get you in and trained fast enough to head to Afganistan with my unit. |
| I'm in VA Beach right now. If I get this job that I want I will be moving to PA outside of Pittsburgh. I don't think I could get everything going in time to deploy with you. The main reason is my wife and kid. Plus the fact that I have to get frocked as an E-6. I just found out I made it yesterday. It's not even in my record yet. The news came in thursday, last weekend was my reserve weekend so I have to wait till next month. I like guns, obviously and blowing stuff up. Anything where the focus is getting the job done, not how pretty your uniform is. I've already got my IBA and DCU's but I don't think I'd want to leave this quick. |
| How are those Strykers? I heard that sometimes they're too big to fit in the narrow alleys in Iraq. What's the whole mission of the unit? Like I said, I don't know much about the Army or AR. Of course moving back to PA depends on my getting this job. If I don't I might take you up on that offer. I'm tired of being unemployed. |
The Stryker is an 'ok' light APC... They stand up to RPGs well enough with the 'cage' mounted, but the rubber-tire design is a weakness, and the APC itself is undergunned compared to most other modern designs which mouint a 25mm or heavier cannon. They are designed specifically for rapid deployment... Better than a M113, no comparison to a Bradley or newer BMP |
| I'm still thinking about that right now, but I'm not sure. I think I want a change. I joined the Navy at 17 for 2 reasons, one, family tradition. Two, I joined the Navy Nuclear program. I failed out and spent 6 years in the fleet doing a job that wasn't fulfilling (sonar). I got to play with some guns and ordinance but it wasn't what I wanted. I grew up working construction and really don't want to get back into that. I joined the reserves to do something out of the ordinary that I dont' get to do at home. It's my little vacation once in a while. |
| Keep in mind that a crapload of reservists are trying to get out of the military so getting promoted comes quicker these days. If I would have stayed in my Army reserves unit I would have gone from pv2 to Sgt in under 2 years. Now that I'm active it'll be about 2.5 years total. :D |
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I really wouldn't WANT to have a higher rank, assuming you could transfer to an Army combat arms field. With rank comes and expectation of knowledge and experience - you would be doing yourself and your soldiers a huge disservice to try and cross over with the rank of a squad leader or platoon sergeant. |
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The USAR/ARNG is usually more flexible than the active Army when it comes to MOS swaps, if there is aneed in the unit for that MOS and you can fill it often they will allow it. If you transfer to a new unit they will get you requalified in whatever MOS you will fill. Starting out as an E-6 would be rough. Starting as an E-5 would be a much better place to restart. |