Reserve going active?

Question

How soon after BCT for the Army Reserve, can someone switch to active duty? Or is that possible at all? Thanks for answering!

Answer 1

Wayne C, complete said the opposite of what my army recruiter told me a little over a week ago. I am 17 and the recruiter told me that i could go to basic as reserve and when i graduate high school i could "switch" to active duty. and i dont think my recruiter was telling me something that not true.

Answer 2

They are effectively 2 different organizations. If you enlist in the Reserve or Guard and want to go active you have to have an active recruiter submit a request for discharge from the Reserve or Guard. If that is not approved you stay where you are. If you make the request after a couple of years and do make the switch you can lose rank and your MOS. Just depends on the needs of the Army at the time and several other factors in regards to rank.

If you go Reserve or Guard and are activated into full time federal service I believe that you can request to stay active. Not sure how that works but have seen some comments about it in here.

Gentlemen, If you want to go active DO NOT join the Reserves or Guard. Period..end of story..Are We Crystal Clear!!!!!

SSG US Army 73-82 Active and Reserve

Edit: Lets try this one more time kids. None of you have EVER been in the US Armed Forces, correct me if I am wrong!

So pay attention!

You can go active from reserves/guard IF your reserve/guard command lets you. If that is not perfectly f ing clear take a class in English as a 2nd language.

Do you understand that the contracts are different?

Do you understand the Chain of Command?

Do you understand how the money gets spread?

Do you understand Commanders being reluctent to relieve someone they need to keep their numbers up or thier own commander happy.

Do you understand that you might not get the MOS you want?

Let's look at DEP! When you go DEP you enlist in the reserve and are held in the IRR and not assigned to a unit. They DISCHARGE you from the reserve and do another contract for active duty the 2nd time you go to MEPS.

If you join a unit YOU belong to them and that Chain of Command! Got it! They decide your fate.....period.

Answer 3

I'm in the same situation, but I was under the impression that you had to complete your commitment before switching over! Great question!