From Active Army Infantry to a Reserves TPU, what to expect?

[Kato]

Hello everyone. After having spent a year and a half in the IRR, today I had paperwork submitted transferring me to an IT related TPU at Fort Lewis.

I am an E4 out of a stryker brigade, time in the desert, etc etc etc. My "experience" has been in the active duty infantry world, so as you can imagine my experience has been rather harsh. I'm fine with that, combat arms is what is it, for good reason.

I have no idea what to expect in the reserves. I don't know anybody in the reserves. I am awaiting my paperwork/packet in the mail, and my first drill date is about a month away.

That said, can anyone share their experiences or otherwise clue me in to what I might expect in the reserves? Work environment, how reservists relate/interact, promotion rates, etc. Good or bad, anything would be appreciated.

And because I know a few might be wondering why I did not simply ride out my time in the IRR: $253 a month for family medical coverage. That's about 1/4 what we pay now. Hate to say its anything as simple and financially motivated as that, but there it is.

Thanks

[former31B]

From my experience going from active duty to the reserves: hope for the best, expect the worse. You are lucky to be assigned to a unit that drills on an active base since they tend to be slightly better.

You'll find three types of people in the Reserves: kids in high school/college just doing the college thing, guys hanging around till the end of their IRR time, and the supertroopers/reserve careerists that have spent relatively little, if any, active time.

Doing half of what was expected of you in an active unit will make you the golden boy. Go all out and they'll probably make you a CSM as soon as a lot of people ahead of you retire.

Expect to do almost everything yourself...pay issues, paperwork, everything...you'll be the one making sure the paperwork is where it needs to be and contacting the unit admin during the week...if you hand it off to your first line, it may never get done.

All in all though, it's not too bad. Like I said, you could get lucky with a good unit. And hey, at least its not the National Guard.

[adenjustice20]

You will definitely learn some responsibility, etc. Good luck!