U.S. Army Reserve Reviews

Pros

Great training and work experience if you are motivated to push for it. You get a TS/SCI Clearance with the DOD (Department of Defense) which can be very useful to put on your resume in future endeavors with civilian government contractors (which is where you will really make the big bucks) you also get paid civilian education aka: tuition assistance.

Cons

Depending on the unit you are attached to, you will really have to push for additional training and certificates for further education in your field. For example, I was attached to an MP (Military Police) unit who didn't have the funds or priority to send me to all the high speed courses I wanted to attend. So try you best to get attached to a Intelligence unit where they will take care of you. Also, training is only one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer so you have small windows of training opportunities. If you are really interested in being an Intelligence Analyst I recommend going active duty to get real experience first, that way you are only locked into a 4 year contract instead of a 6 year and you will for sure get real experience and better benefits such as insurance, financial support, and complete civilian education tuition assistance.

Pros

*One weekend to three days a month *Two to Four weeks in the Summer-time *The leadership was finally improving *Health Insurance

Cons

*Leadership was not stern enough. Soldiers would get away with purposely signing up for college classes to avoid the annual training despite knowing about it 6-7 months in advance. *Annual training was typically two weeks a year; unfortunately, the last couple of years, their length increased to a month. As a result, several soldiers in my unit would have to take a hefty pay cut to attend these annual training. *Despite us being a communications company, ours tended to suck from time to time. Leadership would not pass down important information and sit on it longer than they should.

Pros

The scope of legal actions from administrative separations, contract review packages (CASO), line of duty (LODs) determinations, wills, powers or attorney, financial disclosure assistance, and providing advise to commanders.

Cons

Required to relocate every three years and better support for military spouses.

Pros

Great people made the job better

Cons

Terrible moral Top leadership more worried about checking boxes than being a good leader Menial tasks just to appear to be busy Difficult to get into different schools

Pros

It's the Army, so you get Tricare and a couple hundred bucks every month

Cons

Expectation that the Army always takes priority even for mundane training events that could be made up. They frankly don't seem to care about your civilian employer or your other obligations, even though you need your job to pay the bills and feed your family. If you are looking for a weekend a month and two weeks a year obligation and that's it, don't listen to the recruiter and walk away now. I have to work at least a few hours between drills that is uncompensated and time that could be spent doing other things. If that is not an issue to you then go for it, but if that's the case I'd look at active duty because at least they keep a roof over your head and pay your bills.

Pros

Great educational and medical benefits Development in leadership skills Room for growth.

Cons

Working schedule can change often Communication to employees is not very efficient or can improve significantly