The requirements to join the reserve army as an officer vary by branch of service, but all reservists must meet certain minimum standards. These include being within the military height and weight standards, completing basic training, passing psychological and physical evaluations, and gaining a security clearance. A recruiter can provide more specific information about the requirements for a particular branch of service.
After meeting minimum requirements, you can join the reserve army as an officer by attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Benning, Georgia. This 12-week program includes instruction in leadership, strategy, and tactics. Upon graduation, you will be commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to a reserve unit. You must also attend drills and annual training to maintain your status as a reserve army officer.
Unlike active duty, the reserves are part-time. This means you can pursue a civilian career or go to college while serving in the reserves. However, you should be aware that you may need to relocate if your unit is deployed or called up for active duty.
In addition to meeting the military’s basic requirements, you must be a United States citizen and be 18 years old or older. You must also have a high school diploma or GED certificate and be mentally and physically healthy. You must also pass a drug screening test and a background check.
Army Reserve Officer Requirements
The first step to joining the Army Reserve as an officer is getting accepted into Officer Candidate School. This program is open to anyone who meets the minimum age requirements (18 or older), is a US citizen, and passes a physical. You also need to have a high enough score on the ASVAB test and pass an interview board to get into OCS. Once you are a commissioned officer, you can then join the Reserve or National Guard.
The Army Reserve recruits for officers through several different avenues, including the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), which allows a college-bound person to enroll in ROTC and serve as an enlisted soldier at the same time. This is a unique program that helps to make it easier for a young adult to join the military and still have time for a full-time career and family life.
Another way to become an Army Reserve officer is through the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, which offers a variety of legal careers. Army JAGs are involved in both civil and military law and can choose to focus on either area of the law.
Once you are a commissioned officer, your responsibilities are similar to those of a regular army member. You have a commitment to attend training two days each month, as well as one period of annual training every year. You also receive compensation for any training that you miss. Other benefits include medical care, a home loan program, and servicemembers’ group life insurance.
Can You Join the Navy Reserve as an Officer?
The Navy Reserve is a part of the Department of the Navy that provides strategic depth and operational capabilities to Navy and Marine Corps teams and Joint forces in full range of military operations, from peace to war. Reserve Sailors seamlessly complement and amplify Navy and Marine Corps core capabilities, including forward presence and deterrence, maritime security, power projection, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
Enlisted Navy Reserve members join via the SELRES or TAR programs after they have completed an initial active duty enlistment (typically four years long) and either graduated from a Navy technical school known as A School for a particular enlisted rating or achieved a Navy enlisted rating through on-the-job qualification in the Fleet or Shore Establishment. Non-prior service enlistees go through the same recruit training as Navy active duty enlisted sailors and attend a two-week Advanced Training course at the appropriate Naval Station.
In addition, all reservists are required to meet minimum physical requirements and pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB. Once in the Navy Reserve, reservists are assigned to units based on the unit’s manpower authorization. This includes each unit’s specific Reserve Unit Assignment Document or RUAD. RUADs list specific billet requirements, including paygrade, designator/rating, and the required Naval Officer Billet Classification (NOBC) or Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) codes.
Can You Join the Air Force Reserve as an Officer?
The Air Force Reserve is a United States Air Force branch that operates alongside the regular Air Force and provides military professionals for critical missions. It is federally controlled and can be called upon in times of national emergency, providing manpower and expertise to support the civilian population in areas such as public safety, law enforcement, and disaster response.
Those who wish to join the Air Force Reserve as an officer must first complete basic military training, which consists of eight weeks of intensive physical and mental transformation. After that, they must pass a medical exam and a series of psychological tests to ensure they are mentally fit to serve as an Air Force officer. Additionally, Reserve officers must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. They must also meet height and weight requirements and be able to pass a standard physical fitness test.
Although you can join the Reserve with an associate degree, it is preferable to have a bachelor’s degree to become a commissioned officer. The Reserve offers educational benefits to help you get your degree, which can eventually lead to a commissioning as an officer in the Air Force Reserve. This is a great way to combine a career with military service. You can also earn a competitive salary and enjoy military benefits, such as health care, low-cost life insurance, and free travel.