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Common Ground News

What are the pros and cons of joining the Army Reserve?

Author

Sarah Oconnor

Updated on February 26, 2026

What are the pros and cons of joining the Army Reserve?

PROS of joining the reserves
  • Health Care Benefits. If you haven't paid for health insurance through a civilian employer before, you're about to see how expensive it can get.
  • Retirement.
  • Flexibility with Time & Location.
  • Money.
  • Career Advancement.
  • Deployment.
  • Extra Work.
  • No Physical Training.

Then, is going into the reserves a good idea?

Money. Transitioning to civilian employment can be stressful, especially when it comes to money. One benefit of joining the reserves is that you'll get paid for your time and you get to keep your current rank. Some will also qualify for cash bonuses depending on their job skills and the military's current needs.

Beside above, what are the benefits of joining the Army Reserves? in the Army Reserve, you'll earn money for education, cash bonuses, discounted health care, build retirement, and more. All while you pursue your civilian career or continue your education.

Correspondingly, how much do the reserves get paid a month?

Basic Military Pay Chart For Army Reserve Soldiers*

Rank>2 Years6 Years
Private (E1)$3,639.51**$3,639.51
Private (E2)$4,079.25$4,079.25
Private First Class (E3)$4,289.67$4,835.88
Specialist or Corporal (E4)$4,751.46$5,767.65

What are the pros and cons of joining the army?

7 Pros and Cons Of Joining The Military, According To A Current Active Duty Member

  • Free College.
  • Guaranteed Paycheck, Free Rent and Utilities.
  • Paid Vacation.
  • Military Discount/ Free Flights.
  • Free Health Care.
  • Training.
  • Travel.
  • Free Health Care.

How much do Army Reserves get paid?

Basic Military Pay Chart For Army Reserve Soldiers*
Rank>2 Years6 Years
Private (E1)$3,639.51**$3,639.51
Private (E2)$4,079.25$4,079.25
Private First Class (E3)$4,289.67$4,835.88
Specialist or Corporal (E4)$4,751.46$5,767.65

Should I go active or reserve?

Active duty is a better option for those looking for a complete change, and a secure full-time job with numerous benefits. Alternatively, reserve duty is a better option for those wishing to add adventure, learn new skills, and make extra money, without disrupting their current lives.

Do Army Reserves get deployed often?

The Air Force Reserve official site adds that in general terms there is no set deployment schedule for reservists. “It isn't unusual” the site claims, “to not be deployed at all. If you get deployed once in six years, that would be typical, but it could be more than that.”

Can Army Reserves go to war?

Yes. However…. in the U.S. Army Reserves there are no combat arms units, only combat support and combat service support. So more often for a reserve unit, a mobilization is something that supports active duty and National Guard elements.

Do the reserves get paid?

As a Reserve Soldier you are compensated hourly for work completed. Your wages will increase as your rank increases and your years of experience increase. For training events longer than a weekend, you are given a prorated Basic Pay. Pay is based on two weeks of training each year and one weekend each month.

What is the age limit to join the Army Reserves?

You must: Be a U.S. citizen or nationalized to be a Reserve or National Guard officer. To enlist, you must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien. Age requirements differ between branches of service, but in general you must be between the ages of 17-35 with no prior service (NPS).

How long do you have to be in the reserves?

Anyone that joins the military in an active duty capacity will be serving in the Army full-time. This is generally four years of active service and four years of inactive service. Reservists, on the other hand, have six-year contracts of reserve service and two of inactive service typically.

Which branch is best for reserves?

Which is the best branch for reserve/guard duty?
  • AIr Force :-) 37%
  • ARMY Reserve. 18%
  • ARMY Guard. 17%
  • NAVY Reserve. 17%
  • 11%

Is Army Reserve pay monthly?

Normally, members of the Army Reserves serve as part-time soldiers by training for one weekend a month and two consecutive weeks per year. For that one weekend a month, Army Reservists earn what's known as "drill pay."

Do Army Reserves get paid monthly?

While members on active duty (full-time duty) receive base pay, members of the National Guard and military Reserves get monthly "drill pay." The amount of monthly drill pay depends on how many drill periods a person works during the month, their military rank, and the number of years they have been in the military.

Can I have a full time job and be in the reserves?

After Active Duty
One weekend a month and two weeks a year are easy for most employers to work around, and the normal reservist duty schedule shouldn't significantly interfere with your full-time job. Your job is protected while you're on active duty in most cases.

Do you get paid for basic training?

In order to get paid, the military has to establish your military pay records, and that won't happen until you inprocess during the first few days of basic training. If you arrive at basic training before the 10th of the month, you'll get paid on the 15th.

How do reservists get paid?

Reserve pay is based on two weeks of training each year and one weekend each month otherwise known as Drill Pay plus any bonuses or allowance. Compensation is hourly for work completed and wages will increase with rank and years of experience (many newly enlisted Soldiers enter the Reserve as a private).

How much do soldiers get paid?

All soldiers on active duty receive a basic pay. The Army ranks its soldiers from E1 through E6. E1s with less than two years experience earn an annual salary of $19,660.

How long is Army basic training?

10 weeks

How often does Army Reserve get paid?

Reserve members are paid twice a month. The fifteenth is the mid-month pay and includes pay due from the 1st through the 15th of the month.

Will I be deployed if I join the Army Reserves?

A person who is active duty is in the military full time. They work for the military full time, may live on a military base, and can be deployed at any time. Persons in the Reserve or National Guard are not full-time active duty military personnel, although they can be deployed at any time should the need arise.

Do you get a sign on bonus for joining the Army Reserves?

The rest of your eligible Army Reserve bonuses are paid in annual portions of $10,000 until the entire bonus amount is received in full. Army Reserve recruits may qualify for a $20,000 Enlistment Bonus if your enlistment contract is at least six years with an additional two years in Inactive Reserve (IRR).

Can you leave the Army Reserve at any time?

You can leave at any time, unless you are serving on operations. If you decide to leave, all you'll need to do is to let your unit know and hand in all of your kit and equipment.

Do Army Reserves get housing allowance?

Army Reserve Soldiers on active duty are eligible for Basic Allowance for Housing. Basic Allowance for Housing rates are based on local area rental market data and vary by geographic duty station, pay grade and dependency status.

Do you have to go to war if you join the Army?

You have to go to basic training, and you do not necessarily have to go to war. Everyone in the military has to be ready to go to war if you are called.

Do Army reservists get VA benefits?

Reservists who have served honorably on active duty establish veteran status and may therefore be eligible for VA benefits, depending on the length of active military service and other eligibility factors. In addition, reservists who are never called to active duty may qualify for some VA benefits.

Can my girlfriend live on base with me in the army?

It is true that you will not be allowed to live on post as an Army girlfriend. Until you are married, your soldier will not be authorized to have on post housing. Even though the Army may not officially recognize your relationship, your soldier does.

What are the disadvantages of joining the army?

While it's a rewarding adventure, there are restrictions to expect such as the time commitment.
  • Job Training and Education. The Army and other military branches provide on-the-job training, structure and discipline.
  • Direction and Discipline.
  • Potentially Dangerous.
  • Lack of Freedom.

Is Army training hard?

Army Basic Training Red Phase
Red phase is the starting phase and is typically considered the hardest part of training. The entire phase, which is 3 weeks long, is devoted to constant calisthenic exercise and you will be spending much of your time in the push-up position.

Do you shower together at basic training army?

In basic training, you take group showers. There's no way out of communal showers. They're required. Everyone in your barracks will enter the shower room assigned to your barracks when commanded.

Can I have long hair in the army?

Hair cannot be longer than four inches and cannot touch the ears, collar, or eyebrows. The length and bulk of the hair cannot interfere with properly worn headgear and may not be styled in a manner that allows the hair to extend more than two inches from the scalp. Hair color must look natural and be complementary.

Is joining the army dangerous?

Being a soldier is a dangerous job, allthough most soldiers have not been seriously harmed in recent wars. The risks are bigger for soldiers in the infantry or another front line job, and smaller for those with other kinds of army job. There is no army job that is completely safe.

Is joining the Army worth it?

It's worth it if you have literally no options available. If you have any potential whatsoever the Army will pay you less than you would make in almost any other job. The people in charge of you will have only a few years more experience than you do, and many of them will be total jerks.

How strong do you need to be to join the army?

Male recruits ages 17 to 21 have to do 42 push-ups, 53 sit-ups and a two-mile run in 15 minutes and 54 seconds or less. Women in the same age group have to complete 19 push-ups, 53 sit-ups and two miles of running in 18 minutes and 54 seconds or less.

How much money do you get from joining the army?

Military salaries are determined by your rank and years of service. As of January 2017, the salary for enlisted personnel in pay grade E-1 is $1,599.90 per month, or $19,198.80 per year. The starting salary for officers in pay grade O-1 is $3,034.80 per month, or $36,417.60 per year.

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