Army Reserves: My thoughts

This is going to be short and sweet: Many of us after spending a significant time on active duty look forward to the day when we finally get the coveted CIF stamp and ride off into the sunset. While this is desired by some, it is not the only option. Personally I enjoyed the military and it was a huge part of my life, I was ready to move on but still had the urge to be involved in the military, throw on a uniform every now and then and help the next generation of officers. If you are not familiar with options, my good friend Kayla @kaptain.kayla does an excellent job of reviewing the gradient of options in the National Guard and Reserves. While this may seem focused towards the Army, these options exist in all military branches.

General Commitment: 16 hours/monthly and 14 Annual Training days.

Why did I stay in the Army Reserves after almost 9 years of active duty service?

1) Health Care

Tricare Reserve Select-If there is one thing that we take for granted in the military it is the health care. We love to complain about Tricare but it is not until you look to the other side that you realize how good coverage is. For me I was recently married, leaving a steady government job with full benefits to chase my goal of becoming a dentist. For $47 (individual) or $238 (family) Tricare Reserve Select provides comprehensive coverage for you and your family. NOBODY can compete with his….

2) Retirement

20 years active duty is daunting and not for everybody (including me). After 20 years of combined service the Reserves/National Guard offer an alternative to this by providing a retirement system based on retirement points. (learn more about retirement points here) Generally you can expect retirement pay form the Reserves or National Guard at or before your 60th birthday. Personally Im looking forward to continued healthcare and mailbox money later on in my life.

3) Additional Pay

During my transition into dental school and my time in school I wasn’t earning what I was during active duty. I cleaned Air B&B’s and had some other side hustles. However, additional Reserve income pay helped bridge the gap while I completed my prerequisites and send in my applications. Generally speaking a Captain can expect to average about $12-$14K annually while a Major would bring home about $14-$17K.

4) Continued Service

I was ready to leave active duty but not ready to hang up the uniform forever. The Reserves allowed me to continue serving in the military, teaching ROTC at Vanderbilt and University of Michigan and working towards retirement.

Questions about he Reserves or National Guard email me at dentalveterans@gmail.com