army reserve question

[Havana_Face]

i have a question. my DF is thinking about joining the army reserves. my question is, can he be deployed anywhere and what his requirements are (like how often will he have to work) will he be away weekends or nights or anything like that? and can we say no?

thanks!

[sharvs]

I'm not 100% sure how the reserves work. I know that reservists can be deployed, however I dont think they get deployed often. They usually work one night a week (until about 10-11pm) and one weekend a month (Friday to Sunday). I think they also go away for 2 weeks straight, every year.

Hopefully someone can confirm or deny this for you.

Good luck, the reserves is a good way to get a taste for the job to see whether he likes it or not.

Oh, I think Reservists also do 6 weeks basic training at Kapooka

[bearsmummy]

Hi josie_seven, my DF is in the reseves. :D

Sharvs pretty well got it spot on! :yes:

Basically they are required to go every Tuesday night from 7 till 10 pm and one weekend a month (fri night till sun night) and 2 week block in a year. They will give him other opportunities to go away but he can opt to do what suits him and his work schedule.

Before he does that, he has to do the selection process (medical, physical and psyc), if he passes that, he has to go to Kapooka for his 6 week basic training.
Once he decides on what Corps he wants to be in (eg infantry, artillery) there are extra courses he will have to go away on to become qualified, most only go for 2 weeks, and that can be included as his 2 week block for the year. These courses can be anywhere is Aust, all travel paid for, meals etc and remember the pay is tax free ;)

As far as deployment goes, its rare that they go overseas and most of the time they ask you if you want to go and they can volounteer.... however....if things go bad overseas, they can be deployed with a 28 day notice given. No choice...this is very rare.

My DF has been in the reseves for 4 years now and has been deployed to Malaysia and Singapore (by choice) for 3 months and may possibly be being sent to the Solomons next november for 6 months (again optional)
and lots and lots of courses away.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask hun :)

[cjb/jbvd]

sharon's answer is the textbook promo answer (no offence at all intended there sharvs, please don't take it that way!!).

as an ex-reserve i can tell you that you work as often or as little as you like. every tuesday night is pretty standard, but not compulsory (if you ring up and say you aren't coming). and a weekend every couple of months is normal (again, you can say you aren't coming).

it depends how serious or how involved he wants to be. it's entirely up to him. they can't make you go to reservs no matter how much they might bluster about it..........

during my reserve time i spent an average of four - five months away every year between courses, field time and operational stuff. but it's all voluntary (except the qualification courses, but they usually break them up into small two or three week blocks and spread them out)

i also ended up doing FTS (full time service) so reserves ended up being my regular day job (one of the reasons i transferred to full time in the end).

the entry requirements are pretty much the same as trying to get into the full time army except that recruit training is only six and a half weeks instead of thirteen.

hope this helps some.....................

[sharvs]

sharon's answer is the textbook promo answer (no offence at all intended there sharvs, please don't take it that way!!).
.

No problems - my friends hubby is a WO1 (regular Army) attached to the reserves so I only know what he does (which isnt much, he has it pretty darn good!)