* * * U.S. Naval Reserve Force Information * * *

Welcome to my Navy Reserve Information Kiosk. You can find information concerning starting your career in the reserves, finding about the benefits of being a reservist, and other career oriented information good for both Active Duty and Reservists.

  • If your on active duty and thinking about getting out, this area is DEFINATELY for you!
  • If you are a Navy Veteran, and are 38 years old (a year for year waver for active duty served beyond 38 Years of age)
  • If you are under 38 and have never been on Active Duty, but are considering joining the Navy Reserves.
  • If you have a friend that may be interested in this information...
  • ANYONE!
PAY | TRAVEL | RETIREMENT | LIFE INSURANCE | IRR | EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
You and the Navy Reserves

The Navy Reserves provides an opportunity for Americans to serve their country as an augmentation to our Active Navy Forces. While providing contributary support to various Naval activities throughout the United States and abroad, the benefits provided to the drilling reservist are equally advantage. Reservists benefit from Pay, Travel, Retirement, Life Insurance, Educational Benefits and more...

Pay

Drilling reservists normally drill one weekend a month and two weeks a year.

Weekend drills are divided into 4 drill sessions. Each drill session is paid per the Drill Pay Schedule: Enlisted Drill Pay ---- Officer Drill Pay

During your two weeks of active duty, you are entitled to Base Pay per your Daily norm. This is considered ACTIVE DUTY, not days of drill. This important to note for retirement purposes as well.

Your Pay is your responsibility! Monitor it wisely.

Travel

Both Drilling and Non-Drilling (IRR) Reservists have access to Space -A Travel. You may use this benefit depending on your current status, you may or may not be entitled to out of CONUS travel. Contact your local Space-A center for their specific requirements.

All Travel to support your AT (Active Duty Training) is paid for by the Navy.

Retirement

Click here for the entire Retirement program explained... This retirement is probably second to that of active duty personnel. The catch is you receive your retirement when you turn 60.

The Official Reserve Site for Retirement FAQs.

Life Insurance

While a Drilling Reservist you are Entitled to SGLI, and then you can transfer to VGLI if you desire upon retiring from the reserves.

Inactive Ready Reserves

The Inactive Ready Reserves or IRR is one of the most most misunderstood programs in the Navy Reserve. While many people are under the impression that being in the IRR means you are waiting for your contract to expire so you are no longer under the threat of recall, you may be surprised to hear the opportunities that this program has to offer.

  • Did you know you can still earn retirement points while in the IRR.
  • Did you know that you can still participate in ADSW and other Training. This means you could get your AT every year if funding is available.
  • You are still able to keep your ID card, and you can earn your commissary privileges by earning 50 retirement points per year.
  • You are entitled to use most base services. (MWR and more).

Limitations

  • You are not entitled to pay, unless in a drilling or active duty status
  • You are not entitled to compete for advancement.

Web Resources on the IRR, which detail more information on the program:

Various Helpful Links

Education and Opportunities for you!

Education is quickly becoming one of the most important things that the Navy is promoting today. With web-based resources such as Navy-College, you know the Navy is highly promoting education.

Let's start with what the Training opportunities that the Navy has for you! For the most part, unless you are on Active Duty, you will not receive much Training, other than that afforded you on a drill weekend. Just like sailors on Active Duty, you can find most all the rate training manuals online at: Navy Rate Training Manuals Online All of these are in PDF format, so you will need the Acrobat Reader to read and print out these manuals.

Next, just as I spoke before about the Navy College, if you go to www.navycollege.navy.mil you will find a listing of all schools that you have attended while on active duty. It also has information on all of the DANTES/CLEPs that you have taken, and any courses that you've used Tuition Assistance to pay for.
It gets better, they actually provide ACE Guide recommendations next to all of the entries on the list. ACE (American Council on Education), recommends college credits for military courses that you have taken. This way you will have a good idea where you stand if you want to transfer your military experience for college credit.
Finally, and this website can be used by college campuses around the world to view your military-academic record OFFICIALLY. Most campuses are not aware how to use this, and you should point this out to an academic advisor at an Institution you are attending if you are seeking college credits from your military experience. This can expedite your evaluation!

The Voluntary Education website has great information about all the DANTES tests that are offered and many different educational Institutions that honor DANTES and Military experience. DANTES exams are offered at most all military bases, and Drilling Reservists are entitled to take these exams for FREE. Big cost savings, and this will save you time towards getting your degree!

To give you a head start on your search for Educational Instutions, I want you to know about two schools in particular who offer Accredited Degree programs that you may be interested in. Both of these colleges have NO RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS.

First, The State University of New York Regents College. This college has developed a website where you can quickly see how close you are to an associates degree. They have determined how many college credits that they will give you based on your Rating and Rank. They will give additional credits for courses that are above and beyond this. Also this college will Award Upper Level credits for Subject Level GREs. mind you this can be difficult, but it may quickly get you through over a years worth of College Level work.

With Regents, you may find yourself only short your English Composition and 18 other College Credits (That's only 3 CLEP exams).

The other college I would recommend you consider is Charter Oak State College, out of Conneticut. This accredited college provides an opportunity for you to develop your own degree plan under the guidance of one of the many Academic Advisors. The best part about this college is that they don't have a time limit on earned credits. So if you went to school back in 1976, they will still accept those credits towards your degree (as long as they are from an accredited college). They are pretty good about taking Military credits and DANTES courses. They do expect you to have specific core requirements (English, Math, History, Ethical Elements, etc) in addition to your Major. So don't kid yourself, these colleges are not degree mills! They do expect you to earn your degree, albeit, this is less traditional than other methods.

If anyone out there hears of other good opportunities that you would like to share, please feel free to email me, and I will post the information right here! judd@usshmj.org


My Soapbox: (This is not the opinion of the US Navy, the Submarine force, or any Government/Military Organization, This is only provided to provide an open debate about the Navy's current policy on Higher Education Requirements for Enlisted Personnel).
The Navy's expectation on education is so high, they have removed points towards advancement for people who get Associate's and Bachelor Degrees. I think that this is a move backwards, and doesn't give an incentive towards other people to meet this "standard." In fact, with this new policy it doesn't really affect a person towards advancement whether they work towards a degree or not. Certainly one could argue that it would be reflected in your evaluation, but how can you fault an Outstanding Sailor who does other things that are above and beyond, and reward someone who is MORE concerned with the degree, rather than the mission of Navy business. Let's face it, if Enlisted people had Bachelor's Degrees when they were signing up, they probably would have chosen a Commission. With Programs like the LDO program and Seaman to Admiral Program, how can anyone say that having a Degree is the norm for Enlisted personnel... I would like to hear any feedback anyone has concerning my SoapBox at judd@usshmj.org