When the U.S. Army’s soldiers are deployed overseas, it’s the members of the Army Reserve who step in to do their jobs at home.
The Army Reserve provides the opportunity for U.S. citizens to serve their communities and country while continuing to live a normal civilian life.
While reserve soldiers are called on from time to time, it’s not often, and the job comes with a fair number of benefits, making the position an attractive part-time job option.
According to the U.S. Army website, there are positions available in all kinds of fields, including information technology, biohazard protection, and medical services. What’s more, there are extra bonuses available for highly skilled jobs.
Here are some of the basic benefits available to Army Reserve soldiers:
1. The Army will help you pay for tertiary education — Joining the Army Reserve offers you the opportunity to study while you earn a basic salary. There are lots of education programs available to reserve soldiers, too.
The Reserve Education Assistance Program makes funds available to those who have served at least 90 days, while the Reserve Officers' Training Corps offers full scholarships to students with exceptional grades.
The U.S. Army Reserve Minuteman Scholarship will pay your tuition in exchange for a service commitment and a Student Loan Repayment program is available to soldiers who enlist in the Army Reserve for six years.
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2. You’ll earn an extra salary — Army Reserve soldiers earn Drill Pay. Those who complete only the minimum of two weeks of training a year and one weekend a month can earn anywhere between $3,359.79 and $6,504.12 depending on rank and experience.
Longer training events come with more pay and, the higher your rank, the more you earn. There are bonuses available for soldiers who complete specific training programs and special incentives for soldiers who fit certain skills requirements.
3. Army Reserve members receive medical benefits for themselves and their families — According to Militarybenefits.info, Army Reserve soldiers are eligible for “affordable and low-cost medical, dental, and life insurance benefits.”
Reservists get access to three monthly premium plans. Tricare Reserve Select is a healthcare plan. Then there’s a Dental Plan and the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) with a premium of $26 for $400,000 of coverage.
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4. Work for your retirement — Earning a second income will already help you save towards retirement, but Military.com reports that reservists who continue with training for 20 years become eligible for retirement pay at the age of 60.
The Department of Defense says Reserve Army soldiers must apply for retirement pay from the department they served. The amount payable is worked out according to years of service and a soldier or officer’s pay grade.
5. Unlock extra benefits with your Uniformed Services ID Card — All Army Reserve soldiers are eligible for a Uniformed Services ID Card, otherwise known as a Common Access Card (CAD). Their dependents receive a Dependent Identification Card.
These cards give members access to military base privileges like affordable grocery shopping from commissaries and military exchanges and use of the military’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs.
There are also many businesses that offer military discounts on the presentation of a military ID.
6. Better civilian employment opportunities — One of the lesser-known benefits of joining the Army Reserves is the impact it will have on your career outside of the army.
Military intelligence officer Will DuVal says younger recruits should think of the Army as a networking opportunity.
In an article for Task&Purpose, DuVal wrote that the reserve unit is a great place to meet “dedicated and ambitious Americans” and gain access to limitless resources. Besides learning from fellow soldiers, the reserve also gives soldiers the chance to meet people they might not otherwise have had contact with.
As DuVal puts it: “You never know when your barracks bunkmate happens to be the hiring manager for a Fortune 500 company.”
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