What Is the Annual Training Requirement for Army Reservists?

Because citizen soldiers often work full-time in the civilian world, they must plan far in advance to attend active duty training each year. For Army reservists, this means training one weekend a month, as well as two weeks of annual training, during which they work with other reservists or active duty counterparts to further develop their military knowledge and skills. Because of the growing number of Army reservists being called to active duty, the exchange of information between active duty units and the Army Reserves is critical.

Planning

Planning for annual training begins months in advance. The unit provides dates to the reservists. Commanders, aware of the needs of their reservists, also can schedule alternate individual training, if warranted.

Length

Army reservists generally complete the required, annual 15-day training at one time, typically during spring and summer. But they may complete it any point during the fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, with their commander's permission.

Purpose

Training typically focuses on an entire unit focusing on its specific job, which could include road and bridge building, land navigation, weapons qualifying, military intelligence and many other jobs. Depending on individual situations, reservists also might train apart from their unit, based on military occupational specialty. For example, the Army might send a reservist whose specialty is air traffic control to work at an Air Force base, where he would meet his annual training requirements.

Schools

In addition to hands-on training, annual training also includes school or courses relevant to the unit or the reservist's requirements. This includes officer career courses, advanced individual training and professional development classes.

Transferring Workload

At times, the reservists can lighten the workload of active duty counterparts by completing missions that active duty soldiers otherwise would have had to complete. This frees up the active duty servicemen to concentrate their efforts, for example, on a wartime mission.

References

• Staff Sgt. Ann Crosby, ARCC RGN 4
• Global Security: Military, U.S. Army Reserve
• Military.com: 10 Steps to Joining the Military