Switching from Reserve to AD

[jerrylundergard]

Has anyone had contract hangups doing this switch? I got accepted to the army reserves last week (Yay me!), but want to go AD in a year and a half or so. I signed a 6 year contract with first 3 years of HLRP and the last 3 years the bonus. Not sure how the contract thing figures into it so im curious if anyone thinks it could be a problem. My recruiter is kinda done so its tuff to get responses and I still like to hear real world accounts of folks who made the switch. The recruiter says after 2 years I can switch but I dont think she knows for sure. Supposedly I get commisioned this week or next so Im kinda stuck now anyway (good stuck!), but would like to go AD before completing my 6 year contract.

I also heard that if you get deployed as a reservist you can do paperwork to make the AD permenent, sorta back door it. Anyone tried or know anything bout that?

Do they have any spots for just going active duty reserves at the local reserve posts? My brother in law is active duty reserve and he gets all kinds of funky posts to choose from, just not sure if they have spots for nurses in active duty reserves.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

I went from reserves to AD. Had to do the whole process all over. Not sure how much you would have to do if you switch within 2 years. Can not answer about the contract stuff, some programs you have to complete in the reserves only others you can complete in both. Also, things can change, a good example is the STRAP program. When it 1st came out you had to complete your contracted time in the reserves. Now you can complete it either reserves or AD. So when you get close to switching get with a health care recruiter again. Once you get with your unit find out who the retention NCO is and start picking his/her brain about where to find the regulations are that cover what is in your contract. If possible it is best to find the answers to your questions before you ask them. Good luck