When most people think about a career in the military, they picture what it’s like to serve as an Active Duty service member. Serving your country and being a full-time member of the military is an honorable and courageous act. However, it’s not the only option if you’re considering a career in the military or working alongside our heroes.

Before you sign a contract, you should make sure you’re making the right choice for your life and career. We’ve compiled this guide about different military career options outside of active duty so you can determine your best choice.

What Options Do You Have to Serve Outside of Active Duty?

Many people choose to serve on a full-time basis, but you have other options. You can serve our country in many ways, whether you want to be directly involved in the military or work on base to help facilitate successful military operations. Here are some of your options if you want to know what else is available outside of active duty:

●Reserves: Every branch of the military has its own reserve component, and those in the reserves serve as a qualified person available to serve as an active duty service member when needed. For example, members of the reserves may be called upon during a national emergency or in times of war. The reserves also fill gaps and roles when active duty personnel are deployed.

●National Guard: The Army and Air Force National Guard are responsible for a wide range of activities. If you’re in the National Guard, you may be called upon to help during national disasters. You may also deploy overseas with your company where you may see combat, but you’ll usually be engaged in humanitarian efforts, such as building hospitals or schools, teaching locals more efficient farming techniques, or training local peacekeepers.

●Civilian DOD Employment: While it’s not necessarily a “military” career, many civilian employees with the Department of Defense work closely with our service members. There are positions available for nearly 650 occupations, so you can choose a career field that fits your talents and career goals.

Differences Between Active Duty, Reserves, and National Guard

One of the main differences between active duty and the reserves or National Guard is that active duty personnel work full-time while members of the reserves or National Guard work part-time. You’ll receive training for all roles, but active duty personnel are required to fulfill more comprehensive obligations than those in the reserves or National Guard.

For example, when you’re in the reserves, you’ll be stationed near home and will only deploy if you’re called to active duty. When you’re an active duty service member, you can be called to deploy at any time and may PCS to various duty stations. Members of the reserves can also transfer the skills they learn immediately to a civilian career, while active duty members will usually wait until the end of their contract to transition to the civilian world.

There are a lot of differences between active duty, reserves, and the National Guard. Despite these differences, there are also a lot of similarities between these career choices, which makes them an ideal choice for those who want to serve without committing to an active duty contract.

How to Determine if You’re Eligible for the Reserves or National Guard

Just like active duty service members, those trying to enter the reserves or National Guard will need to meet specific criteria to ensure they’re eligible for service. To qualify for the reserves, you must:

●Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or a resident alien.

●Be between the ages of 17 and 42.

●Have a sufficient score on the ASVAB.

●Pass a physical examination.

If you’re considering joining the National Guard instead, the eligibility requirements are very similar to the reserves. However, there are a few differences. If you want to join the National Guard, you must:

●Be a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen with permanent residency in the U.S.

●Be between 17 to 39 for the Air National Guard or between 17 to 42 for the Army National Guard.

●Meet the physical, mental, and moral standards of enlistment.

●Pass the ASVAB and receive a sufficient score.

●Read and write in fluent English.

Regardless of whether you’re joining the reserves or the National Guard, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the specific requirements as they vary by branch.

Benefits of Choosing the Reserves or National Guard

Just because you’re not active duty doesn’t mean you won’t have any benefits as members of the reserves or National Guard. You’ll have a lot of the same benefits as our active duty service members, some of which include:

●VA Benefits: Reserve and National Guard members who have active service can qualify for some VA benefits. Generally, this includes being deployed or responding to national emergencies. You can view the entire list of benefits on the VA’s website.

●Pay: Even when you’re working part-time, you’ll still receive competitive pay, which will be based on your service time and rank. When working part-time, you’ll receive prorated pay, which is calculated using a daily rate. If you’re ever called to active duty, you’ll be paid based on the current active duty Pay Table.

●Healthcare: Just like active duty service members, you and your family will have access to TRICARE for both medical and dental treatment, though it will have some costs. However, if you’re ever called to active duty and remain on active duty for more than 30 days, you’ll have access to healthcare at no cost.

●Training: Once you join the reserves or National Guard, you’ll receive training for the specific job you’ll be doing. The occupation you’ll have will be based on your ASVAB scores and the specific needs of the military.

●Education: Members of the reserves or National Guard who have signed contracts for at least six years can access up to three years of financial assistance to pursue a higher education. Depending on the field you’re going into, you may have access to additional funding to help you train for the work you may do while you’re in the reserves or National Guard.

●Commissary and Exchange: Once you’ve entered the reserves or National Guard, you and your eligible dependents can access shopping centers on base. Many of these stores offer considerable discounts to active duty, reservists, and the National Guard, helping reduce expenses for our nation’s protectors.

●Retirement: You can retire from both the reserves and the National Guard. However, you’ll need to accumulate 20 years of qualifying service, and you can retire once you reach 60 years old. You may be able to retire sooner, but this will vary based on different factors.

Serving the Country Through Private Military Contracting

If you have served in the past and want to continue doing important work for the country but don’t have an interest in becoming active duty again or joining the reserves and National Guard, you still have options. Those who have served previously can become private military contractors (PMCs). These individuals use the skills they’ve developed during their time in the military to provide services to government agencies and organizations. For example, you may work as an armed escort or coordinate the transport of supplies to service members in war zones.

It’s possible to be a civilian and find a career as a PMC, but you’ll be limited in the roles you can access. Some of the most common roles for civilians include things like armor vehicle technician, firefighter, security alarm monitor, and background investigator. While your options as a civilian may be limited, you can still do important work to help bolster our armed forces.

How to Choose Which Option is Right for You

If you’re trying to decide between active duty, reserves, National Guard, becoming a PMC, or working for the DOD as a civilian, it can be difficult to navigate all the possible options. If you’re not sure what you want to do, consider the following factors to help you make a decision:

●Time Commitment: When you’re active duty, you’re on a full-time schedule and must remain devoted to your career in the military. However, if you choose to enter the reserves or the National Guard, you’ll only work on a part-time basis unless you’re called away to serve in a time of war or during an emergency. If you’re working as a PMC or a civilian in the DOD, you can choose between a full-time and part-time basis, depending on what you want to do. Consider how much time you’re willing to commit to your work before making a decision.

●Pay: When you’re working full-time as active duty, a PMC, or a civilian DOD employee, you’ll make more than you would if you were working part-time with the reserves or National Guard. You’ll want to determine if pay is a significant factor when choosing a military career, which will help narrow your options.

●Benefits: When you’re active duty, you’ll have full medical and dental benefits on top of unlimited access to the commissary and exchange. The reserve and National Guard will have access to TRICARE Reserve Select and will only receive full healthcare benefits at no cost if they’re deployed or called to active duty. If you’re working as a civilian with the DOD or PMC, the extent of your healthcare benefits will depend on your job and contract. You should consider what benefits you want or need when choosing your career in the military.

●Career: If you’re interested in having a specific career in the civilian world, you’ll need to decide when you want to start this career. If you want to start immediately or within the next year or two, you’ll have the flexibility to do so when you’re in the reserves or National Guard, and some of your training may even apply to the career you want. If you’re active duty, you’ll have to wait at least two years before you can start your full-time career in the civilian world, and sometimes even longer depending on what you want to do and the time commitment that’s required from your military contract.

●Duty Station: When you’re active duty, you can be sent anywhere to serve the country, even to a duty station overseas. Some active duty service members have a choice of duty station. As a member of the reserves or National Guard, you’ll be stationed close to your home and will only go overseas if you’re called on for active duty and asked to serve.

●Leave and Liberty: You can consider “leave” and “liberty” forms of vacation for active duty service members. Service members gain 2.5 days of leave a month for a total of 30 a year, and leave must be approved by a service member’s command. Liberty refers to the days off a service member has, which usually includes the weekends and holidays, though it’s possible to have to work during some of these periods. When you’re in the reserves or National Guard, you’re not subject to leave and liberty unless you’re called into action. If you want more flexibility in your regular schedule, you may want to consider joining the reserves or the National Guard.

MLC is Here to Support You Through Any Part of Your Military Career

Whether you’re an active duty service member or in the reserves and National Guard, Military Luggage Company is here to help. We offer a wide selection of tactical gear for service members, ranging from backpacks and three-day packs to assault packs and loadout bags. Gear up for upcoming deployments and missions, or find what you need to succeed as a military professional.

Whether you’re full-time or part-time, we’ve got you covered. You can trust our high-quality selections of bags, packs, and cases to serve you well during your operations. Shop our entire selection to get started, or contact us today with any questions.