Reserve Keys to Success

Reserve Keys to Success

NO ONE WILL CARE ABOUT YOUR RESERVE CAREER MOR THAN YOU, SO BE PROACTIVE.

KEYS FOR SUCCESS

Whether you are new to the Navy (e.g., direct accession) or new to the Reserves (e.g., prior active duty), you will quickly recognize that the demands of the Navy Reserves can become overwhelming. However, a few key principles will significantly reduce frustration or stress and will greatly help ensure your success in the Navy Reserves:

COMMUNICATION

One of the biggest (and unnecessary) pitfalls faced by Reservists is the failure to communicate. This primarily occurs two ways:

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. Your chain of command should ALWAYS know about information that will influence your Navy Reserve readiness or ability to participate in scheduled drills or other orders. This includes, for example, major life events that may also affect your dependents, relocations, changes in your civilian career, changes in your health that require dedicated medical attention or changes in prescriptions. It is your responsibility to keep your unit leadership informed.

OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE. Official correspondence will be sent to you based on the updated contact information that you provided and is on file in NSIPS. It is the Reservist’s responsibility to update address information annually or as soon as it changes. A Sailor’s failure to receive or to respond to Official Mail and failure to keep the Unit CO or the NRC advised of the current home address WILL NOT prevent administrative processing.” (MILPERSMAN 1910-158.)

New Accessions. If you are new to the Navy, you WILL BE overwhelmed by the Reserve requirements, Navy customs, and terminology. Take it slow and ask questions.

Prior Active Duty Personnel. Those with prior active duty service initially struggle in the Reserves due to a false sense of comfort. You have been around the Navy, you know the language, and you are comfortable wearing the uniform. However, serving in the Reserves is completely different from serving on active duty and has its own unique terminologies, requirements, and demands. Don’t get over-confident or you will struggle. Find a mentor in your unit who can help guide you as you progress.

PROACTIVELY BALANCE COMPETING PRIORITIES

As a Reservist, you face a multitude of competing priorities in your life:

Your family
Your personal life
Your civilian job/career
Your educational pursuits
Your Navy Reserve career

You will quickly discover that each of these place demands upon your time and energy and waiting until the last minute (on any of these priorities) will likely yield an impact on another priority. Proper prior planning, however, has been proven to mitigate many conflicts and thus greatly reduce your stressors. You are not alone in this effort. The Navy Reserve offers many benefits and programs for the individual Sailor and his or her dependents to utilize which are described in greater detail later in this document.

KNOW AND MEET REQUIREMENTS

Simply stated, you must know the requirements in order to fulfill them. It is each member’s responsibility to read all published requirement or directive. Download and read the NAVY RESERVE Sailor Workbook. This publication consolidates information from multiple instructions and lessons learned into a single quick reference document. Link to official instructions, directives and manuals are included in this document so that you can read about that topic in detail.

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