Those civilian employers can be hard to find, so the USAR also runs an Employer Partnership Office to help Soldiers in their job searches. According to Thomas, many Soldiers say it's far cheaper than what they'd pay for insurance through their civilian employers. In transitioning to the Army Reserve, Soldiers can keep their rank (even promotion points transfer), time in service, tuition assistance and access to the PX and commissary, as well as and the option to pay into a Reserve TRICARE for Life insurance program. And also, it gives them an opportunity to be a Soldier for life as they transition from active service to Reserve service." "As the active component gets smaller," he said, and "Soldiers leave the service, we have vacancies and critical positions that we would like to fill with those Soldiers because they have the experiences and the skill sets to fill a lot of those vacancies. Luther Thomas, command sergeant major of the Army Reserve and himself a former active-duty Soldier, calls continued service in the USAR a "win-win" for the Army and for the Soldier. Today, he is actually the Army Reserve Drill Sergeant of the Year.Ĭommand Sgt. It was perfect, and meant McCaffrey could work toward two retirements, one with military and one with the state. He was willing, if reluctant to do it, but then he heard about a local Army Reserve drill sergeant unit. McCaffrey's first instinct was to join the National Guard, but he would have had to take a two-grade reduction in rank. In all honesty, it's just so different being a part of the military and then not being a part of it, just the camaraderie, the people you've worked with, the people who you work for and the people who work for you to me was just so different."Īs he spoke to friends and coworkers, they suggested that he consider one of the reserve components. Even after a couple of years, "It still feels like it's an ongoing adjustment. The military just paid off greatly," he said, adding that getting out was a huge adjustment. "I really attribute the military for allowing me to get where I am. His experience as a drill sergeant and trainer meant that he was able to quickly move into an instructor position at the Department of Corrections' training academy. So, for the family, in their best interests, it was better for me to leave."Īfter an extensive job search, McCaffrey was able to use his deployment experience in detainee operations to become a corrections officer for the state of South Carolina. His stepdaughter was in high school and his wife had a great job: "So it was either, I move, I PCS and my wife loses her job, loses her salary and I have to move my stepdaughter to another school, or I get out and I make the sacrifice. He loved his time as a military police officer and as a drill sergeant, but after 13 years, it was time to settle down. Sergeant 1st Class Ryan McCaffrey of Company C, 1st Battalion, 321st Infantry Regiment knows the feeling. There's got to be a compromise, you think, and then you realize the answer is simple, so simple you wonder why you never thought of it before: You're going to join the Army Reserve. Heck, you even miss going out into the field with your buddies, but after everything your family has sacrificed, you can't ask them to give more. You miss the camaraderie, the pride and honor. You don't have the same sense of purpose you did when you were serving. Maybe you've already moved on, found a good civilian job, built a home and a new life for your family. You love the Army, you love serving, but the lifestyle is no longer the best choice for you or your family. Maybe you don't want to make your kids change schools for the fifth or sixth time. Maybe your spouse has a good job at your latest duty station. Maybe you want to use your GI Bill benefits and go to college. You're thinking about getting out of the active-duty Army. He finally re-enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2007, becoming first a radiology. After leaving the Marine Corps in the early 1980s, Deweese always wanted to continue his service. Roy DeWeese takes direct fire during the Warrior Leader Course. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – McCaffrey, who recently re-enlisted in the Reserve after. 1st Class Ryan McCaffrey completes the push-up event of the Army Physical Fitness test during the Army Reserve Drill Sergeant of the Year competition, held July 15-17 at Fort Jackson, S.C. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – After 13 years on active duty, McCaffrey left the Army, but missed. 1st Class Ryan McCaffrey navigates through the Fit-to-Win course during the 2013 Army Reserve Drill Sergeant of the Year selection process, held July 15-17 at Fort Jackson, S.C.
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