Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech
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Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech
#2A fair number of people in the US, probably in other countries with similar programs, use the military as a means of funding their education at the uni or post-uni level. The govt pays for them, and in return there is a multi-year commitment in some form of the military. It's a good deal for both sides, although the risks were pointed out big-time back when Desert Shield became Desert Storm and a whole lot of EMT...MD's disappeared from neighbourhoods and reappeared in the Middle East. Something about the King's Shilling.
Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech
#3> we emphasise explaining the context two levels up. I may tell my soldiers to raid a compound, but I would also tell them that the reason for this is to create a distraction so that the Colonel can divert the enemy away from a bridge, and that the reason the Brigadier wants the Colonel to divert the enemy is so that the bridge is easier to cross.
many organizations could benefit from more of that.
Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech
#4A fair number of people in the US, probably in other countries with similar programs, use the military as a means of funding their education at the uni or post-uni level. The govt pays for them, and in return there is a multi-year commitment in some form of the military. It's a good deal for both sides, although the risks were pointed out big-time back when Desert Shield became Desert Storm and a whole lot of EMT...M…
In the UK you typically go to college (university in our terminology) before you join the Army, rather than after, but we do have bursaries to support some technical specialities if they commit to joining after they graduate. You can also do in-service degrees, up to PhD I believe.
Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech
#5> I spend about a hundred days a year of my spare-time in evenings, weekends, and holidays, training my Squadron.
From an American perspective, as someone who was in our Army Reserve, that's an insane amount of time if you aren't a full time AGR. I guess he like's his big time Major pay and status, but if you're really dedicated to being a part time soldier, the higher you rise in rank the more you'll be expected to contribute in your own personal time.
Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech
#6[flagged]
Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech
#7The author glosses over my biggest question "Who might you have to fight?" with a informative "Queen’s enemies."
Might his squadron be called in to quash civil disturbance? Sent to the next Iraq? Is it reserved for defending the UK from invasion?
Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech
#8I spent five years in the Air Force. Posts like this are really helpful, a lot of Americans are disconnected from members of the military, especially in the upper classes where people do not need to serve, or in fields (like tech) where people can often find less intrusive ways to pay for college. My favorite part of the article is dispelling the myth that in the military senior people bark orders, and don't ask for feedback, and subordinates dutifully carry out those orders. None of those is true. There is a time to "shut up and color" but that is by far the exception. For the young people on here, I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you serving in the military was a positive experience for me.
Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech
#9Voluntary participation in the military can be a great way to learn leadership skills that can translate to other occupations. No one should be forced to serve but it is possible that with the right motivation it can be beneficial to individuals and society.
Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech
#10A fair number of people in the US, probably in other countries with similar programs, use the military as a means of funding their education at the uni or post-uni level. The govt pays for them, and in return there is a multi-year commitment in some form of the military. It's a good deal for both sides, although the risks were pointed out big-time back when Desert Shield became Desert Storm and a whole lot of EMT...M…
In the UK you typically go to college (university in our terminology) before you join the Army, rather than after, but we do have bursaries to support some technical specialities if they commit to joining after they graduate. You can also do in-service degrees, up to PhD I believe.
In the US, all officers must be university grads. The enlisted ranks do not need a university degree to join. I would assume the same is true of enlisted ranks in the UK.