US Military Reserves

In the Navy Reserve, highly motivated men and women from all walks of life come together to find unrivaled training, undeniable purpose and uncommon adventure — close to home and across the globe. They discover camaraderie that’s rarely experienced in the everyday world. And they benefit on many fronts: personally, professionally and financially.

Learn more about what it means to serve in the Navy Reserve. And how you can successfully balance patriotic duty, personal commitments and everyday career interests.

• The Reservist Role
• A Unified Mission
• Components of the Reserve
• Reasons to Consider Serving

  Reservists reap a full array of benefits. For a complete list of Navy Reserve benefits, from pay scales to educational offers, from health care to retirement benefits, visit our benefits section. But also consider everything else that’s waiting: professional growth, personal pride, meaningful challenges and agreater cause.

  The Navy Reserve offers rewarding opportunities in more than a dozen fields, depending on your qualifications and interests. To become an Enlisted member, you need at least a high school diploma. To become an Officer, you need a college degree.

The Air Force Reserve was conceived as a "stand-by" force for national emergencies, but has evolved into a Major Command of the active duty Air Force that performs many missions in common with the Air Force and some missions that are unique. These are Weather Reconnaissance (the Hurricane Hunters), and Aerial Fire fighting.

There are 13 different kinds of state-of-the-art aircraft used by the Air Force Reserve, from the remote-piloted Predator to the C-17 Globemaster III that specializes in airlift operations, to the new F-22 Raptor fighter.

The Air Force Reserve performs about 20 percent of the work of the Air Force. Although the majority of the Reservists holdpart-time jobs, the number of full-time positions is growing. These full-time jobs are performed by Air Reserve Technicians (ARTs) and by Active Guard Reserve (AGR). Another group of experienced Reservists serve as Individual Mobilized Augmentee(IMAs). IMAs have specialized skills and work according to tailored schedules at assigned locations.

Learn how the skills you bring to the Army Reserve help make the U.S. Army the most powerful and sophisticated military force in the world.

The U.S. Army is the most powerful and sophisticated military force in the world. A vital part of that comes from the Soldiers of the Army Reserve. We provide the specialized manpower, brainpower and skills the Army needs — when our country needs it. With the strength to help one day and lead people the next.

As a civilian and a Soldier, you’ll continue your career or education while training close to home and standing ready to serve with your valuable job skills. Whether at home or overseas —working at a local Army Reserve Center or Camp Arifjan, Kuwait — Army Reserve Soldiers serve the nation in the following ways:

Homeland Security

Information Technology

Bio-hazard Technician

Logistic

Civil Affairs

Psychological Operations (PSYOP)

Medical Services

USCG has a broad and important role in homeland security, law enforcement, search and rescue, marine environmental pollution response, and the maintenance of river, intracoastal and offshore aids to navigation (ATON). It also lays claim to being the United States' oldest continuous seagoing service. The United States Coast Guard has about 40,150 men and women on active duty.

The Coast Guard's motto is Semper Paratus, meaning "Always Ready".

Get to Know Your Coasties!

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a military branch of the United States involved in maritime law, mariner assistance, and search and rescue, among other duties of coast guards elsewhere. One of the seven uniformed services of the United States, and the smallest armed service of the United States, its stated mission is to protect the public, the environment, and the United States economic and security interests in any maritime region in which those interests may be at risk, including international waters and America's coasts, ports, and inland waterways.