Not all Reservists in the same category would necessarily be recalled at the same time. 1. Segments are illustrative only and do not represent correct proportions of each subdivision of our military forces. 2. Any Reservist, regardless of category, may volunteer for active duty at any time. Military departments may utilize the service of such Reservists provided a vacancy exists in the active force. 1951, and serve on active duty for less than three years, you must serve in one of the Reserve components (listed on this page) for five years. However, you may shorten this time to three years' Reserve service if you served 21 months or more on active duty, by training in an organized Reserve unit. If you served less than 21 months on active duty, it will take you four years of training in an organized Reserve unit to fulfill your five-year obligation. If you were inducted for 21 months' active service and request a one-year extension of active duty, thereby serving 33 months, you do not have to serve in the Reserve. Also, if you serve three years on active duty, you are not required to serve in the Reserve. If you enlisted between 24 June 1948 and 19 June 1951 for one year of active service, you must serve in the Reserve for six years. However, you may shorten this time to four years' Reserve service by training in an organized unit. If you enlisted, were inducted, or appointed in the Armed Forces, including the Reserve Components, after 19 June 1951 and before your 26th birthday, you are required to serve on active duty and in the Reserve for a total of eight years. This service can be in any combination so that any part of the eight years may be served on active duty and the balance in the Reserve. What are the Reserve Components? There are seven Reserve components in the Armed Forces of the United States. They are 1. The National Guard of the United States. 2. The Army Reserve. 3. The Naval Reserve. 4. The Marine Corps Reserve. 5. The Air National Guard of the United States. 6. The Air Force Reserve. 7. The Coast Guard Reserve. The former Organized Reserve Corps of the Army consisting of the Officers' Reserve Corps and the Enlisted Reserve Corps are merged by the new law into a single Army Reserve. Dual Nature of National Guard and Air National Guard. Units of the National Guard and of the Air National Guard-when not on active Federal duty-are under the control of the State or Territory in which they are located. The new law keeps the traditional safeguards to protect this State control. Thus the Guardsman has both a State and a national military status. He swears to obey orders of both the President of the United States and the Governor of his State or Territory. |