The US Army Reserve is a branch of the US Army that is not on active duty full-time. Instead, its troops are reserve soldiers who can be called into action in the event of a war or when the military requires assistance. Soldiers in the Army Reserve are essentially backup forces who must be ready to deploy to active duty if the United States is called upon. Army Reserve training consists of both the basic training that all Army soldiers receive in preparation for service and the ongoing training that Army Reserve soldiers are required to complete.
For those joining the Army Reserve, basic training typically lasts nine weeks of intense training. The training is divided into different phases, each of which is named after a different color. The Red Phase, for example, begins active training after reception week and includes marksmanship training, whereas the White Phase includes marksmanship training. This nine-week period is devoted to instilling Army values in Reserve recruits and assisting them in developing military and teamwork skills. Basic training culminates in a graduation ceremony that is open to family members and other loved ones.
After basic training, Army Reserves typically continue their preparation with advanced individual training. This section of Army Reserve training is designed to assist soldiers in developing the skills they’ll need to complete the tasks they’ll be assigned in the Army. A Reserve soldier can receive hands-on training in a specific military job at one of several advanced individual training schools. A Reserve soldier, for example, could learn to be an Army human resource specialist or maintain Army helicopters; he could even learn to defend the United States against chemical or nuclear warfare. This type of training is also meant to help a Reserve soldier develop discipline and a work ethic.
After completing his initial Army Reserve training, a soldier is usually allowed to return to his home town. He’ll usually go about his business as usual, but once a month he’ll report to Army Reserve training. Drills help Reserve soldiers hone their military skills and keep them fresh during these monthly training sessions. Then, every year, a Reserve serviceman is required to serve on active duty for about two weeks. A Reserve soldier typically receives rigorous field training as well as some specialty training during this time.