SUPPORT YOUR NEW FUTURE.

Explore the benefits of the Army Reserve and learn the steps involved to help you begin your transition from active duty.

in service

Keep some service benefits and gain new ones

We provide the resources and flexibility you need to achieve your goals—civilian and Army.

24-month deployment stabilization

Get up to 24 months of deferment from involuntary mobilization to help you and your family establish your new civilian life.

Train close to home

Choose a unit near home or relocate to a location you want with your MOS to pursue your civilian career, go back to school, and see loved ones.

Sign-up bonus

Earn up to $20K in bonuses when you transition and use it to help you and your family adjust to your new life and build the future you want.

EXPLORE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES

Search for Army Reserve careers near where you want to be.

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HOW TO TRANSITION

It changes a little based on if you are reaching ETS & Retirement, Enlisted Separation, or Officer Separation—but these steps will help you navigate the process with your Reserve Component Career Counselor (RCCC).

01. Planning & Documents

A year from ETS, an Active Component Retention NCO will reach out to see if you’re interested in the Army Reserve. Once you give notice of your desire to transition, you will have 12–18 months if a Soldier with voluntary ETS, up to 24 months if a retiree, or up to nine months if an Officer to complete the process.



We recommend you start planning 12 months prior to separation since it can take time and you have nine months from your day of separation to complete.

The ETS process is conducted under the VOW Act(Opens in new window) and starts with the completion of DD Form 2648(Opens in new window).

02. Start SFL-TAP 

The Soldier For Life-Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP)(Opens in new window) helps you prepare for civilian life through counseling, training, job-search services, and more. You can use the DoD Transition Assistance Program (TAP)(Opens in new window) for additional assistance.

We recommend starting your discussions 365 days from ETS if you are ETS & Retirement, and 279 days out if enlisted or an Officer.

For job-search assistance, you and your family also have access to the P3 Private Public Partnership(Opens in new window) program. Contact the P3O team for more information. 

03. Continuum of Service Counseling

Each Soldier must receive Continuum of Military Service Opportunity Counseling, which goes through all the benefits of serving in the Army Reserve in detail. This includes: pay, retirement, Tricare, reasons to join, RCCC locations, and other helpful info.

04. Meet Your RCCC

Your RCCC is an expert on transitioning to the Army Reserve. Your initial meeting will be a 45-minute counseling session where you’ll discuss your career goals, location, branch/AOC, and benefits to help ensure all your needs are met.  Officers will also meet with their Silver Siege Officer. The Silver Siege Program helps active-duty Officers transition, your Silver Siege Officer will help you find Officer positions and assist your RCCC in facilitating your transition. 

05. Contract

Once you decide to transition to the Army Reserve, a contract that specifies your chosen location will begin one day after your active-duty obligation is complete. You can change your mind up to 91 days prior to the start of your contract.

06. Early Transition Active-duty

Active-duty Soldiers can contract with the Army Reserve up to 180 days prior to ETS, regardless of installation location, and begin MOS reclassification.

07. Clearing Post

Soldiers usually get four days to clear their post. This includes going to various places around the base, getting signatures, and returning equipment. Once complete and all paperwork has been finished, including the TAP 21 Report and DD Form 214, you can clear the post.

TELL US YOU’RE INTERESTED

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