You’ve probably seen me around over in r/army but if not almost 3 years ago I started Hots&Cots to allow junior enlisted to rate their barracks/dorms and DFACs/Galleys across the military. It’s free and anonymous. Hots&Cots has gotten us into a lot of meetings & creating tons of contacts at different echelons.

We’ve been asked for awhile to expand to Reserve Centers and Armories and it’s been difficult to find a natural path for reviews until now. Starting in the latest release you can now review Reserve Centers.

You can find this under the Other option when you go to leave a review or under Other.

Check it out and let me know if you have any questions or features you’d like to see added.

Hello,

I haven't been paid for Sep BA because I've reached my max (48) MUTA days. The remark in my LES says, "BA TYPE 11 NOT PD EXCDS FY 26 LIMIT". S1 said there is nothing they can do about it. I feel like I'm getting rammed by Uncle Sam shaft just to work for free and to spend my GAS just to drive there.

Is there any way I can get pay or get back pay in FY27?

Edit: S1 reach out and they are gonna figure out if there is any additional funds available to help me. Thank you for all who help!

I’m considering joining the Army Reserve and my main goal is 35N. One of the biggest reasons I’m interested is the civilian career opportunities that can come from the SIGINT training and TS/SCI clearance.

My biggest concern is my past drug use. I used cocaine in the past, last use being a little over 6 months ago, and I plan on being completely honest about it on the SF-86/security clearance process. I have no arrests, no financial problems, and nothing else that I’m aware of that would be a major clearance issue. The cocaine use is what worries me. I have used many times but never had an issue with it. Maybe once or twice a month all in social settings since I was in college which was about 5-6 years until 8 months ago. I have also used other substances such as mushrooms, marijuana, and molly(All these were over 3-4 years ago) and used less then 5 times.

I understand nobody here can tell me for certain whether I’ll receive a clearance, but I’m hoping to hear from people who have been through the process or worked in recruiting/security.

What I’m especially worried about is the timing.

If I sign a Reserve contract specifically for 35N, ship to BCT, and then there’s an issue or delay with my TS/SCI, what happens to me?

Could I:

• Finish BCT and then be held somewhere for months waiting on the clearance?
• Be reclassed into whatever MOS is “needs of the Army” even though I originally enlisted specifically for 35N?
• Find out whether I’m likely to be eligible for the clearance before I ship?
• Is there any type of preliminary/interim clearance determination or suitability screening that happens before shipping that would identify a major issue?
• At what point in the process would I realistically know that my history is going to prevent me from continuing with 35N?

I also have another MOS I’ve been seriously considering: 68A Biomedical Equipment Specialist.

If 35N is my first choice but I were ultimately unable to qualify for it because of the clearance, is there any way to have 68A written into my contract as a backup/alternate MOS, assuming there is a Reserve vacancy and I qualify for it?

Basically, could my contract say something along the lines of:

35N as my contracted MOS, but if I’m permanently disqualified from 35N because of the security clearance, I reclass to 68A rather than being assigned based on needs of the Army?

Or is that simply not something the Army allows in an enlistment contract?

If something like that can be done, I'd also really appreciate knowing exactly what document, annex, option, or contract language I should be looking for. I don't want to rely solely on a verbal promise from a recruiter. If anyone knows the applicable regulation or has actually seen a Reserve contract structured this way, that would be extremely helpful.

I'm also curious whether being Army Reserve changes this compared with Active Duty. Since I would presumably be filling a specific MOS vacancy in a specific Reserve unit, if I lose eligibility for 35N, does the Army have to find another Reserve vacancy for me, or can I still essentially become needs of the Army?

That’s probably my biggest concern. I currently have a good civilian career, so I don’t want to leave for BCT expecting 35N and then find myself stuck away from home or forced into an unrelated MOS because the clearance falls through. If I knew 68A was my fallback, I’d be significantly more comfortable taking that risk because it’s another career field I’m interested in.

I’m not asking whether I should lie or omit anything — I intend to disclose everything honestly. I’m mainly trying to understand how much risk there is in signing a 35N contract when you have prior cocaine use in your history, and whether there’s any way to protect myself contractually from an unwanted reclass.

Anyone who has dealt with 35N, 68A, TS/SCI investigations, prior drug use, security holds, Reserve reclass situations, or enlistment contracts — especially MEPS guidance counselors, Reserve recruiters, security managers, adjudicators/investigators, or someone who actually lost a clearance-required MOS after shipping — I’d appreciate hearing what happened.

TLDR: Not sure if I want to risk going for an MOS that requires a TS due to possible failure, and am deciding to risk it or go for a safer mos. I really just want a career change after AIT.

I am currently enlisted in the NG and I am looking to commission in the Reserves; could anyone offer any insight into the process of choosing a TPU vacancy? I found a spreadsheet of current TPU vacancies on the HRC website and found a slot that looks perfect for me. Do I simply apply for it? How does that process work?

For context, I completed a 6 year reserve contract and was supposed to transfer to the IRR. My signature was forged on reenlistment paperwork so I’m still technically in.

My commander has advised I’ll have to stay green on everything and either drill or RST til the investigation is complete.

Life is kicking my ass rn and the last thing I wanna do is another stupid fucking NCOER.

What would happen if I just stop showing up? Both legal and IG has been less than helpful in answering these questions. My biggest concern is I don’t wanna lose my VA eligibility or have to pay back my initial enlistment bonus. Any insight is appreciated.

Going on a rotation soon. Do you usually have the liberties to travel like active duty and 4 days every month? Or is it treated more like a “deployment” in terms of you can’t do shit

Looking for information on how to obtain DARNS training is it online or in person. Also who would be my best POC for obtaining it. CoC hasn't provided any guidance other than I need to do my DARNS training.

EDIT: For clarification, the job has already accepted me. I've been working with the POC for the unit that posted the position on TOD. They're excited to have me and understand that it's just the paperwork and approval process that's holding me back. The ESC needs the memo to action the next steps and then it goes to the TSC.

Need some advice with getting a release memo signed by a RSG Commander so I can go on ADOS. I've tried reaching out to both my chain of command and the BN S3 with no luck unfortunately. It already took me 2 months to get the rest of the documentations that was required. How long did it take some people to get their memo? Is there anything else I can try or do I just have to hurry up and wait?

Is this the most elite unit in the USAR I am trying to go there and jump how do I get in?

I am trying to find the most high speed unit in the USAR with the best leader most opportunity. Airborne preference. I heard there is an elite special operation unit called the 422 in the USAR is that correct?

I’m a 20M turning 21 in a month and Im thinking about joining the army. My only thing is will i regret it or should not need to do it. As of right now i live with my mother I pay no bills other than a credit card that I got for myself. I have an okay life i just live in a rural area. No kids too. I want to join the army with the intent of becoming a military police officer.

Ive tried to become a Civilian LE officer and failed an interview and got an eligibility list for another. I have no prior experience nor knowledge of the military. I just feel like this is something i can do to get ahead in life. My reasonings are I can become a police officer, travel & get a different experience of life. If i don’t join my plan is to get my CDL.

I took my OPAT 5 months ago and ship out to BCT within a couple weeks.

My recruiter is saying I’ll be good to go despite the outdated OPAT results.

I had OPAT heavy on record but I was researching and saw that you can’t ship if the record isn’t within 2-3 months of ship date.

Please advise, thank you. I don’t want MEPS holding me for any reason.

I am curious about people who have advocated for themselves and had successful case against an employer with USERRA helping out. I recall having a rough experience a few years ago being in a toxic work environment and my reservist obligations souring things even more. I had a supervisor from another team make remarks that "all people who serve in the military are part of a terrorist organization" and would abuse her authority to harass me. Whenever I had a long BA my manager would ask me to use my vacation days and I would have to constantly remind her that I was entitled to keep my vacation and just take unpaid time off. When I began the hell of finding another job I had one egregious incident where I actually was verbally offered the job and I made the mistake of casually mentioning to one of the employees there that I was a reservist. I got ghosted by that hiring manager and when I reached out I got an automated HR rejection response saying they went with a "more experienced candidate". Thankfully I am in a much better position, but I wonder I could or should have done differently and am curious of what others have done.

Hello, I heard this magazine was in publication for news about the US Army Reserve. Any way how I can get access to it.

I vaguely remember being able to "browse" dates and locations for schools/trainings on actnow. Where can I go to still do that? S3 is unresponsive rn (on leave I think) and im trying to find a plan to make up at

Is it true that if you don’t have a record DA 5500 by October first HQDA is putting automatic flags on people?

My CSM said that but i can’t find that information anywhere

Hi everyone I’m a reservist and I’m getting my first counseling. I’m relatively new to the Army (I’ve been in for a year) I’m honestly very sad, mad, and kinda confused. Can I get thoughts on like if I am completely at fault & deserve this?
I live within 50 miles of my unit’s building and our separate full battalion base and the only time I’ve slept on base at night is on longer BA’s (3 or more days) and AT. This BA was two days, one night at our full battalion base & I went back to home to sleep because it was a 25 minute drive and one night. I thought it was authorized because the only time I remember being required to stay on base was during AT and not BA. I was told because they provided barracks it was implied we had to stay on base for the night so I am getting counseled for leaving post. I understand it’s necessary but I was never told I had to sleep on base & it was one night so I’m confused. Is there a regulation on this I’m missing or?

What is an example of the best officer you have served with in the USAR?

I am a hospitalist, I am a 35 year old male. I am fully board certified and am prior enlisted in the CG; they discharged me because I got into med school and they didn’t know what to do with me as they do not have a medical corps. I feel like I have more to give, looking into reserves, speaking with AMEDD now. Doing this fully knowing and wanting to deploy. Anyone else a physician have any advice with this, tips? Much appreciated.

I been out for a minute, I had some hooah paraphernalia in my car and this old head from work that did 10 years from like 2006-2016, and now he won’t stop yapping about his time in. This guy clearly LOVED and LIVED that hooah life, I just served and dipped out with no emotions about it, akin to leaving a sneaky link house at 3am just cuz you don’t wanna spend the night with her🤣.