Serving in the Active Duty Navy is a great opportunity, but there are a lot of nice perks for serving in the Navy Reserve. While serving on your drill weekend, you receive four days of basic active duty pay for two days of weekend drill. Additional days that you choose to serve or are asked to serve on a monthly basis are compensated at the same rate as active duty pay rates. Also during your two weeks of active duty drilling each year, you are compensated at the same pay rate as active duty Servicemembers at the same rank and rate, and time in service.
The allowances and pay that you receive are based on your individual time in service and your pay grade. Reserve personnel receive the same additional pay increases and cost of living increases as active duty Servicemembers, but just as it affects the actual time drilling each month that they serve. Part of the advantage for reservists is that when you serve in the reserves, you accumulate time in service. If you are later activated for Active Duty, your time in service counts as the same as someone that entered active duty at the same time you entered the reserves.
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If you are mobilized and required to serve on active duty you will receive the same compensation as any other active duty Servicemember, as applies to rank, rate and time of service. You can sometimes be eligible for re enlistment bonuses also as a Navy reservist if you convert to a rating that is undermanned when you re enlist. As a Navy reservist, you accumulate points towards retirement.
As a member of the Navy reserve you also are eligible for the Reserve Montgomery GI Bill. This provides money for you to attend school, and allows you to get assistance in going to college or technical school while still serving in the Reserves. If you are mobilized for 120 days of active duty, you can be eligible for a Tuition assistance program for up to 100 percent of certain college classes. This is above and beyond what the Reservist Montgomery GI Bill pays.
There are a lot of hidden benefits also in being a member of the Navy reserves. You can shop on military bases at the base commissary, or PX. You can visit access while on drill weekend or on annual active duty enlisted facilities at Navy bases around the world, provided they are accessible to you while off duty during your activation.
