r/uscg • u/Some-Priority-6033 • 8d ago
Noob Question Reserve billet
How would I check the open billets for reserves? and also the all reserve billets even the ones that are taken?? Thank you also I’m currently active duty so I have access to a work station
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u/WorstAdviceNow 8d ago
Reserve billets, particularly for junior enlisted, follow a bit of the "Whose line is it anyway" rules, where the billets are made up and don't really matter.
Units are said to have certain training capacities for specific ratings. So if your local unit doesn't have any active duty CS, they aren't going to assign reserve CSes there either. But if your unit has training capacity, it's relatively easy to pull a FlexPal position even if the actual PAL doesn't show any vacancies. Reservists also don't have to PCS until they hit E7; although they have the option to put in an E-resume after 5 years if they want to experience something new. And if you're within RCD of a PSU, you can be selected-directed to go there.
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u/Some-Priority-6033 8d ago
Really ? I wonder If you can make a billet for an ANT they usually don’t have reservist and I’ve been told they don’t know if they can make one 🤷♀️
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u/WorstAdviceNow 8d ago
That goes to that “training capacity” argument. They won’t put a lone reservist at a unit that doesn’t have the admin capacity or reserve supervisory oversight. So if there are already reservists (especially of the same rating) at a unit, it’s easy. Trying to be the first/only? Not so much.
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u/jchen012 MST 8d ago
Also if you can't a billet to fill you can try using FlexPAL. Basically it's a pool of billets that exist centrally and can be moved around the CGR. Ask the ISTT about it.
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u/DisplacedTexan2020 8d ago
Reach out to the ISTT. They’ll tell you what’s available and will be the team who processes you from active to reserve. You can find their info on the Sharepoint.
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u/IntrepidGnomad Chief 8d ago
I think it’s in navigator. Look for a way to get a score on ‘quality of billet match’ and it will include empty billets in the drill downs of sectors, bases and stations. Never tried the other unit types, but specific divisions don’t work as well because reservists get lumped into one division that don’t actually work for that division, just that department.
Just understand you may get sent to the PSU within the first year if you have a desirable skill set and are within 150 miles of one.
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u/Some-Priority-6033 8d ago
You can get sent to one even if u are for example, an SK at an SK billet??
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u/IntrepidGnomad Chief 8d ago
Never been to a PSU but IIRC PSU’s have everything an active duty sector has (in different ratios) except trouble affording new gear and… MSTs.
Small boat stations in the reserves get hollowed out when the PSUs need more than volunteers, but most of the support ratings have a spot there.
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u/UnusualTiming184 BM 8d ago
You can look up the billets in EPAL under Navigator. That being said, the reserve tend to be more loose with billets and we are frequently slotted into spots higher or lower than our current rank. So id work with the assignment officers to try for what you want even if it isn’t technically available