Reserve service in retirement: Crazy or a great idea?

[Weisass]

Hi all. I searched the forum but had trouble finding a question that addressed this idea.

I’m a pastor (pcusa) and my partner and I have built up a healthy reserve thst should enable me to retire whenever I am ready. And I am grateful, because I love what I do but I also love the freedom of being able to walk away when I’m done.

Anyhow, i have had this idea for a while now, and it goes like this: when I first explored my call to ministry, I felt called to work with young people, and in particular, in the military. I ended up in the NCCPO, a chaplain recruitment program for the Navy, and was even commissioned. But at the time, at the age of 22, I had such a negative experience with some of the male recruiters that I decided to explore other avenues, because I worried about my ability to be an effective minister to the men in my care.

Flash forward 15 years, and I still wonder about ministry in the navy. I still think about it and want to keep the door open. Which led me to look into the naval reserves. Given my special training, the navy is usually happy to take chaplains, especiallly in the reserves. For reserves and active roles the age out is 58 for chaplains, which means I have plenty of time to explore this in retirement if I’m interested.

So my question is: is this crazy? Has anyone explore reserves service in retirement? And would you recommend it?

[Villanelle]

Would this be active reserves (FTS) or "one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year" type reserves?  It makes a huuuge difference.  If it is the former (and to some, much lesser extent, the latter as well), are you prepared to move where you are told and potentially be away from your partner for months at at time?  If the Navy says, "Congrats, Chaps, you are moving to Japan" or "you are deploying on a ship for 4-7 months" are you okay with that?  Is your partner?  (Keeping in mind any career implications for your partner, if they are still working.)

Very few people are going to have explored the reserves in retirement (unless they were previously active duty) because for most jobs, retired people are too old to join.  Chaplain is one of the few exceptions.  I've known some amazing Navy Chaplains, and it seems like a very cool opportunity to tend to people of all (and no) faiths. 

[Catbert]

Even if it's the 1 weekend a month, two weeks a year reserves, could you be called up involuntarily?  How would you feel about going to the latest hot spot? 

I remember years ago (20+?) when Reservists *never* got called up involuntarily.  Then suddenly they did.  Reservists who thought it was just a well paid part-time job were shocked!  I remember women complaining they had 3 kids so how could they get called up?  It wasn't fair.  People with high paying civilian jobs who would make half as much less when called up as an enlisted person.  How could they pay their mortgage?

[Nords]

Hi all. I searched the forum but had trouble finding a question that addressed this idea.

So my question is: is this crazy? Has anyone explore reserves service in retirement? And would you recommend it?

It works, @Weisass , and it works particularly well when you're in it for the mission instead of the money.

If you haven't already, contact a military recruiter (of whichever service you prefer) and start talking with their chaplain community manager. 

I can't help you with the part about chaplain career management, but I can answer questions about the finances and the benefits.