Special Problems of Reservists

If you're in the Reserves, your biggest problem is likely to be delays in processing--especially if you're a weekend Reservist. Since your unit is likely to be in operation only once a month, for example, the three interviews could be spaced over a period of three months or even longer. Or, particularly in the Army, your interviews might be scheduled back-to-back on the same day. The military sometimes doesn't think that Reservist CO cases are very urgent, so you may have to wait many months for a decision.

You can deal with this problem best if you start before the delays begin. The first step in processing your claim is for the Reserves to appoint an officer to oversee the processing, including choosing the Investigating Officer. As soon as you receive notice that this "overseeing officer" has been appointed (as you should), set up a meeting with him or her to discuss scheduling your processing. Stress the importance of your claim to you, and see if any special arrangements--like holding your interviews at a nearby active duty base--can be made. (Be careful, though. If the local base is primarily a center for Special Forces, for instance, it may be better to process through your own unit personnel.)

Once your claim is in process, you may have to keep after your command--politely, of course--to make sure they don't forget about it. And occasionally a Reserve unit is baffled about what to do with a CO claim. If you are polite and helpful in your efforts to keep your processing going, though, you shouldn't have any trouble.

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