r/armyreserve

We Are The Mighty profiles retired Sgt. Maj. Mike Vining through the smaller personal details behind a much larger military résumé: Vietnam EOD work, Delta Force, Operation Eagle Claw, and later life outside uniform. The article uses the “sardines he never ate” story to humanize someone usually presented as a meme or legend.

Vining served as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist in Vietnam, where he recalled multiple near-death moments, including being left behind at an abandoned Special Forces camp and helping destroy the massive “Rock Island East” enemy weapons cache in Cambodia.

The profile also connects Vining to Delta Force’s early history. A related We Are The Mighty piece says he joined Delta in 1978 as an EOD specialist under Col. Charlie Beckwith, making him one of the unit’s original members.

The article’s strategic value is not just biography. It shows how specialized technical skills, especially EOD, became central to elite special operations as missions grew more complex and politically sensitive.

Vining’s post-service life, including mountaineering, historical writing, veteran community work, and distance from his internet fame, adds a useful contrast to modern military celebrity culture. The profile suggests that some of the most consequential operators may be least interested in mythmaking.

Do stories like Vining’s help preserve serious military history, or do meme-driven portrayals risk flattening complex service into legend?

23 years old, full time 3rd year electrician, getting married in October, but I’ve always wanted to join the military but could never pull the trigger, if I joined the reserves what would my schedule look like? Pros and cons? Thanks

hi im looking for advice, im going to fort sill this July for basic training I joined the army reserve as a e4 dental specialist, im kind of nervous because im a 37 years old man and also Im already missing my 2 year old daughter.

I recently made E-4 and got moved up to Brigade, I now have create a training plan for AT for S6. I have never been to an AT where S6 has to present to the Unit so I have no idea what to make the presentation about. We have a small section and don't have much experience in the army as the rest of the unit.

What is it like going to fort hood before a deployment?

Hey all, wanted to put this on people’s radar because it could directly affect Reservists and Guardsmen.

There’s a bill in Congress called the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act. The House version is H.R. 1423 and the Senate version is S. 649.

The basic idea is that more paid Guard and Reserve duty should count toward Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility. Right now, a lot of time spent in uniform does not always count the same way active-duty time does, even when it is required training, schools, exercises, missions, or other paid duty.

Supporters describe the goal as making sure every day in uniform counts.

This matters because a lot of Reserve Component soldiers spend years balancing civilian jobs, family, school, BA weekends, AT, orders, military schools, missions, and deployments. The Guard and Reserve have been used heavily for years, but the benefits system does not always reflect that service.

This bill has not become law yet, so do not assume your benefits have changed. But it is active legislation and has bipartisan support.

Look up:

H.R. 1423, Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act
S. 649, Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act

If this is something you support, consider contacting your Representative and Senators and asking them to support it.

Not trying to make this political. Just sharing because this could affect a lot of TPU, IMA, Guard, and Reserve folks who have put in years of paid service that may not fully count toward GI Bill eligibility right now.

TL;DR: There is a proposal in Congress to expand Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility for Guard and Reserve members by counting more paid days in uniform. Look up H.R. 1423 and S. 649.

I’ve been in the army reserves now for 3 years and I’ve hated every second of it. I know a lot of people will probably think that I’m a pussy or whatever but idk I guess I am. This absolutely blows. every time something gets put out in the group chat I know it’s going to be either something completely unnecessary that we will have to do or public humiliation of some sort. Now we are scheduled for a MOB to the Border and it could be worse but I don’t want to go at all to the point where sometime I’ll get chest pains I think about it so much. I joined for school and just because I’ve always wanted to do this but I never thought I’d hate it this bad I cannot wait until I’m out. Is there anything you recommend doing to help me? Thank you

I’m currently working with a recruiter who’s about 6 months into the job. During our in-person meeting, they admitted they were still learning the process, which I completely understand and I’m trying to be patient with.

That said, there have been a few things that made me hesitant:

I usually have to follow up myself to confirm appointments

They seemed very focused on my practice ASVAB score

They frequently asked nearby recruiters for help navigating the recruiting portal

Another recruiter nearby mentioned DOD SAFE was the preferred way to send sensitive documents

My recruiter originally wanted me to send documents like my SSN card, birth certificate, and passport directly to their u/army.mil email. I wasn’t comfortable with that and asked for a DOD SAFE link instead.

They eventually said they sent one, but I never received it (checked spam/junk too). When I followed up about it, the response was basically “I don’t know,” without much effort to troubleshoot or resend it.

So I’m trying to figure out:

Am I pushing too hard by insisting on DOD SAFE?

Is sending sensitive documents directly to a recruiter’s military email considered normal/acceptable?

Would you recommend I continue with this recruiter or try working with someone else?

Appreciate any insight from recruiters or current/former reservists.

So I’m moving June 1st to my new unit and it’s about 300 miles where I live and it’s gonna be my new permanent station, I was told by my supply Sargent to use my GTC for gasoline when I travel but whenever I try to use DTS or make a voucher/ smart voucher instead I get lost and have no idea what to do. Can anyone help me?

So do we have any updates on when this is rolling out? Cause the order says by the end of next month but we’ve still got as much information as we did in January.

I failed my 2 mile run by 2 mins. I want to train for it but how can I do it when I’m stuck with the baby and her mom is cooking vice versa? It’s hard to train when the baby is needing us 24/7

Dix, McCoy, or Parks? I’ll have a Jimmy Dean and a warm Gatorade.

Hello everyone,

I served 15 years on active duty in the Army—6 years enlisted in Field Artillery (Team Chief/Section Sergeant) and 9 years as a Signal officer (PL/XO/CDR/4 Star CMD staff) ). Followed by 5 years as a DA Civilian in training development (WHINSEC) and contracting officer with Futures & Concepts Command (Old Futures Command).

I wanted to offer myself as a sounding board for any company-grade officers or junior NCOs. I’m happy to share perspective, talk through challenges, or just listen—no pressure, no judgment.

I can help with leadership issues, Company Command, supply, staff work, career progression, schools, legal questions, deployments, or just general Army life.

I know things evolve and the Army changes -so I won’t have the answers about new programs/policies- just offering experience where it’s useful and helping people think through decisions.

If that sounds helpful, feel free to reach out.

Or do you think they should make more or less?

I was not able to make drill and they are requesting a SOU? Very new to this, where do I find this? I cannot find anything on here related to this? Are they referring to a 1380?

My son is currently medically fragile where he requires 24/7 nursing care as to why I have not been able to make it to drill, my COC is tracking to this already too.

I have an issue regarding a transfer that’s underneath the 200th MP Command CoC. My PAR has been at a stand still and even my retention NCO Isn’t getting any answers. I’ve waited over 2 1/2 months now and I need to attend AT in June for an upcoming deployment. Anything at this point helps. This whole process has been ridiculous. I’ve called the 200th MP IG and left voicemails with no response yet.

Hey yall so I just graduated from AIT and ive been calling two different numbers that were provided to me in order to report in to my unit but ive had no success, ive been sent to voicemail each time and have left several messages with my name, Rank, and contact info and so far nobody has reached out. Im unsure of my next steps or even how to find contact information for my unit beyond what was provided to me at AIT.