A
Reservist that is called to active duty is called an activated reservist. There are many different sentiments towards activated reservists (most of them bad). Active duty
NCO's (
Noncommissioned officer) don't generally want to be in charge of these reservists. They
stereotype that these reservists are going to be non-qualified, complaining, do-nothings. Now, personally, I have seen and met some activated reservists that were like this, but they were not the majority.
Reservists called to active duty have to deal with a number of other problems not related to negative. One is an issue of clothing. On the reserve side, when clothing wears out, we are allowed a specified number of DX's (Direct eXchange) per year. This allows us to trade in worn out clothing/boots for new in a one-to-one exchange. This does not occur on the active duty side of the house. Active duty gets a clothing allowance and are required to replace their clothing from that. When a reservist is activated, they are no longer allowed to DX, and they do not recieve a clothing allowance until they have been active for a year. Any worn out clothing must be replaced out of pocket at a PX (Post eXchange run by AAFES).
Another issue is financial. Active and Reserve pay both come from a federal budget (unlike National Guard that comes from a state budget), but the reserve finances are controlled by whatever home unit that soldier came from. This causes problems where special duty pay is concerned (like SDAP for a drill sergeant). The unit the soldier is attached to may put them in a position that should recieve additional pay, but the home unit may refuse to pay it.
Being a reservist today isn't too much different than it was five years ago. There is just a much higher chance of being activated and shipped overseas. Being on my first mobilization (activation) has been a learning experience, but one I would rather not relive any time soon.