Ohio Military Reserve - Personnel and Training

Personnel and Training

Approximately 1/4 of all OHMR soldiers have served in various branches of the US armed forces. Enlistment is voluntary, however all soldiers swear an oath of enlistment or appointment. Officers hold state, not federal, commissions. Units are co-located in state-owned readiness centers (armories) with National Guard units across the state. Most units drill one weekend a month and all troops must attend one week of training annually (annual training, or AT). AT is generally held in mid-September at Camp Perry Joint Training Center in Port Clinton, Ohio. In the past, troops trained with pistols and shotguns, however, the cost of maintenance and annual re-certification has caused this training to be dropped. Although they are covered by the State’s insurance and workers’ compensation program, soldiers are not paid for their training time or AT period. However, if mobilized, they would be compensated. §5903.02 of the Ohio Revised Code provides OHMR personnel protection under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA) which addresses military leave from employment for both training and deployment.

Members of OHMR wear woodland pattern BDU's/TRU's with no immediate plans to adopt the ACU as some other state guards have done. The members of OHMR are authorized to wear both the Army Service Uniform (ASU) and the Army's green service uniform (class A and B) with the exception of a red, rather than black, nameplate, OHMR buttons, and SDF specific insignia. Both the dress green uniform (enlisted only) and ASU uniform are authorized for formal and evening functions. The OHMR wears the old-style garrison cap with the class A uniform. With the ASU the service cap (with modified insignia) as well as the black beret with the red "state defense force" flash worn by some other states is authorized. The green service uniform has a wearout date of 31 Dec 14.

Promotions are dependent on time in grade / time in service, satisfactory duty performance (including drill attendance), and completion of professional development courses, as per the OHMR promotion matrix.

The OHMR maintains a military training academy to conduct state versions of standard Army professional development courses such as Basic Entry Level Training (required for all non-prior service personnel), Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, and the Basic Officer Course. Advanced Officer and NCO coursework consists largely of online courses available through the Army Correspondence Course Program and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Other branches of the military such as the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force also open their courses to State Guard personnel.