Because the Reserve is structurally different — not just a lighter version of active duty.
The watch schedules, the 24/7 availability, the constant operational tempo — most of that goes away. One weekend a month looks completely different when your Monday morning is a civilian life you chose.
The sailors who come back to me after their first few months drilling almost always say the same thing: it doesn't feel like the Navy they were burned out from.
That's the most common thing I hear — and it's a fair response to what active duty demands of you. But the Reserve isn't active duty. The grind, the watch schedule, the constant availability requirements — most of that goes away. One weekend a month looks very different when your Monday morning is a civilian job you chose. Before you decide, let's talk about what specifically burned you out. That conversation changes things more often than not.