Be All You Can Be every day in the JAGC Active Guard Reserve (AGR) program.

The AGR program offers a variety of attractive benefits. Benefits include full time pay, basic allowance for housing, comprehensive medical care for families, and eligibility for a regular retirement after 20 years of active federal service. AGR Soldiers also have access to worldwide great assignment opportunities, 30 days of paid vacation each year, and the opportunity to earn a Post-9/11 GI Bill.

A great option for Weekend Warriors. For those who remain in the program for less than five years, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects their rights to their civilian job.

A great option for Active Duty Warriors. This program is an excellent choice for those transitioning from the Regular Army (RA), as it provides greater career stability and more assignment options in larger metropolitan areas including Washington DC Metro, Seattle Metro, Orlando, Houston, and Chicago, which often offer better employment opportunities for spouses.

What is the bottom line? Reserve Assignments and Mobilizations will soon convene a board to select the next slate of AGR Judge Advocates. Applicants should complete the attached application and submit it to usarmy.pentagon.hqda-otjag.mbx.reserve-component@army.mil no later than 16 March 2025. Applicants should also copy LTC Julie Worthington (Julie.a.worthington.mil@army.mil) on the email. A list of available positions is also attached. Please list these positions in rank preference order on page 4 of the application.

Who can apply? Any JA (RA, USAR, and ARNG) in the rank of 1LT to junior LTC may apply. See below for additional guidance for RA JA. Warrant Officers interested in applying to the AGR program should contact CW4 Kim Pastor at kim.m.pastor.mil@army.mil.

What is the AGR Program? Stationed throughout the United States and OCONUS, AGR Soldiers serve full-time on Active Duty in Army Reserve units or in units and organizations that directly support the Army Reserve including United States Army Reserve Command and Office of The Judge Advocate General.

How long is the commitment? AGRs are accessed onto Active Duty on an initial three-year Active Duty service tour with review of performance records in the second year to determine eligibility for continued service in the program for an indefinite period. If selected for indefinite service, AGRs can expect reassignment every two to four years based on the needs of the Army. The initial three-year tour may be curtailed in some situations at the Soldier’s request.

How is the board conducted? The board will be a fully qualified board and will convene in late March to determine a pool of fully qualified candidates for accession. Once the pool of candidates is established, the board will create an order of merit list (OML) of all fully qualified candidates based on the strength of their application and record of service. Assignments will be offered to the most qualified candidates based on their stated preferences and the needs of the Army. Please note that potentially not every person who makes the fully qualified list will be offered an assignment. If the board deems you a fully qualified candidate but you are not offered an AGR assignment, to include RA officers not recommended for release (see below for more info), your application will continue to remain valid for the remaining fiscal year unless there is a substantial change to your file. In other words, your application will remain open for any assignments that become available during FY25.

Guidance specifically for RA Judge Advocates. Accession will be contingent upon a recommendation for release by the TMO AC Talent Managers. RA personnel applying to the AGR program must adhere to the following procedures in addition to submitting the required documents specified as part of the AGR application:

- All RA personnel contemplating application to the AGR program must declare that intent the previous fall on their AC PCS preference sheet

- RA personnel who declare their intent may transfer from RA to AGR immediately upon successful application and selection to the AGR program (e.g. accessed in MAR; start orders the same summer).

- RA personnel who do NOT declare their intent may still apply to the AGR program; however, if selected for AGR accession, transfer will occur upon recommendation for release by the AC talent managers.

What must be included in the application? The first page of the attached application packet contains a checklist. For easy reference, the following documents must be submitted in order in one pdf.

AGR Accession Application Sheet
Assignment Preference Sheet
Soldier Talent Profile or ARB (You can access your ARB at https://selfservice.rcms.usar.army.mil/SelfService/home/selfservice.)
Past three OERs in Descending Order
ACFT (DA Form 705) and DA Form 5500/5501 if applicable
Civilian Resume (Not Applicable for Regular Army Judge Advocates)

Please send all required documents to RAM at usarmy.pentagon.hqda-otjag.mbx.reserve-component@army.mil and copy me (LTC Julie Worthington) NLT 16 March. If you have general questions about the AGR program or about the application process, please contact me at Julie.a.worthington.mil@army.mil or by phone at 703-545-2813.