Being a reserve officer is what you make of it. You can be a glorified ride-a-long, or you can get into the job and learn to be just as effective and qualified as a regular officer.
When I became a reserve deputy, I was still immersed in a career as a naval aviator. I wanted to become just as professional a cop as I considered myself a naval aviator. I only rode with regular deputies who were willing to teach me the job and how to be as competent as they were.
For the first six years I was a reserve deputy, I could only work under the supervision of regular deputies. I eventually got the training that allowed me to work independently and without close supervision. When I was on leave from the Navy I worked vacation relief for the sheriff's department, filling in so a regular deputy could go on vacation.
When I retired from the Navy, the sheriff paid my way through a fulltime police academy. My 7.5 year experience as a reserve deputy paid off. I was at the top of my class of 38 cadets and the class leader the entire 16 week academy. I highly doubt the sheriff would have done the same for a 42 year old stranger and newcomer to law enforcement.
I considered my time as a reserve deputy as free training. I received the combined experience of perhaps 6-7 deputies I really respected and admired, who had anywhere from 3-10 years on the job. I was exposed to all kinds and methods of policing. I benefitted greatly from the experience.
In my department, reserves were expected to work two shifts a month for free. However, once you had your required time in, you were paid the same as a first step deputy on probation. So, in the case of working vacation relief, I worked one day for free, and nine days paid.
