Considering joining Guard/Reserve

[MadBadger]

I am graduating college in about a month, and I have been giving a lot of thought lately to joining the Army Nat'l Guard or the Army Reserve. Considering how much I value my freedom, I feel I need to contribute to the continuance of that freedom. I would like to be 11B, infantry. If sent to Iraq, I would like to think I'd proudly go. My best friend's dad was in the Air Force in Desert Storm, and then served in the Guard, so I've got some information from him. I still have a few questions I'd like to throw out there:

Guard vs. Reserve: What exactly is the difference? Would a Reserve unit be activated/sent overseas before an NG unit? Visa versa? How do units from the 3 (NG, reserve, regular army) interact when in a combat theater? Seperated, or pretty integrated? Is there a difference in training?

I'd have a bachelor's degree, so that would put me as an officer, correct? I'd be concerned that as a green Lt. I wouldn't know what I was doing, even after all the training.

Thanks in advance for any answers. I've always considered myself as a "military buff," but I'm still just an ignorant civilian.

[Palmguy]

Originally Posted by MadBadger

I'd have a bachelor's degree, so that would put me as an officer, correct? I'd be concerned that as a green Lt. I wouldn't know what I was doing, even after all the training.

You wouldn't automatically be commissioned by signing on the dotted line simply because you will have a degree. You would have to apply for, be accepted to, and complete Officer Candidate School. For the Army, this school follows on after you complete basic. Last I heard, BCT is 9 weeks and OCS is 14 weeks, so you are looking at 23 weeks of training before you are commissioned.

I'm going to be commissioned as a naval officer this year, through Navy OCS, with no prior military experience. I know for damn sure that even after my 12 weeks of fun in Rhode Island, I won't know everything (or anything, I'm sure some would say). Your NCOs are there to help you.

[Automatic Slim]

Just jion the Army. Period. If you join the Guard, or Reserves, you will be screwed around. You get more benefits and gain more respect, and more pay if your active duty.
National Guard sounds like a good thing to do, but PLEASE ask somebody you know who has been to Iraq or AFG that was in the Guard and they'll tell you to just join up.

God Bless you either way.

[Frenchy]

I applaud your devotion to duty MadBadger, but at this point in time, I believe it's misplaced.
When you sign on the dotted line it becomes a covenant between you and your government. You swear fidelity to your country and Constitution, and your president swears to not put you in harms way for an un-righteous cause. The government has failed in its Constitutional duty, in this regard.

[Icey101]

Why Guard or Reserve, instead of Active Duty Route?

[gsh341]

OK, here's the quick breakdown of the various differences.

Active Army - Full time job, benefits and pay. Operate as a federally funded and controlled organization.

Reserves - Part time job, some of the benefits are part-time some are full-time. Pay is only full-time when on duty for annual training or deployed. Operate as a federally funded and controlled organization. Individual Reservists can be mobilized separately from their unit.

National Guard - Part time job, some of the benefits are part-time, some are full-time. Pay is only full-time when on duty for annual training, state activations or deployed. Operates as a state controlled organization but subject to federal activations. Funding is shared by the state and the federal government. Individuals can only be deployed as a part of their unit unless they volunteer for deployment to fill vacancies in another unit. The National Guard is the organization that helps out during state and national disasters as well.

The training, training standards and equipment are the same, but the active Army is the only one that trains full-time. National Guard and Reserves usually train one weekend per month and for two weeks every year. That is subject to change as needed, but that is the basic idea.

The different components (and services) operate together when deployed. An active Army unit may be under the command of a Reserve or National Guard battalion, or vice versa. the active duty troops sometimes look down on the National Guard and Reserves, but I have seen several Guard and Reserve units that are way better than active units in every regard.

Having been in the Active Army and in the National Guard I can honestly say that the National Guard (and Reserve) has less BS to deal with and generally the troops are better educated. Most have college or tech school degrees and virtually all have full time jobs aside from the Guard. This means that Guard members have much more non-military training and education to draw on than an active Army Soldier of the same pay grade. Most of the fluff is gone and only the substance remains in the operations as well. Since the Guard has so much less time to train every year they can't do all the Class A uniform inspections and other BS and still accomplish their mission.

The personal interactions in Guard units are different as well. Your CO may be your wife's cousin and your Pl Sgt might work for you even though you're only an E-4. So you have a much more personal relationship with your unit members. I know of several families that serve in the same units. Fathers, sons and daughters. Active units have Soldiers constantly transferring from one unit to another whereas Guard units will have the same soldiers for years. I have seen many E-1s that are now E-8s and have never left the battalion from the day they signed up to the day they retired.

When I was deployed to Iraq from 2003-04 my unit spent the first 6 months with the 1st Marine Division. The Marines we worked with were really snotty to us for the first couple weeks. They thought that the National Guard was for idiots and screw-ups. But by the end of the first month they loved us. We worked side by side and they never had any reason to rag on us. The Colonel in charge of the Battalion we were assigned to wished we could be reassigned to him when they came back, but we were leaving in a month, so no dice.

As far as being an officer, sure now that you have a degree you can be one, but you still have to go though Officer Candidate School, Officer Basic Course, and your Military Occupational Specialty training. Otherwise you will go in as a Private First Class (E-3). If you do decide to become an officer, Palmguy is correct, listen to your senior NCOs and learn from them. They have the experience you need and will try to keep you out of trouble, but in the end you call the shots.

As for XD Springers experiences, those are his and things have changed in the last 37 years. Don't let his bad experience scare you away from doing something you want to do. Just make sure you really want to do it before signing on the dotted line. I just retired after 21 years (17 years in the South Dakota National Guard) and I loved it. But then again, it's not for everyone.

[MadBadger]

Thanks a lot for all your responses, guys. I'm still a loooong way from making any binding decisions, and you've all given me some stuff to think about.

[Hoosier70]

GSH341 pretty much hits the nail on the head but as far as this …
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National Guard - Part time job, some of the benefits are part-time, some are full-time. Pay is only full-time when on duty for annual training, state activations or deployed. Operates as a state controlled organization but subject to federal activations. Funding is shared by the state and the federal government. Individuals can only be deployed as a part of their unit unless they volunteer for deployment to fill vacancies in another unit. The National Guard is the organization that helps out during state and national disasters as well.>>
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The Nat’l Guard can & has pull individuals from a unit to augment another involuntarily, It happened to me w/o any notice. >>
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IMO try NG or AR if you like then there is the option to go regular or full time Army. If it’s not you’re cup O’ Joe then tuff it out1 weekend a mnth.. You will still be able to hold you’re head up and say I served!!

[Palmguy]

Originally Posted by XD Springer

It's a stupid war -- You might get kiled for Geo. Bush's oil and Cheney's Halliburton contracts.

Oh for crying out freaking loud

[AZXD]

MadBadger,
I think you are getting some very good and very honest advice from those who have already posted. I spent 5 yrs. on active duty and 2 on active reserve. I would do it again in a heart beat, but I can also understand why some might be telling you different. The service is not for everyone and we are actively engaged in a war.

I'd suggest that beyond this board, you go talk to people who are serving in various branches. Possibly get a recruiter to gain access to a unit when they are conducting drills and just spend a little time talking to a few people face-to-face.

The decision really is a commitment and I commend you for even considering the idea of joining. It is true that the service is not for everyone, but I guarantee you that the experience will change you and most likely it will be a positive change.

If you decide to go for it, make sure your contract states every school you wish to receive and that things are clearly spelled out. When I signed up, I had a recruiter tell me I could not get the school I wanted. I took a trip to another recruiter (same branch of service) and got every thing I asked for with no squabbles.

Best of luck with your decision.