Enlisting - Army National Guard

[BobbyJoe]

As some of you have probably seen from a previous post, I was laid off in October and the job search has been tough. Long story short, I’m thinking of joining the Army National Guard and doing something productive with my time while I continue looking for a job.

If I did enlist I’d go in as an E4 (corporal) and then straight into Officer Candidate School for 18 months since I have a BA in business. The fact that it’s only one weekend each month would allow me to live my normal life and have a civilian job the other 90% of the time. The perks alone seem worth it: student loan repayment, GI bill that transfers to children, decent retirement package, cheap(er) healthcare, only gone for one weekend each month, etc. I’ve also always been fascinated with the military since I was a kid so I’m sure it’d be a good fit.

With all of that said, what’s everyone’s thoughts of a 35yo guy joining? I’m in decent shape (ran 2 marathons last year) so the physical part of it doesn’t worry me. I’m punctual, dependable, respectful, can follow orders and scored a 96 on the Army aptitude test (example test of 60 questions) so none of those things would be an issue either. It’s the fact of joining the military so late in my life that has me a little anxious.

Anyone with experience that can share some pros & cons? Figured this would be a good place to seek advice.

[Randell]

Try and get into flight school if you score high enough.

[sailor]

the military, isn't for everyone.................
But, if you think, it will be something you can do.............
then do it.........

[BobbyJoe]

Try and get into flight school if you score high enough.

I asked about that and the age cutoff is 33, not sure if they do age waivers for pilots. Might be worth asking for sure, thanks for the idea.

[Bayouboy]

If Army is what you want why not the Army reserve?

[Death from Above]

it isnt the same army it was....just 6 months ago

[ken800]

As some of you have probably seen from a previous post, I was laid off in October and the job search has been tough. Long story short, I’m thinking of joining the Army National Guard and doing something productive with my time while I continue looking for a job.

If I did enlist I’d go in as an E4 (corporal) and then straight into Officer Candidate School for 18 months since I have a BA in business. The fact that it’s only one weekend each month would allow me to live my normal life and have a civilian job the other 90% of the time. The perks alone seem worth it: student loan repayment, GI bill that transfers to children, decent retirement package, cheap(er) healthcare, only gone for one weekend each month, etc. I’ve also always been fascinated with the military since I was a kid so I’m sure it’d be a good fit.

With all of that said, what’s everyone’s thoughts of a 35yo guy joining? I’m in decent shape (ran 2 marathons last year) so the physical part of it doesn’t worry me. I’m punctual, dependable, respectful, can follow orders and scored a 96 on the Army aptitude test (example test of 60 questions) so none of those things would be an issue either. It’s the fact of joining the military so late in my life that has me a little anxious.

Anyone with experience that can share some pros & cons? Figured this would be a good place to seek advice.

Keep in mind that it is one weekend a month but many units often do "3-day weekends". You'll have to report Friday evening on those drill days. Pay is a little better but it's still there looming. Lastly, it's 1 weekend a month a a 2-week summer drill. Depending on your MOS, that 2 weeks could be in the field. Don't forget that part! The recruiter will gloss over that part.

[PYBUCK]

Also don't forget you may be assigned to guard the capital for sleepy joe, in that cast the service may be months on end or it may never end.

[300rem7]

Remember that you are joining a giant machine and the at times makes know sense. other than that have fun with it.

[glpoe1]

If you don't do it will you look back in 10 years and regret it? I bet you will if you don't do it now. Good luck.

[Guest]

Yo wouldn’t go in as a Corporal you would go in as a specialist.
Corporal is a leadership position that will be produced off of scale on you TPL Troop Promotion List then you company commander will allow it if he thinks you posses good enough skills for the billet. Since we have started the “leader train leader program” the only people that fill corporal slots are those that are way up on the TPL to be promoted to Sgt. Those of which who have completed their SSD1 both in the online portions and have been sent to school for it in either Mew Mexico, Louisiana, or Ft Hood which slots have been hard to fill.
You don’t have a deployment which will hurt because most of us have so promotions lean towards combat awards and company commanders push for promotions if they ever fall in a tie to whoever has more experience overseas.
If you want a POG job then just go to the Reserves since there aren’t any combat MOS jobs in the Reserves but if you want to fill a combat MOS then go to the Army National Guard we have all the options for Combat MOS.
I did 5 years active duty Marine infantry, 3 Active duty Army Airborne and I’m in the Texas Army National Guard now with an Infantry unit and have deployed twice the Army National guard


If you don’t want to ever leave then don’t join because the 36th ID Texas Army National Guard has actually been deployed more times since Global War On Terror started than any other division. Why this is due to there begins so many slots open to be filled for deployments that the NG can fill without having to meet some big army requirements for testing between deployments. They can just keep sending them. So you join the Guard chances are you will be deploying. Deployments are usually 4 years apart if not sooner per unit. The National Guard is not what it was in the 80’s and 90’s. We are full of experienced soldiers now so we get deployed much more often to use that experience.

If you think you’re in good shape I believe you but attempt the new Combat Physical Fitness Test and see how you fair we aren’t using the old anymore. And you have until the FY 2022 to pass it.

Some units drill every other month so it’s a week every other month. Some units like mine drill more often like every two to three weeks we will have drill again.

There are opportunities to go on Orders especially right now where it would be like a full time job. You could go on riot control orders, border mission, or some other duty put out by Division that needs bodies.

If you are worried some young kid with a higher rank than you and a combat deployment will get up in your junk if you mess up or don’t figure something out as fast as you should then go to another job because that will happen.

I’ve never heard of anyone going straight from bootcamp to AIT to OCS. You’ll have to go to your unit then apply for it and that’s if the unit wants to let you go. They may send some other people first to make sure you’re squared away and won’t get sent right back. I know the OIC at OCS and he will send you packing for a tiny reason. Loads of people want to try OCS but it all comes down to applying then meeting with your commander for an “interview” then if they believe you have what it takes then they will send you. But if they are hurting for lower enlisted they will hang on to you a bit to fill those slots before losing you.


Army Reserves is for support jobs it’s designed that way
Army National guard is combat jobs that’s why active guys when they have to do two years reserve duty at the end of their contract go to the National Guard. Only the National Guard has Combat Jobs

You will not get a GI bull unless you deploy. GI bill is only applicable to those who have served overseas or been on active duty for more than 2 years continually on active duty. National a guard Mday people don’t get it unless they go to a combat deployment or serve an active duty contract. Don’t let your recruiter fill you full of **** I know most of them and they are hurting for numbers bad.
The education pro you shared are wrong so moving past that you won’t get a retirement package unless you are in fact retired 20 years or more.
If you don’t have a deployment you have done no time except reserve or guard time you’re retirement will be fair but your insurance will be about $1,400 a month.

Active duty retirement and guard retirement are way different

If you have deployed and retire then your retirement will be a bit better since your injuries may deem you to receive free insurance and a good retirement check based off time in service, time active, rank and pay grade divided by active time served/ combat deployment time served and it will spot out some number about the same as 75% your monthly pay on active duty.
I am being medically retired from two wounds on my last deployment and I have insurance for my whole family for about $25 a month for TRICARE SELECT and $57 for Tricare Prime. I chose prime because I have kids and go to the doctor more.
I get my full retirement based on time and everything I explained then I get except my Disability pay is higher from the VA so the Army holds my retirement until I’m 62 at that point I’ll get both. I get Special Combat Compensation Pay also which is not reduced

Since I am being medically retired for combat wounds sustained in combat and I was in a combat MOS at the time of injury my kids get their own hazelwood and GI bull and so does my wife.


You however will only rate a Hazlewood exemption and it will not be able to transferred to anyone unless you are 100 percent disabled

I get young soldiers to the unit often who are so excited about all the benefits until they realize they “COULD” theoretically if the stars line up qualify for them and actually “DONT” qualify for them.

If you’re joining just for the benefits I can understand why but if you want to join to do something for your country I hope that’s the case and all I have to say is what took you so long the wars are almost over
If you have any questions hit me up
Your recruiter is lying to you and me being the retention NCO for my unit I can give you better education and a better understanding of everything than the shiny BS they are offering up right now

[BuckSmasher]

As some of you have probably seen from a previous post, I was laid off in October and the job search has been tough. Long story short, I’m thinking of joining the Army National Guard and doing something productive with my time while I continue looking for a job.

If I did enlist I’d go in as an E4 (corporal) and then straight into Officer Candidate School for 18 months since I have a BA in business. The fact that it’s only one weekend each month would allow me to live my normal life and have a civilian job the other 90% of the time. The perks alone seem worth it: student loan repayment, GI bill that transfers to children, decent retirement package, cheap(er) healthcare, only gone for one weekend each month, etc. I’ve also always been fascinated with the military since I was a kid so I’m sure it’d be a good fit.

With all of that said, what’s everyone’s thoughts of a 35yo guy joining? I’m in decent shape (ran 2 marathons last year) so the physical part of it doesn’t worry me. I’m punctual, dependable, respectful, can follow orders and scored a 96 on the Army aptitude test (example test of 60 questions) so none of those things would be an issue either. It’s the fact of joining the military so late in my life that has me a little anxious.

Anyone with experience that can share some pros & cons? Figured this would be a good place to seek advice.

What kind of job are you looking for? Every trade I am aware of seems to be short handed right now.

[BobbyJoe]

Quanah11, thank you. That was exactly the advice I was looking for. The recruiter was all rainbows and sunshine which even at the time sounded to good to be true. I’d like to join to serve my country but at the same time I want to know the good, the bad and the ugly. Seems when you talk to recruiters it’s all good and none of the bad.

[grizzman]

OCS isn't a gimme. My class 42 years ago had a 60% plus attrition.

I instructed at the La Military Academy in the late 80s early 90s and attritions were 50% plus. We ran the Phase 1 camp for TX/LA/NM at Camp Beauregard and it seems like most of the attrition was in Phase 1. Things may have changed in the last thirty years due to better pre OCS prep.

Has anyone mentioned the Accelerated OCS option to you (Ft. Rucker). I assume that still exists. And the active duty OCS at Ft. Benning.

[gneimeth]

I went in enlisted with a degree/specialist at 24. A lot of haters out there and folks that made it a point to make my life difficult. I’m not saying it will be that way for you but consider holding out for an OCS spot if you can qualify. The positive side is that I had a CO that supported me/going to grad school (Army paid 75% of it) and I took full advantage of it.

If it was me I would look at something different besides enlisting in the Army. Just my 2 cents...