I'm thinking about joining the Army National Guard...anyone have any advice to help me decide?

Question

I'm thinking about joining because I could use the tuition help and being in the military is something that interests me. Does anyone have any personal experiences or good, reasoned advice to help me decide?

The reason I would be joining the Army National Guard is because I am in college right now as well.

I have done a lot of research but there isn't a lot of information out there based on a soldier's perspective that I would trust. This is part of my research is to get opinions from people who have had experiences so I can hear the good and the bad and not having to worry if it is sugar-coated to get me to join.

Answer 1

Know the ANG is also in Iraq, so you may deploy. Also know that you will deploy on state emergencies. It you are going just for the education, look for scholarships. You get any where near the military and you may be on your way to where you weren't planning to go. Think long and hard. The person next to you in an emergency is going to need all of your attention.

Answer 2

It's a good deal. Check your states programs pretty good. In Texas we have some great college money programs, plus they just got back from Afghanistan, so they won't be going anywhere for a while. The biggest thing is picking your job. in the active force you need to picka job you'll love cause you're stuck with it. In the guard/reserve you also have to consider the deployment rate so that it doesn't interfere with your school too badly. If you decide you like it, there are a couple officer commissioning programs you can get on that will make you non-deployable till you graduate & an officer after - I'm not just talking about ROTC, though that is one of the options, they will keep you as an enlisted troop & pay you & pay for your school till you graduate, but your guard duty will be OCS course work or ROTC. Generally I've found people either love it or they hate it, it's hard to say how you'll feel about it till you are doing it. My best advice is narrow it down to a couple jobs available at local area units & call up see if you can go hang around for drill a couple months before you make your decision. As long as you aren't in the way, they usually don't mind, considering it is them you might be assigned to later.

Answer 3

If you are looking for part time then go Army Reserves. There are 3,000,000 reasons why the reserves are better than the guard. Guard units tend to be combat related units. Reserves tend to be support units. Not totally black and white so check what kind of units are in your area. Either way you can not be put in a combat arms job. Reserves can only be called up by the federal government. The Guard can be called by the fed's or the state. That means you can spend alot of time out of college. You would rather be deployed with a reserve unit. Reserves will have better more well maintained equipment. Like I said there are many, many more reasons to go Reserves over Guard. Email me at [e-mail]. I can go more in depth and help you out. Just to let you know, I am active Army but have worked with guard and reserves.

Answer 4

If you want to join, go with the AIR National Guard. Much safer, and you'll have more options when you're done serving. I was active duty AF for 4 years. It was a really great time. I had enough tuition assistance to help me get a BS and an MS when I got out. Check out ROTC programs as well. Don't let the current state of the world (or the liberal media) intimidate you.

Answer 5

Air National Guard

Answer 6

I have to say that basic training was the best thing that ever happened to me, however, this was almost 20 years ago.
I was in the Army National Guard for 10 years. I would have been in longer if they wouldn't have so obviously discriminated against me, but that is not the point.
National Guard Units get called out to active duty more than Army Reserve and even some Active Duty units.
If money is the biggest issue, check into government grants and loans first. It is much easier to owe the government money than it is to owe them your life!
If you join the Guard, you WILL go to war. Finding money to go to school won't be an issue, you will be continually in and out of active duty status. Your desire to go to school will no longer exist!
I was called out when this whole mess got started, Desert Sheild. That was over 15 years ago! It is not getting any better.
If you decide to join the ANG, best of luck and stay safe!

Answer 7

My Husband is in the National Guard. He has gained great knowledge and strength as a person. I will say that he was deployed to Iraq and that really changes a person. He has had a difficult time fitting back in to "normal" life. There are both good and bad that comes out of the military. I would say the biggest thing it that my husbands unit is VERY unorganized and has no structure. They mess up his pay and they never know what is going on!! But when it comes down to it, he is a proud American Soldier and he says it was all in all a good choice.


Also we have never seen any money for school!!!
Good Luck

Answer 8

Don't do it just for the money - if you're really interested in serving, by all means....and more power to you.

If you're currently in college, the Army has what's called "SMP"...or, Simultaneous Membership Program. Basically, you drill with a National Guard/Army Reserve unit once a month while going to school and participating in ROTC. You can get into this program by either a) winning a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty scholarship, where they pay your entire tuition and give you a stipend during the school year, or b) you can enlist, and then join the program when you get out of Basic.

If you're already a college student, you may be able to waive the basic training requirement, provided you are contractually obligated to enroll in the Advanced ROTC course/Warrior Forge. Here's a basic rundown of what would happen if you do SMP via scholarship:

1) Complete this school year, and participate in ROTC. Apply for a GRFD scholarship. If you get decent grades and perform well (show up to PT, good work ethic, etc.) then you'll probably be awarded one. If you ARE awarded one, you will be allocated to a Guard/Reserve unit where you will drill. If you are a first year student, skip to #3

2) Next summer, you'll spend a few weeks at Leadership Training Course, where you'll catch up with the rest of the cadets and learn all the stuff you missed if you joined late.

3) When you get back, you will be enrolled in the Advanced ROTC course (1st/2nd year is basic course...3rd/4th year is advanced). You'll finish that school year out while participating in ROTC. After the year is out, you'll spend 30+ days at LDAC (also known as Warrior Forge), where you will be evaluated and graded.

4) Come back from LDAC, finish out your 4th year of school...when you graduate, provided you earned a satisfactory grade at LDAC, you'll be commissioned as a 2LT in the Guard or Reserve and will attend the Officer Basic Course for your branch after graduation (around 6 months long or so). Branches are competitive - the top ranked cadets pick their branches first, so if you want a slot in the branch of your choosing, you need to work at it. If you fail at LDAC, you may have your scholarship revoked, in which case you would have to pay that money back. ALSO, in this case, if you are SMP, and you fail LDAC, you may also be required to complete basic training and AIT and serve in the Guard/Reserve regardless. I've never seen it happen myself, so I'm not really too sure.

Ther's a bit more to it than that, I'd suggest contacting your nearest Professor of Military Science - they will be able to provide you with more information, as well as introducing you to some cadets who may be able to relay their experieinces to you before you make a decision.

I can give you a little more info, if I had a better picture on your current situation. How many credits do you have? What year are you in? Were you in JROTC? What branch are you looking for?

NOTE: If you accept a scholarship, you are contractually obligated to earn a commission, or they will make you pay back all the money they gave you.

Answer 9

my advice would be look into all the different reserve forces... find which one has a job most similar to the career you are looking to get into and get into that service...be sure you can handle being called to action to Iraq if you go National Guard...look into Coast Guard Reserves you will be surprised...all the services will require you go thru some type of basic training, find which one will let you go between semesters.
After talkingto recruiters, ask where the nearest base is, and for a away to tour the base..while there try and get permission to chat with someone doing the same job you might be doing..see if there is advance ment..what deployment chances are?
It could be the bestthing you ever do..it is great for a resume

Answer 10

Why Army Guard? Why not Active duty?

Either choice is a fine one. I have 14 years of active duty with the AF and have enjoyed all of it. I have learned more and grown into my potential that I probably would not have seen had I not joined up. I suggest if you feel it is a good decision you go with it. If it turns out to be not your thing you got a paycheck for 4 years.