How should I choose between joining the US Regular Army/Reserve vs the National Guard?

Question

Will my being a BS Nursing graduate affect it any way?

Answer 1

Pretty much The Guard and the reserve are the same thing but with me being in the army active I would at least say go reserve. Active is the best way to go but to each is own!!! Both the guard and th reserve are considered weekend warriors. With a BS you can go active and be an officer.

Answer 2

Reserves have only federal benefits while Guard has state benefits as well. There are also more MOS's available in the Guard (combat arms) and different opportunities like AGR (full time). There's also a Guard SF unit if you like that stuff. They are pretty similar though. As far as promotions go, that depends on your unit and MOS. You can be in a stagnant Guard or Reserve unit. They also get called overseas at relatively the same rate (keep in mind that the Guard is more than 2x larger than the reserves). Requirements are the same for all branches of the Army depending on MOS for non-prior service. Find a different recruiter.

Answer 3

You have to first decide what your goals in life are. Take the first difference between active duty and the reserve or guard. In active duty, assuming you are going for a career, you would get your retirement after 20 years of service, and the retirment benefit starts on the month following your retirement date, regardless of your age. If you join the guard or reserve, you do your 20 years of service, but your retirement payments don't start till your 60 years old (maybe 62 now). Then there is the fact that if you are active, you go where and when they send you, all over the world. In the guard you are restricted to the state that your in, unless called to active duty, and with the reserve the area where you can be sent for training/work is expanded, again, unless you are called to active duty. Remember that if you are on either guard or reserve and put on active duty, you may get the same pay as an active duty for your paygrade, however, you won't be entitled to the same benefits.
If you join the guard or reserve, you hold a regular position in civilian life, such as a nurse at a hospital, however, if you are called onto active duty, the military does Not supplement your income to match what you were making in civilian life. For example...as a nurse, you enter as a captain, O-3. for each day of reserve training, you drive to Post XYZ. While there for a weekend, you get paid for 2 days of an O-3 pay, same as any other O-3. On Monday, you return to work at the local hospital and make $60,000 a year. So, your combined income is say $80,000 a year. Then, you are called up for active duty as an O-3, and your full time military pay is $45,000. That is all you receive. Not the 80k, you can't write off any loss, etc. The hospital will most likely hold the job open for you for a specific time (required by law) however, they aren't required to hold your position open. You were the head of pediatrics at the hospital, but when you return the position has been filled. You can work at pediatrics for the same pay, but the "head" has already been assigned to someone else.
Also, remember, that the reserve and/or guard does not "tell" you when you annual obligation is fulfilled. For example, you are required to get 40 points per year for that year to qualify for retirement. You only get 38 points this year, but supplement next year and get 42 points. Only the year with 40 or more points counts, so, basically, you would have to say in the reserve/guard for another year to qualify for retirement. (something the recruiters seem to forget to tell you).

Answer 4

Well with joining either one u can get a direct commisioning into the Nurse Corps for the Army. Now if you join the Gaurd you might not get to get a unit within like 100 miles of your home or residence and thats the same with the reserves too, except the reserves can send u anywhere to drill. Active duty well your pretty much gonna come out of OCS and go straight to Baghdad or somewhere like that. Anyone u go too has the loan pay back..I think its 45,000 now...and everywhere has a bonus, especially for nurses and doctors!! Check out each one of them and everyone has thier drawbacks, but I've been active and Gaurd and i like the Gaurd more, but thats my personal thought!!

Answer 5

I agree with one of the earlier answers, if you join the reserve or national guard you'll get less money, and employers don't like holding positions open for people that will be gone for over a year. Do a 2-4 year stint active duty in the army and get all the benefits, you'll get a signing bonus in the army, I don't know what that guy was talking about, and you can get your commission.

Answer 6

There are some seriously misinformed people that answer these questions. Just amazing.

Let me just give my $.02.


If you want to go in as a nurse, you can be direct commissioned into any of the 3. In all three you have a chance of being sent to Iraq, although there are a lot of factors that weigh into that...there is no guarantee of being deployed, just as there is no guarantee of not being deployed.

Contrary to popular belief, the money in the active duty side isn't too bad. I don't know your situation, but let's just say you get commissioned as a 2LT. Your base pay is $2469.30/month which equals out to $29,631.60/year. Your housing allowance (if you're single, and live, let's say in the Fort Leavenworth area) is $728.00/month or $8736.00 a year (tax free). That's a total of $38367.60 with almost $9000.00 of that being tax free. There are other incentives that go along with the medical field that I don't quite understand but won't talk about. Now...a few years later, youmake Captain those numbers turn into $4392/month base pay, and $1003.00 housing for a grand total of $64,740, with $12036 of it being tax free. Not bad.


I have struggled in the civilian job market, and really regret my decision to get out of the military. If it were my choice, I would go active.

Whatever you choose, keep in mind that you're serving your country...you might disagree with the direction of the war in Iraq, etc (as I do), but there is no nobler cause than serving Soldiers. Military doctors and nurses are truly blessed in my opinion.

Good luck.

Answer 7

depends what you want? army national guard offers more money and you can do infantry as well as tuition assistance/loan pay back. the army reserve has just a pay back program. but the guard will have fewer slots available in comparison to the army reserve.

Answer 8

Join the National guard. That way you can stick on your resume you served in Iraq, even if you didn't. However, if you are running for the office of supreme commander of the armed forces, that is to say for president, I wouldn't do this. It is really embarrassing.

A BS nursing degree holder ? Not a problem except there isn't that much to do. Nobody really gets seriously hurt in the National Guard, although you do get the odd stubbed foot.

Answer 9

If you have a BS in nursing the just skip the military and start earning real money. If you want to serve your country then just go active duty. Joining part-time is annoying to everyone you work with in the civilian sector.

Answer 10

army reserve would be an immediate commission,unsure about national guard