What is the difference between active, reserve and national guard?

Question

I am planning to join the military and just wanted to know what the difference is between the different military branches. I am 33 and have a wife and 3 kids. And for those of you that think I want to see combat, I don't. But I will serve my country if I have to. I want to know what the pay, benefits and life will be like if I decide to join.

Answer 1

Regular Army is the full time gig.
Army Reserves is the federal version of the regular army and trains 2 days a month + 2 weeks a year. You'll need to keep your civilian job.
National Guard is basically the same as the Reserves except it is under state control, unless federalized for national service. It has a mission to help it's states citizens during state emergencies.

Reserves and Guard are focused in combat service support and combat respectively, so if you want to be an infantryman you'd want to join the Regular Army or National Guard.

If you're looking to go full time, you are probably looking for the Regular Army.

Answer 2

There is a huge diffrence between regular army, national guard and enlisted reserves. While in training the pay is the same for them all. Just so your aware that as an e-1 the base pay is 1200 a month. Since you have dependents you can get BAH, family seperation (while you are training), and a little more for your dependents but not much. After training for National Guard and Army Reserves you only get paid for the 2 days a month and 2 weeks a year you go to drill. You will not have health benifits unless you are activated. One thing about the National Guard that people are misunderstanding right now is we are at a time of war and both the reserves and guard soldiers are going over seas just as much as active duty. It may take a little longer for you to end up over there if you go the civilan soldier route opposed to reg army, you will go eventually though there is no doubt about that. As far as life in the army goes all I know so far is my experiances as a military wife and now as a soldier in training and its not hard if you can do 5 things the army is too easy,...right place, right time, right uniform, do the right thing, and learn. Umm I do wish you the best of luck. This is the best decision I have ever made and am happy to be a soldier medic even though it can be stressful at times. You really have to think about what is going to be best for you and your family.Good luck

Answer 3

For a family man such as yourself, the way to go is probably the National Guard. In most cases the Guard only serves in the boundaries of the US, usually in the state where they reside. But, in time of National emergency the President can federalize the guard as he has done in the Iraq war.
The pay and the benefits are the same by grade. The difference is that the reserve only serves on roughly the same schedule as the guard, one weekend a month and rwo weeks in the summer.

Answer 4

There are huge differences between the National Guard and Reserves. You need to talk to each recruiter to to find out which is the best fit for you. One thing is the same for all - fitness requirements. I hope you're in good shape, because at 33 its harder to get fit than at 18. I don't subscribe to the notion that you should avoid active duty because you have a wife and kids, most men in the military have families. I can think of no greater gift for your family than the freedom you defend by going to war. But most of your neighbors won't get it. Too bad, because your giving them the same gift.

Answer 5

Unit types are diverse besides. the 1st hyperlink shows Reserve contraptions in CA. The 2d shows all military safeguard. safeguard Divisions could be unfold over quite a few states and tend to attempt against palms as against rear section types. Air safeguard is often Fighter Squadrons (my wager) with some marvelous contraptions. The CAANG 129th Rescue has 3 C-a hundred thirty, not sure in the event that they have their very own rotary, PJ's. I as quickly as watched them sweep over the Reserve midsection in Dublin CA @ 3 hundred' with the rear door open and 3 PJ's proved the previous line "purely 2 issues fall from the sky. chicken poop and fools". Fools packing bowling sized balls i could upload. SSG US military seventy 3-80 two lively and Reserve

Answer 6

Do you have a bachelors degree? if so you could be an officer and make decent pay. If not I would definitly reconsider joining the military unless you have lots of money saved up, because at 33 with a family to support, you will start out at E-1, goto military.com and look up the payscale. Its fine if your straight out of highschool, but for us older folks its equivalent to minimum wage.

Answer 7

33, married, 3 kids?
Sounds like you want to run away from something.