Army National Guard or Army Reserves?

Question

I'm thinking about joining the Guard or Reserves but could use people's input on it. I know it's a broad question but maybe some of you can give your two cents. I'm 29 and married and my time is almost up to join. I want to make a decision within days. Thank you.

Answer 1

The National Guard pays nothing,so Reserves.

Answer 2

Well we see the answerer Cody has no idea what he is talking about. People that have no clue to what they are talking about should not be answering questions here.
The Guard's pay system is the exact same one as the Army reserves.
You will have to do some research on this topic yourself. There isn't much difference between the 2, but the Guard can be called for duty be your state's Governor for state emergencies such as hurricanes, floods, riots, etc. The reserves can't unless called by Congress/President.
The Guard seems to be a little more close knit than the reserves, but that could vary unit to unit, and Guard units tend to have a little more benefits due the state kicking in some freebies here and there.
Another big difference, the reserves have rules called high year tenure. That is you have to have a certain number of max years for each pay grade. The higher you climb in rank, the harder it is to get promoted. So you may be looking at being forced out with about 22-24 years. That isn't bad, but some people like serving and want to stay as long as possible. Right now I think the Guard lets you stay until your 62nd b-day.
Like I said, you will have to do the research based on your wants. Talk to both, weigh out all they say, then choose.
Good luck!

Answer 3

The National Guard is a State Funded Military and the Reserve is federal. A lot of times the Reserve has more Funds to go to different places compared to the NG due to this. There is not much difference in the two. The major difference is as mentioned before the NG goes to State emergencies and disasters. I was in the Georgia guard for eight years before going to active duty, in that time I went to Atlanta for Riot control on MLK day two times. I helped out in flooding one time and a couple of other state functions. It is great if you are proud or your country and state. Both pay the exact same, both deploy about the same amount and both can limit IET MOS'es. The National Guard runs there promotions of a State enlisted promotion Plane which means you may have to move to a unit on the other side of the state to get promoted when you are eligible for promotion to E-5 and above. I suggest going active at least you can count on a better deployment schedule and better benefits. In the NG and AR you mobilize six months prior to the actual deployment date and are gone 18 months or more from home and work. In the Active duty you train all year around for you war time mission and are always ready to deploy and only do a couple of month long trainings either at NTC in California or JRTC in Louisiana. So it is actually more time with the family before and after deployment even with the new 15 month deployments.

"Army Strong"

Answer 4

I did time in the Reserves after active duty. They actually train now. So you will be prepared for National Service in either. The biggest difference being disaster relief obligations of the Guard. Other than that they are virtually the same.

We almost ended up delivering mail when the Postal workers talked strike in the late 70's, so you could do something in regards to relief work at the federal level too. That would have been interesting, legally armed Postal workers in jeeps and deuces.

Answer 5

the guard typically has more money in their budget than does the reserves since they are funded by the state (depends on your state) rather than the federal gov. We prefer the guard because it is all local, we go to church with members of our unit, we are one big family. Things are a little more relaxed because of the way it is more family friendly. But I am sure that all states are different. Just make sure that it is a family decision and not your decision (meaning your wife and children not parents etc.) We are throughly enjoying the guard and while we are active right now with regular army people, I am glad that while they are going to go on to another base, I will be going home and buying my own home and being able to paints walls, where they will be in another base house that never feels like home eventhough it has all your stuff in it.

Answer 6

It depends on what you want to do. There are some jobs that the Reserve does not offer initial entry Soldiers. Weather you join the Guard or Reserve, if you drill one weekend a month you get paid the same, it makes no difference which component you join.

Answer 7

This is from a question above yours on what to ask a recruiter about both of the services you are asking about:
How much do you have to weigh before going in, any bonuses? Make sure you knwo that you don't get your bonus all at once if you get one, they may lie to you and tell you that you get your bonus all at once, a bonus comes in payments. What about the ASVAD test and if you can't get in because your score is too low, you have to take it again every six months, or try another military section like the navy reserves or the airforce reserves. I had a couple of problems getting in. I even decided not tell anyone I had migraines, so they may tell you to hide some medical condition, depending on how bad it is, you may decide whether to hide it or not, you get free meds for your condition, but if it is too bad, then don't hide it, I just got quarters (go to sick call and stay home and get the doc to say I could stay home all day) when my head hurt too bad and got free meds for my headaches. You can go reserves and six months later go active, if you so chose, I don't know if they tell recruits that. I was trying to go active duty, but couldn't get a high enough score for active Army, and the recruiter didn't want to loose me, so I gave up and went reserve Army and then that recruiter told me I could go active duty in six months, something the active duty recruiter did not tell me (because he did not want to loose me). You can go to drills in your area and be payed for them, if you are army reserves, I did in 1986, so ask about that and this is before your basic and AIT (your AIT is were you learn to do your job). The army reserves will also pay for your college while you do your drills so ask about that to, if your unit is not deployed, however, I don't think the coast guard gets deployed. And if a recruiter says you will get drowned in coast guard basic trainign don't believe it, we had a recruiter tell a guy in my church that and he just got back and he was never drowned.

Answer 8

The way it appears to me is the Guard (usually used for civic duties) is being deployed as well as Reserves. Under normal circumstances, you would only be activated in the Guard for State emergencies... very rare.

But I will say this (and I don't really care whom this pisses off), I did 5 years in a Guard unit in PA. I swear these tards only joined the Guard for free cammies for "huntin" season. I wouldn't follow any of them to the bathroom let alone combat. I'd go Reserves... it can't be any worse!

Check out the Navy Sea Bees... We Build, We Fight!!!

Answer 9

Have fun in Iraq...

Either way, whichever branch you join, they are saying you are guarenteed deployment.

They should keep the Guard where it belongs, within US borders. And the Reserves should only be used when absolutely neccessary. If you must use them to start a war, don't start a war.