National Guard?

Question

What are the main differences between the regular Army and the National Guard? I've heard that you can be active duty in the Guard and it's basically the same as the Army deployment and training wise but they don't have you moving around to different bases, you just stay where you signed up while you're not deployed, is this true?

Answer 1

First off trying to get a Active Guard position is not something you can just enlist for. You first have to be in the Guard and then you can apply for the Active Position but there is no guarentee that you would get it. You must remember though that those jobs are very competitive. You still would get deployed just like an Active Duty unit. With Active Duty you could be stationed in the US, Germany, Hawaii, Alaska, Italy, Korea and some other spots around the world. If you are not sure about going into Active Duty go into the Army Reserves. It is then easier to transfer from Reserves to Active Duty because the NG is run by the state. Either way you go all the training is the same. Example: If you sign up to be a mechanic in the NG the other guy who signed up for the same thing in the Reserves or Active will go through the training.

Answer 2

National Guard Soldiers spend their active duty time exactly the same as the regular Army Soldiers. The difference is that National Guard Soldiers stay home and work at regular jobs (factory workers, teachers, dentists, policemen, carpenters, etc.) or are college students when they are not serving active duty. Non-active duty National Guardsmen serve 1 weekend per month and 2 weeks per year active duty, it's called "drill".

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

In the National Guard one can be 'full time' they usually have some type of admin job. The guard members who are full time still have to drill one weekend a month and two weeks a year with the rest of the unit, they just have full time employment there as well. With deployment a full time staff will deploy if the unit is activated, or if he volunteers to go with another unit. You will not move from unit to unit unless you want to. As with any National Guard member you stay with your Unit unless you want to move.

Hope this helps I have been in the Guards 9 Year and it has been good to me.

Answer 4

The National Guard ard Reserves are very similar. The main difference is Army Reserves is Federally funded, whereas the Guard is State funded. The Guard tends to be more community oriented - units can be called up to aid after natural disasters... Both can be called up to Active Federal Service and be deployed.

National Guard and reserves both train generally one weekend a month, and two weeks a year. Your first step is to go to a Nat. Guard or Reserve Recruiter and explore your options. Ask him/her to put you into contact with various units so that you can perhaps make a visit to them so you can talk to people from those units and see if what they do is in your interest. Then you will have to decide on an MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). This is Military Police, Quartermaster, etc. Then you will got to MEPS and get your physical done and all of your paperwork finalized and then within one year, you will go to basic training (you usually get to pick the date you go). Basic training is about 10 weeks and your AIT (Advanced Individual Training will vary depending on the job you are being trained for). You can do what is called "Split Option" where you go to basic, come home and go to school or whatever and then go to your AIT later withing 1 year of completing basic.

After Basic Training and AIT you report to your unit.Your weekend is called "drill" where you show up Saturday and do Physical Training for about an hour and then general mission training the rest of the day until 4 or 5. Sunday is usually the same. Your 2 weeks is called AT (Annual Training) where you head out to an Army post or someplace and conduct intensive readiness training. You have to qualify on your weapon once a year (maybe more depending on your command), and you have to pass a Physical Training (PT) Test twice a year. Look up "Army APFT Satndards" in yahoo and you should find a chart to tell you what you need to do.

I will tell you in all honesty and from experience, National Guard offers the best benefits in regards to paying college tuition and bonuses:
With the National Guard, you will more than likely get a bonus of up to $20,000. You get 100% tuition Assistance for in-state schools and if you already have a scholarship, they will match it and cut you a check that goes into your pocket. Reserves runs off of a similar program, but in many cases, they will pay only up to about 80% of college tuition. Also, you are eligible for the GI Bill and Kicker which gives you up to $509.00 a month while you attend school in addition to tuition assistance. With both Guard and Reserves, you get paid for basic training (between 2,000 and 3,000 depending on your rank). You also get paid for drills and AT. You get $400,000 life insurance for $29/month if you want it and it covers you wheather you are on or off duty.

Answer 5

The main difference is the guard trains once a month on weekends hence the name weekend warriors. I'm not sure about the bases they train on.

Answer 6

yes its true.the army wants everyone to be specialise in a certain department.