National Guard - anyone have any experience?

[Lucafu1]

IMO every male here in America should volunteer to serve this county (if able). I know the military is headed in the wrong direction sometimes (especially now), but I also think its up to us to change that and take care of our service memebers. We need to make them a priority by voting for those that understand this. I dont know anyone who joined the Army because of the benifits or because they were going to taken care of, we joined because we wanted to do is serve our country. now i got out in 2005 very pissed off and tired of all the BS as a SSG but I would do it again in a heart beat.

 

I never been in the national guard and i know its very different (i work with mainly old guard members so i cannot comment on that part.

 

BTW the Enlisted Men are the back bone of the military. I was proud to be one, and I wouldnt change that either.

[Bandido243]

Soldiers don't serve the President. We serve the people of our country. But we have to follow the Presidents orders no matter how ate up he is.

We serve our country. .

[Guest wdenike]

Thanks Luca & Bandido!!! I Might also add. It would also be nice if it was mandatory to have served. Before you were allowed to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Av. And I don't mean as a politician at a lower level. As that is just a common criminal, and liar. But I wouldn't want to be standing on my tip toes with a rope around my neck waiting for that to happen.

 

 

 

Take care, Willie

[MathewQuigly]

Are they telling you that if the state doesn't have the funds he won't get paid. Oh they'll catch it up at some point could take awhile

I went into the Reserves in 05 and I can tell I don't care what they say it's not one weekend a month two weeks a year anymore. Many times we were put on orders for 29 days, if it went to 30 days then they had to put us on full benefits.

If I did it over I would do the Rotc commissioned route

Most of all don't let them pressure him and remember recruiters LIE about everything and this is a big step because they own you

[Lucafu1]

No problem. I agree, I wish it was a requirement to serve before stepping into office...........maybe even all of them?

[C.Shoemaker]

i enlisted in the az guard for six years which includes a2year inactive status. you can still be mobilized within the two year inactive status which really means an eight year committment. i believe officer inactive status is much longer.something to consider.

all in all, not a bad deal. paid for college back in

the early 90's.

[KidBowHunter]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I appreciate it. C.Shoemaker, were you ever deployed? I've heard being deployed once in the six years is fairly common. Others say its all chance, hit or miss.

[C.Shoemaker]

never deployed but put on alert.

it is hit or miss. just depends on what's going on in the world and what your MOS is.

[KidBowHunter]

What was your MOS?

[arizonaelkhunter]

Bowsniper, I completed a successful career in the AZ Guard and it was overall a very enjoyable experience. One of the post stated 60% of the military is in the Guard and Reserves when in fact it is about 49% of the operational force, however, being deployed once every five years is a fact unless you are in the band. if your son joins as an enlisted Soldier, and he is worried about his education being interrupted, no worries, there is federal law that protects his place at the educational institution if he deploys as if he never left. this federal law was passed in July 2010 and allows him to resume his studies where he left off when he left to perform military service. If he goes the ROTC route, same thing applies however, depending on the contract will depend on whether he has an active duty obligation or a reserve obligation. Either way, the Guard and Reserve is a good deal with good benefits and one of the few gigs left with a defined pension plan and health care. As one of our fellow CW said, the recruiters are just doing their job however, some are better than others. If your son has a clean record and has good ASVAB scores it makes his options much better. If you want to PM me to discuss further please feel free to do so as I am still very close to the Guard and would be happy to give you deeper insight.

[bowsniper]

Hey Guys,

 

I appreciate all of your comments. Troy will make his own decision, and he will be able to make it based on complete facts, not just the BS from the sales women.

 

Thanks again,

 

Mark

[WampusCat]

Not Guard but half way to retirement in the Corps.

 

BOTTOM LINE: If serving his country is what he wants to do then do it. He should see the recruiter as a way to facilitate what he wants. Recruiters are good folks but they have a mission too and will try to fit him in where "they" need him. It needs to be his decisions for his reasons. He will get out of it what he puts in. Keep an open mind and make the best of what or where happens to him. He'll learn a lot about himself and meet some great guys that will literally go to war with you.

 

Lots of disgruntled types out there, but there is likely a different tale then the one they like to tell. There are two sides to a story and most trouble makers I've seen come and go never had great things to say when they left.

 

Sure I've had a couple bad experiences, a few bad jobs, and some real knuckleheads for bosses but I could say the same thing if I worked at Circle K.

 

In my experience the good far outweigh the bad. I commend him for considering serving in any capacity.