Posted on Jan 10, 2015
How to succeed in the National Guard after leaving Active Duty...
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A year ago I choice to seperate from Active Duty and start a civilian career. When I did so, I decided if my country needed me again I would make my self avaliable. I have had some success in the National Guard but I had also served in the Guard prior. The number one thing I hear is the National Guard is political, this true of both the Reserve and Active componenets. Military no matter how you look at it is about people. How you relate to people has allot to do with everything in the service. Leaders who try to remove subjectivity are fooling themselves and that is why you may see the system protect a few, eliminating some high quality with the low, and retaining poor quality with the best. The impartial system relies on single meterics and if one is out of place then a course is set that may lead to an unjust result. However the illusion that the system removes bias when it really expands it is another discussion. The point is the Active system is very much political and mistakes are no longer easily forgiven. In the National Guard, the relationships are maintained more at the local level where a persons fit with the unit is more of a local choice and not entirely the mercy of stats. Evaluations matter but leaders have more influence over the system at the state level. Knowing this I have some advice for those transitioning from Active to Reserve.
I have spoken to several leaders across 5 states and here is a trend. Active duty guys who are being forced out are asking for promotions and billets without yet having shown merit with the local commanded. This is preceived as an annoiance, yes you should want to get promoted but with the surplus of active experience, humble attitudes are much more appealing. BE HUMBLE.
The National Guard is adminstratively different then active, so you do not already know it. Every State is also different so you don't already know it. Every unit is different more so than on active duty. A matter of fact your active duty unit probably sported an impressive resume that included WW II, well if you follow the people and not the guidon, that history likely is shared with a Guard unit. What later became the National Guard formed many of the foundations of the Great Units of WW II. RESPECT THE UNIT AND IT'S HISTORY.
Combat experience, if you are an officer, many of your peers in the National Guard will have more Combat experience. They may not be doing it everyday but they still had a mission over seas. RESPECT THE PEOPLE, YOU ARE ASKING TO BECOME ONE OF THEM.
You may have years experience but many units have people that have been around for a long time. You are new and need to show value. DO NOT SIT BACK AND RELAX; FORM RELATIONSHIPS.
The commander is the commander, request a meeting with him and learn what he thinks is important. If you are an NCO, same with CSM. DO NOT BE MISTAKEN YOU ARE BEING INTERVIEWED.
The National Guard is very concerned with numbers but not in the way most Active Duty units are. Since people stick around for longer, everyone is an long term investment. In the National Guard the commanders are held acountable for position vacancies, where in active HRC dirrects people on Active Duty. Retention is not just meteric, it is a mission. YOUR WORK WILL BE APPRECIATED SO SHOW VALUE.
Most people will serve as M-DAY (part-time) so it is an occasional thing, thought a "ready on demand" attitude is required. There is also a lower ratio of admin days to training days. HAVE FUN WITH IT.
The admin systems do not transition information very well. SO SAVE DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDS AND WORK WITH THE UNIT S1 TO GET EVERYTHING UP LOADED.
I have spoken to several leaders across 5 states and here is a trend. Active duty guys who are being forced out are asking for promotions and billets without yet having shown merit with the local commanded. This is preceived as an annoiance, yes you should want to get promoted but with the surplus of active experience, humble attitudes are much more appealing. BE HUMBLE.
The National Guard is adminstratively different then active, so you do not already know it. Every State is also different so you don't already know it. Every unit is different more so than on active duty. A matter of fact your active duty unit probably sported an impressive resume that included WW II, well if you follow the people and not the guidon, that history likely is shared with a Guard unit. What later became the National Guard formed many of the foundations of the Great Units of WW II. RESPECT THE UNIT AND IT'S HISTORY.
Combat experience, if you are an officer, many of your peers in the National Guard will have more Combat experience. They may not be doing it everyday but they still had a mission over seas. RESPECT THE PEOPLE, YOU ARE ASKING TO BECOME ONE OF THEM.
You may have years experience but many units have people that have been around for a long time. You are new and need to show value. DO NOT SIT BACK AND RELAX; FORM RELATIONSHIPS.
The commander is the commander, request a meeting with him and learn what he thinks is important. If you are an NCO, same with CSM. DO NOT BE MISTAKEN YOU ARE BEING INTERVIEWED.
The National Guard is very concerned with numbers but not in the way most Active Duty units are. Since people stick around for longer, everyone is an long term investment. In the National Guard the commanders are held acountable for position vacancies, where in active HRC dirrects people on Active Duty. Retention is not just meteric, it is a mission. YOUR WORK WILL BE APPRECIATED SO SHOW VALUE.
Most people will serve as M-DAY (part-time) so it is an occasional thing, thought a "ready on demand" attitude is required. There is also a lower ratio of admin days to training days. HAVE FUN WITH IT.
The admin systems do not transition information very well. SO SAVE DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDS AND WORK WITH THE UNIT S1 TO GET EVERYTHING UP LOADED.
Posted in these groups: 
Advice
Transition
Advice Transition
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 4
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My experience has been in active duty (AF and Army) as well as ANG (2 units) and AF Reserve.
First, the same focus on mission and troops that serves one well on AD is also vital as a guardsman or reservist. The ARNG or ANG unit will covet your AD experience and connections.
Second, understand the unique nature of guard units. What the AD company or squadron has 365 days to accomplish, the guard unit has ~39 days plus any M-days. The SORTS metrics are pretty much the same, so time management is critical. Training that slips off the schedule is difficult to recapture with compressed schedules.
Guard units have underappreciated experience - observe and find it. Civilian careers in unique vocations and prior service in multiple branches of service is commonplace. Smart leaders in garrison and down range use it to their advantage.
Politics? Depends on the unit, but every guard unit certainly has its own culture and identity. Cliques can form easier as folks aren’t PCSing every few years. A new accession from active duty would do well to follow CPT Boling’s counsel – “respect the people, you are asking to become one of them”.
Standards are still important, but many units are a little more lax when compared to the same AD unit. Many of these people grew up and went to the same school or work at the same company during the week. It tends to breed a level of familiarity not normally seen on AD. Don’t be surprised. Still train to standard and hold people accountable.
NCOs and CGOs can’t just show up on Saturday morning. With the rank comes the implied expectation to give a little more. The leader must check on subordinates during the month; the leader usually will also give a few hours during the month to ARNG or ANG tasks – be it performance reports, prepping training plans, getting the CO’s intent for the next UTA and so on.
Remember that the troops are there for a reason – usually college, a change of pace from their day to day civilian job, a supplemental retirement or something else. Retention is huge – it takes a year or two to get a person up to speed after BMT or OSUT. The troop still has to meet their civilian responsibilities and appease their civilian boss and their spouse. A good leader reaches out to them and overcommunicates to keep the troop out of hot water. After a few years travelling to drill, giving up the weekend (and whatever leisure or family activities were scheduled) will wear the member down. The best way to keep them in is to not waste their time. Have a solid training plan, make good use of their time and keep them engaged (PMCSing the same vehicle 3 times in 1 day in the motor pool is not making good use of their time).
Ultimately your will be judged by the value you bring to the unit – past accolades, great courses completed or other skills will only get you in the door. How you use it to raise the unit’s game will be what gets you “adopted” as a member of the team.
First, the same focus on mission and troops that serves one well on AD is also vital as a guardsman or reservist. The ARNG or ANG unit will covet your AD experience and connections.
Second, understand the unique nature of guard units. What the AD company or squadron has 365 days to accomplish, the guard unit has ~39 days plus any M-days. The SORTS metrics are pretty much the same, so time management is critical. Training that slips off the schedule is difficult to recapture with compressed schedules.
Guard units have underappreciated experience - observe and find it. Civilian careers in unique vocations and prior service in multiple branches of service is commonplace. Smart leaders in garrison and down range use it to their advantage.
Politics? Depends on the unit, but every guard unit certainly has its own culture and identity. Cliques can form easier as folks aren’t PCSing every few years. A new accession from active duty would do well to follow CPT Boling’s counsel – “respect the people, you are asking to become one of them”.
Standards are still important, but many units are a little more lax when compared to the same AD unit. Many of these people grew up and went to the same school or work at the same company during the week. It tends to breed a level of familiarity not normally seen on AD. Don’t be surprised. Still train to standard and hold people accountable.
NCOs and CGOs can’t just show up on Saturday morning. With the rank comes the implied expectation to give a little more. The leader must check on subordinates during the month; the leader usually will also give a few hours during the month to ARNG or ANG tasks – be it performance reports, prepping training plans, getting the CO’s intent for the next UTA and so on.
Remember that the troops are there for a reason – usually college, a change of pace from their day to day civilian job, a supplemental retirement or something else. Retention is huge – it takes a year or two to get a person up to speed after BMT or OSUT. The troop still has to meet their civilian responsibilities and appease their civilian boss and their spouse. A good leader reaches out to them and overcommunicates to keep the troop out of hot water. After a few years travelling to drill, giving up the weekend (and whatever leisure or family activities were scheduled) will wear the member down. The best way to keep them in is to not waste their time. Have a solid training plan, make good use of their time and keep them engaged (PMCSing the same vehicle 3 times in 1 day in the motor pool is not making good use of their time).
Ultimately your will be judged by the value you bring to the unit – past accolades, great courses completed or other skills will only get you in the door. How you use it to raise the unit’s game will be what gets you “adopted” as a member of the team.
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I would like to continue to serve in some capacity.
My main concern...you then switch your retirment eligibility to 60 years old, but, there is no guarantee that you will get to serve that long.
I would hate to swithc over, do a few years, then be forced out of the NG/AR at some point, and then have to still wait for retirement benefits to kick in....
My main concern...you then switch your retirment eligibility to 60 years old, but, there is no guarantee that you will get to serve that long.
I would hate to swithc over, do a few years, then be forced out of the NG/AR at some point, and then have to still wait for retirement benefits to kick in....
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MAJ (Join to see)
You retirement age is reduced based on deployments. It you switch Major Billets are hard to find in the NG but not as difficult in the Reserves. Either way I would start with NG and work with a Brigade Command.
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The best way to succeed in the National Guard? Give copious amounts of money to the candidate for governor with the best chance of winning. Then after his inauguration, show up at his office and say, “You owe me motherfucker!”
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