Posted on Nov 20, 2019
Has the reputation of the National Guard improved in recent years?
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I read that NG soldier recently won both the Best Ranger and International Sniper competitions, beating out their counterparts from the Regular Army and SOF. I also ready that statistically NG soldiers fair better in SFAS and Q course compared to Regular Army. Any insight on that?
Special Forces
Ranger
Sniper
Posted 5 y ago
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From what I've seen working in the Guard and with Guard Soldiers, they bring the best and the worst to the fight. The active duty Army has this very narrow band of people they accept and keep. They're mostly people who joined at 18, have no life experience, and are very fit (compared to civilian population).Basically, meat heads with who are told they are the best until they're old enough to realize they aren't.
The National Guard employs almost anyone. Prior service who failed or were kicked out, 17 year old kids in Junior High, people with degrees, people with trades, cops and first responders, construction personnel, IT geeks. They also hire the licensed trades - lawyers, doctors, PAs, nurses, PTs, Dentists, etc. But they also employ the certified trades - electricians, linemen, plumbers, carpenters, pipe fitters, steel makers, etc.
Yeah, they have that 350 pound 11B E4 running around wearing his combat shirt as tight as Kim Kardashians leggings. But they also have that also have that marksmanship instructor who can shoot the ass off a fly. They have that Lineman that knows how to run power to your building and downshift it from 230 volts in Iraq to 120 volts to match your American made electronics. They have that 50 year old Infantryman who can break down Small Unit Tactics to his Soldiers in the jungle like he learned in Panama.
In my opinion, it's easy to make fun of the Guard because they accept the worst. But, in my experience they were the most adaptable units I ever worked with in combat.
The National Guard employs almost anyone. Prior service who failed or were kicked out, 17 year old kids in Junior High, people with degrees, people with trades, cops and first responders, construction personnel, IT geeks. They also hire the licensed trades - lawyers, doctors, PAs, nurses, PTs, Dentists, etc. But they also employ the certified trades - electricians, linemen, plumbers, carpenters, pipe fitters, steel makers, etc.
Yeah, they have that 350 pound 11B E4 running around wearing his combat shirt as tight as Kim Kardashians leggings. But they also have that also have that marksmanship instructor who can shoot the ass off a fly. They have that Lineman that knows how to run power to your building and downshift it from 230 volts in Iraq to 120 volts to match your American made electronics. They have that 50 year old Infantryman who can break down Small Unit Tactics to his Soldiers in the jungle like he learned in Panama.
In my opinion, it's easy to make fun of the Guard because they accept the worst. But, in my experience they were the most adaptable units I ever worked with in combat.
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The National Guard has the same entry requirements as the active army. We do not “employ almost anyone”
Same ASVAB, same physical, same MEPS, same basic training and AIT.
Same ASVAB, same physical, same MEPS, same basic training and AIT.
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I do however appreciate your insight on the active army not knowing much about the world outside of the Army. In my mind, that is the National Guard’s biggest strength...we produce more...complete, for lack of a better term, individuals than the active duty pipeline does.
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SFC Thomas Foreman the National Guard does not have the same entry requirements. For instance, there is no RCP in the Guard. There are no Try One, one year enlistments on Active Duty. The Guard has a reputation as a place where people can go, do at least a year, and get back onto Active Duty if they were kicked out of a previous service. Even when I was in the Guard I met numerous people who were doing time in the Guard so they could get a waiver approved for active duty. I have counseled several Soldiers who were separated for RCP that they could rejoin if they earned their rank in the Guard. They can also be reclassed into. MOSs they don't qualify for on the active duty side. As a Transition NCO, I have put people into jobs they don't qualify for on Active Duty because the National Guard waives more than Active Duty does. As a Guardsman, I saw more people who were not/would not be eligible for active duty, or who received waivers than I ever saw on Active Duty, even at the height of the surge.
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SFC (Join to see) you can’t do a try one as an initial enlistment. Period. Standard guard contract is 6x2 for initial entry.
We are bound by the RE codes as everyone else. If you get “kicked out” of active duty for bad business, you won’t be joining the gaurd.
You are correct that we don’t have RCP, but we do abide by the the STEP/PME requirements just as active duty does.
Everyone in the Army can reclassify, the difference is active duty does it upon reenlistment/needs of the Army vs Guard being more at the discretion of the soldier.
You’re speaking almost entirely form experience of enlisting prior service soldiers into the Guard. Initial entry into the Guard is IDENTICAL to initial entry into the active component.
We are bound by the RE codes as everyone else. If you get “kicked out” of active duty for bad business, you won’t be joining the gaurd.
You are correct that we don’t have RCP, but we do abide by the the STEP/PME requirements just as active duty does.
Everyone in the Army can reclassify, the difference is active duty does it upon reenlistment/needs of the Army vs Guard being more at the discretion of the soldier.
You’re speaking almost entirely form experience of enlisting prior service soldiers into the Guard. Initial entry into the Guard is IDENTICAL to initial entry into the active component.
Suspended Profile
I’m in the signal community and our IT nerds tend to blow the doors off their active duty counterparts due to most of them performing higher level functions in the civilian world.
I’ve seen dirtbag AD units and dirtbag NG units. It ultimately comes down to command emphasis and leader engagement. One thing I think the NG wins hands down is their ability to perceive the world outside of their foxhole.
I’ve seen dirtbag AD units and dirtbag NG units. It ultimately comes down to command emphasis and leader engagement. One thing I think the NG wins hands down is their ability to perceive the world outside of their foxhole.
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I’d be willing to bet those NG Soldiers that won, are all full timers. Not to take anything away from them, but it takes more than a weekend a month to win these glories.
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Bobby Maddox
Maybe. I know a few who are absolute studs. Using personal time to train hard to attend schools like Sapper or Ranger. Depending on your civilian career and schedule, I could see someone being able to devote a lot of time and energy toward their Guard career
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The Pennsylvania contingent that has participated recently in these competitions are a mix of full time staff and traditional guardsmen. They are afforded additional training time and dollars to gear up, but I have to assume that their active duty counterparts are given similar time to prepare.
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