Posted on Sep 12, 2021
SPC Commissioned Officer Candidate
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Washington Nationals Guard
The BLEA is 5 months long.
Posted in these groups: Washington ARNG
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Responses: 6
SGM Bill Frazer
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And did you discuss this with your leadership. Only they can authorize that.
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CSM William Everroad
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SGM Bill Frazer and SSG (Join to see) mentioned you should speak with your CoC. I would not recommend going the inactive route, most leadership will work with you. I will say that there is a considerable number of academy trainees in the Guard and Reserved they know when you get weekends off (forget which phase), you should be at battle assembly.

At the end of the day Guard and Reserve is a balancing act between professional development, work, relationships, and personal development. It is tough to balance all of it, but it can be done as long as you communicate with everyone.
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SGM G3 Sergeant Major
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Edited 3 y ago
You request to transfer to the Inactive National Guard (ING) for the duration of the academy. Your CO approves it, the G1 transfers you to ING, a nonpaid status.
At the end of the academy, you request release from the ING, your CO approves it and G1 transfers you back.
This should involve a 4187 with your signature both times.
AND you work with your Dept, and make if very clear, that you have obligatory service with the National Guard, even though you are the new guy in FTO, and give them your drill schedule. And then you work with your dept and unit to ensure that you make it to drill.

That said, BLEA classes are typically held 0715 to 1630 Monday through Friday, if you can manage to work with your unit and make at least one day of each drill, leaving yourself some time each weekend to study, then you can get by with 5 months of half attendance and half authorized absence.
If there is more than 90 minutes of driving involved, I would recommend showing up at noon Saturday for the second UTA of the day, use the evening to study, stay through the first UTA of Sunday and depart at lunch, study again at home in the evening.

But If you are asking about yourself, the half drills won't work for OCS, and ING would set your OCS back a year to the next cycle.
And there is no ING for commissioned officers.
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SPC Commissioned Officer Candidate
SPC (Join to see)
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Thank you Sergeant Major, i appreciate the information.
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SGM G3 Sergeant Major
SGM (Join to see)
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SPC (Join to see) - Sorry, I kept adding more info after seeing your profile.
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