Posted on Oct 31, 2024
SGT Information Technology Specialist
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Has anybody ever switched from the ARNG to Active-Duty? How was the transition once you finally become Active-Duty? Asking because I am in the process of getting my unit to sign off on it. I feel like I am losing all of my connections with soldiers that I have developed professional relations with over the years. Not only that, but my only experience has also been with the ARNG and not Active-Duty. I understand it's going to be a different atmosphere, and that Active-Duty does things differently.
Posted in these groups: US ARNG
Edited 4 d ago
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Responses: 3
MAJ Byron Oyler
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Active duty does not do things differently, they do them more in-depth. You live the Army life 365 days a year and not roughly 48 days a year in the ARNG. PME is longer, better, and you get better opportunities to do the soldier thing. One area better in the reserves is if a soldier does their military job on the civilian side, especially enlisted, often times they are better at the MOS because they get to do it more. I enlisted ARNG at age 17, served with reserve units while AD, and finished out AD. I enjoyed both and started enjoying Army retirement at age 46.
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SPC James Neidig
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If You Have Only Been Guard And Not Served Active Duty It Will Be A Little Bit Of A Shock, But Nothing You Can’t Handle.
Active Duty You Will Be Doing Daily PT , Long Working Hours, Overnight Staff Duty And Lots Of Paperwork.
However ! Your Family Will Have Good Medical Care And If You Live In Post Housing Most Are Pretty Good ! Plus You Will Have The Army Family To Support You And Your Family Anytime You Need Them.
I Went Active Marines To Guard To Active Army And Have No Regrets.It Was A Shock Sometimes With The Changes But I Handled It And You Will Too.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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Edited 3 d ago
Active Duty stresses by the book and enforces standards more. There is more opportunity to master your MOS, work, and train with soldiers in different MOS's. The branch of service you will go into will become your new 360 home. You will find some exceptional, average, and poor leaders on Active Duty.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
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I'm going to give that "it depends on the type of unit". Engineer, Maintenance, Medical and Transportation Guard and Reserve units tend to run rings around Active Army units. The operators, mechanics, and drivers in the Engineer unit I commanded probably averaged 10-12 years of military and civilian experience. The operators in an Active Engineer unit might average 3 year's experience. If you have seen the story about "The West Virginia Boys" during the Helene Cleanup, those were the type of guys in my unit.

I did a short tour with 3ID after Desert Storm. My active counterpart asked what I thought of an Active Engineer unit. I think he was surprised when I told him that I would have deadlined half his vehicles, had a long a serious discussion with the maintenance Chief and that his equipment operators were barely adequate.
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