Are there exemptions from National Guard drills for going to the in state police academy?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 12:15:43 -0400

Washington Nationals Guard
The BLEA is 5 months long.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2021 12:35 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 12:35:10 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member What did your ARNG leadership say when you asked this question?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Sep 12 at 2021 1:08 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 13:08:29 -0400

And did you discuss this with your leadership. Only they can authorize that.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2021 6:29 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 18:29:05 -0400

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.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2021 9:58 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 21:58:43 -0400

Yes there is. You can transfer to the ING (Inactive National Guard) or perform alternate drills at a later date with the full time staff (AGR, FTNGD-OS, etc.) Both of these options need to be approved by your commander.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2021 11:13 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 23:13:45 -0400

Yeah most units understanding that your primary career comes first just adds it to the list of Suta you need to make up and show up on Saturday and Sunday if you can or just add it to the end of your contract… no need for this IRR paperwork. Simply communicate with your coc because you aren’t the first soldier that has gone through this or the last. Communication is key with your coc

Response by CSM William Everroad made Sep 13 at 2021 12:02 PM

CSM William Everroad — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 12:02:45 -0400

SGM Bill Frazer and SSG Private RallyPoint Member 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.