How is the transition and what is the training usually like when going from AD 11B to NG 11B?

2018-03-20T10:51:05-04:00

Just wondering how the transition is and what the training is usually like? I understand NG units don't have the funds an active unit would. Also the soldiers. Are most old active guys or just strictly guys who have been in the NG? Or a mix of both? Thanks in advance!

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 10:53 AM

2018-03-20T10:53:48-04:00

The words you use in your question are in extremely poor taste and reflect great ignorance.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 11:00 AM

2018-03-20T11:00:46-04:00

The National Guard Infantry is right now your most deployed and combat effective Infantry. When deployed in theater. No they do not have the money to conduct the standard interval training as the active component. Man for man and plt/plt I see quality in my NG infantry as compared to the active service

Response by SPC David Willis made Mar 20 at 2018 11:16 AM

2018-03-20T11:16:07-04:00

I went AD to NG, we had an NG convoy fire on our position one time in country so my opinion of them wasn't high to begin with, but I was impressed during my time there. The soldiers I led were all eager to do well and while the discipline isn't as rigid as an AD line unit and there are more issues that arise with soldiers personally in the NG than AD but their tactical proficiency is roughly the same as a basic line unit. If you're coming from the 82nd or 173rd or a ranger batt you it will probably be a decline in proficiency but my experience with the NG made me view them in a positive light. As to the make up Id say my unit was roughly 10-20% of former AD guys.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Mar 20 at 2018 11:37 AM

2018-03-20T11:37:39-04:00

I am just curious on where you heard the age mixture was different between NG and AD? I don't think that has ever been the case for an NG Infantry unit but what do I know. Just curious where that came from.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Mar 20 at 2018 11:39 AM

2018-03-20T11:39:20-04:00

cc:CPT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Mar 20 at 2018 12:21 PM

2018-03-20T12:21:22-04:00

OK, I'm a bit dated, but even during my service period my take was that in general most National Guard Infantry units at squad and platoon level were on par with the non Rapid Deployment Unit. Leadership at Company level and above seldom had the opportunity to exercise their skills, so experienced leadership at the top was always an issue. The units I was associated with at the time had a good portion of the NCO's prior AD Army or Marines, didn't see a lot of age difference between Active and NG there, although in the Engineer Units did tend to be older than their active counterparts. Unit level training in the old 73 Brigade was decent, especially considering how much time we had to accomplish it.
OTOH, every National Guard Engineer unit I was around were far better and more experienced units than any I ever saw on Active Duty. I had better drivers, mechanics, demo guys and equipment operators than I ever saw in the Active Army. Granted my Engineer units were in the Coal Belt where a lot of these guys grew up on a stripmine. When I went to Germany after Desert Storm I made the comment to the Operations Officer about the shape of the equipment, at least 25 percent of which my Motor Sergeant would have deadlined, if not more. I would have fired my motor sergeant if I walked into the motor pool with 25 percent of my equipment down.

Response by SFC Mario Lopez made Mar 20 at 2018 12:23 PM

2018-03-20T12:23:21-04:00

As the readiness NCO of my unit I can tell you it’s a varied mix of former active duty and traditional guardsmen. When combined I feel they make a more effective team. A great example would be that many soldiers in guard units are law enforcement and they bring their expertise of law enforcement which typical Army units do not have other skills is that many soldiers in guard units are tradesman, and have expertise to help civilian population in areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Not saying one unit is better than the other but Guard units are easier to place in heavily civilian populations and can effectively meet the hearts and minds mission. We do not have the resources as our active duty counterparts do but we make due with what we got.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 12:41 PM

2018-03-20T12:41:59-04:00

SPC LaMaster, to answer your question is like picking the lottery numbers, the experience will be what you make it, and how you view it...Every soldier either NG or AD has good, bad and indifference experiences, so what one soldier views as bad another soldier views a good. Make the transition, experience it, and then use your own judgement. To me an Infantryman is an Infantryman, it really doesn't matter where he/she practice those skills, as long as they practice them. Good luck, go in with an open mind...and continue to share the personal pride of the Blue Rope!

Response by SFC Anthony Kelly made Mar 20 at 2018 4:25 PM

2018-03-20T16:25:02-04:00

It depends a lot on the unit. Different companies in the same battalion can vary widely. That said, overall, the quality of the Guard is much higher now than it was before Iraq&Afg started. The vast majority of the last company I was in were combat veterans of the Active Army/USMC or had at least one combat deployment with the Guard. Expectations are the key. If you expect it to be like the Regular Army, you might have a hard time adjusting. The Guard is its own animal. Each state’s guard has its own culture and quirks. Good luck with your transition.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 21 at 2018 9:57 AM

2018-03-21T09:57:12-04:00

Each unit is different as to the mix of those who served active duty or not prior to the NG. However you will see that there is no discernible difference between the two as to knowledge and disciplines. Of course, this can be affected by the unit leadership, as in active units as well. As for funds, the NG is well funded, but has issues as the active component. It is what your unit does with the training time available that determines the quality and value of training. Again, the same as active component. Don’t go in looking for differences, go in looking to contribute and make a difference. Thank you for your service.

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Mar 21 at 2018 10:53 AM

2018-03-21T10:53:35-04:00

Served about five years in a National Guard Infantry unit. Good mix of both prior service Active Duty and National Guard only soldiers. Most of the NCOs will usually be older than their Active Duty counterparts. Lots of NG soldiers have Active Duty Deployment experience in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Our training usually consisted of show up Friday about 5:00pm, load on busses and trucks for movement to our training area (usually Camp Gruber, Oklahoma for us). Road marches, sometimes ranges, field training, camping out in the fresh (often cold) air, and returning to the Armory on Sunday for recovery and weapons cleaning. Not many hot meals on weekends but plenty of MREs. You should make E5 easy enough but the upper NCO ranks are usually locked up until somebody dies or retires. Best of luck.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2018 7:37 PM

2018-03-21T19:37:19-04:00

It was rough at first. The soldiers in the National Guard usually all know each other and are all from the same area. They all share a bond already. Now when it comes to soldiering they are not on par with the regular army. So if you think you going to go to a unit and they are going to conduct themselves like they were on active duty then you are going to be disappointed. But when it comes to getting tasks completed you will find that they are usually much more resourceful. I went from the regular army to the National Guard and now I am back in the regular army. I would just say that it's a unique experience and you shouldn't try expect the same standards and expectations as you did when you were in the regular army.

Response by SPC Paul Missick made Mar 30 at 2018 3:24 PM

2018-03-30T15:24:08-04:00

I made this transition. I found the leadership tends to be more toxic with former army Soldiers and Active duty units. I do not know why this is. It is not all units, just the ones I served in. I somehow ended up in Units with the highest standards. While this is good for looking good and having high ratings, you tend to feel that no one cares about you or gets to know you. I made closer friends in Guard units then I did on AD

Response by SPC Paul Missick made Mar 30 at 2018 3:27 PM

2018-03-30T15:27:21-04:00

there is no suck like the active duty infantry suck, you either love the suck or hate it until your time is up. Toxic leaders tend to make good men leave the Military because they give the suck no heart. With no heart(like Major Payne with his boys) then the suck is not worth it to many.

Response by SPC Paul Missick made Mar 30 at 2018 3:28 PM

2018-03-30T15:28:45-04:00

my comparison to Major Payne is that he actually did care about his troops even though he made their lives suck

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2018 1:55 PM

2018-09-19T13:55:55-04:00

Transition is different based upon the unit (as ALWAYS). So far as training, you're AD training will have you up to speed with what the unit is doing, based upon their specific mission. Don't be surprised if you end up doing a lot of training to get them current on TTPs.