How is the transition from active to Reserve or Guard? What are the pros and cons of each, and which one should I pursue?

2019-10-10T23:58:28-04:00

Is it a good transition?
Is so which one and why?
Pros and Cons?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 12:25 AM

2019-10-11T00:25:54-04:00

Can't speak on the officer side, but I think some experience as a former active duty NCO might carry over.

1. Is it a good transition? The transition process was fairly smooth for me, I signed a contract for the guard about 4 or 5 months before I went on terminal leave. Long as you talk to a RCCC and not a recruiter you should have a smooth transition.

2. Which one and why? Well sir, that's a complication one. A big part of it lies with what your future endeavors are. If you know you want to reside in one state long term and/or want to serve in combat arms, the Guard might be the route for you. Also if you want an increased sense of community, as the guard will get activated a lot more for state emergencies. Whereas the Reserves do not have combat arms they bolster a sizable strength in support MOS's and if you're not sure if you want to stay in one state the Reserves might be a better option.

3. Pros and cons. BLUF- the Guard is funded mostly through their respective state. As a result some guard units might not gave the same opportunities as the fully federally funded Reserve force. Also, from what I know, promotions and advancements can be harder in the guard as being in a specific state guard, there are only so many slots to be had. Plus side to the guard, I believe you recieve state education benefits in addition to TA if you want to go that route. Also, if you know you want to stay in one state, the Guard can't promote you out of your unit into one in another state involuntarily from my understanding. Also, you'll be serving two masters, your state governor and the president. Not a problem until political incentives gets involved as some RP members have stated.

On the Reserves, better funding so more schooling and training opportunities. You can also serve all around the U.S. and some OCONUS locations. That can be a blessing and a curse however. Depending on what you do on the civilian side if you have to promote out of your unit, sometimes you might have to join a unit far away, sometimes in other states. That can have its challenges.

In the end, I strongly encourage continuing service one way or the other. My advice sir, try and game plan what you want to do on the civilian side and that will help guide your decision on which component to join.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Oct 11 at 2019 12:49 AM

2019-10-11T00:49:44-04:00

I've generally found in such career/educ threads that the more you'd elaborate as to soecifics, the more that typically helps in suggesting things, though I'd course that's just purely my own observation, of course...did you want to back to school? Work? Grad school? Masters? PhD? Law? Did you consider Guard Tech? Reserve Tech? AGR? Any intersvc possibilities at all? Would you want to try for grad school while in at all, like USAF AFIT, or Naval Postgrad School (NPS)? If work outside, what type, so far as you could say, possibly? Contractor stuff related to what you did while in? Non-mil related? Assocs? Bach? Majors? Grades? GPAs? STEM and non-STEM coursework done thus far? Civil service? Federal? State? Local? Law enforcement? If so, what types have you looked at this far as well? Those are the kinds of specifics that let others give you concrete advice...rationale for wanting to switch, so far as you could elaborate? Would you want to stay in the full term as Guard or Reserve, maybe go back active at some point? Get out totally eventually? all of that is germane to the kinds of questions you're asking, honest, that's just why I suggest those things for you to try to go into on here, so all of us could have more to go on, so far as possible, honest, OK? Those are my thoughts, at any rate, at least for the moment, I'd be most eager to hear more, no rush, of course, whenever you'd want, certainly hope that was all of at least some use, in any event, honest, OK?

Response by SP5 Joseph Ascanio made Oct 11 at 2019 6:11 AM

2019-10-11T06:11:18-04:00

It's a lot different from active, but if you want to make money the Guard is the way to go your able to get more title 10 orders then the reserves.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Oct 11 at 2019 8:13 AM

2019-10-11T08:13:58-04:00

Guard

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 1:24 PM

2019-10-11T13:24:19-04:00

transition from AC to RC or Guard.. you are going to hate life. AC is a different animal in a good way. RC you are expected to do everything AC does sometimes with out the extra pay. If you end up in a leadership position or high speed staff you will be on conference calls at least once a week for readiness and other things. It can be a lot and its expected.

I cannot speak for the Guard, but I have a feeling its like the RC side on BA weekends. its your choice if AC is not what you want but you want to serve either one is a good choice..

Also what is your MOS that can have an effect on which one you do also as RC is support no Combat Arms

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Oct 11 at 2019 1:44 PM

2019-10-11T13:44:39-04:00

Well Armor is NG... but remember many of it's SM's are prior enlisted and older ... many battle hardened. . I've told many a 0-1 to F off and even grabbed one by the neck when I caught him smoking pot. Normally I respectfully ignored them. The NG is not as wild as it was in the Past and became more Army professional like.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Oct 13 at 2019 8:23 PM

2019-10-13T20:23:30-04:00

Biggest difference I know of is when activated by the Governor in the Guard. If it's only a state commitment it doesn't count toward fed retirement credits and VA programs

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2019 7:21 AM

2019-10-29T07:21:43-04:00

Well Sir, I'm going to break down your questions a bit. I just recently finished my AD contract and have done my first Battle Assembly.

1) Is it a good transition?
Depends on what you mean by "good transition". The actual paperwork was very straight forward. You will get a lot of the information you need from the brief you will have to attend. If you are referring to the transition from AD to Reserves/Guard itself, that is a different answer.

My first BA was a bit confusing. I knew nobody. Of course, my very first day in this unit was a training day for the entire unit which made things worse. Things were awkward to say the least. Fortunately, when I in processed I was given the phone number of one of the SGTs in my company. So I was able to at least get in contact with someone to say "hey, I'm here, what am I supposed to do". You have to sign in a binder and sign out every day.

The next day I was actually introduced to who I would be working with. It was a little weird for me since I am a mechanic but my NCO is a 92A, so he just dropped me in the motor pool and told me to mingle. After a little mingling I felt a bit bad. In this unit I am currently in, the only thing they really do is services on trucks. No real mechanic-ing at all. There is only one other mechanic that served AD here and he warned me that it was going to be a cakewalk compared to what I just came from. Personally, I came from a very high tempo unit, doing engine swaps and the like on a daily basis. To go from that to simply doing services was a huge change. They usually do about 3 services a BA. I finished one on my own in less than an hour. Things are scary relaxed here.

2) Is so which one and why?
This also depends. What do YOU want. Personally, I went reserves because I already lived right next to where the unit I joined is. For me, I was able to secure an E-5 slot so I'm already starting to further my military career. All I need is a board packet and BLC. That is why I chose this particular unit. You might not have the luxury of being 15 minutes from any units like I was.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you much about which branch to pick. That is something you will have to decide on your own.

3) Pros and Cons?
Some of the pros is you still continue your military career. However, this gives you an opportunity to focus on some civilian affairs as well. For me, this means I can go to school without it interfering with my military time. This also affords me the opportunity to get a more diversified experience in my particular trade.

Another pro could be the potential to earn more money than while being AD. When you are Reserves/Guard, you can find regular employment. It is entirely possible for you to find a high paying job. For me, if I wanted to continue my trade as a Diesel Mechanic, I'm looking at a starting pay of about $26 an hour or more. That is with a mere 3 years of being a mechanic in the army.

The biggest pro for me is the fact that I actually get to spend time with my wife. The unit I came from in AD was very high tempo. The earliest we would get out of work would be close to 1800 every day. A lot of times it was later. Whenever we were preparing to go to the field, which was a lot, we would average around 2000 release, still doing PT every day. Now that I am in this Reserve unit, I actually have been able to spend time with my wife. She's a cool lady, that's why I married her haha.

Some cons though, as there is some. First off, is pay. You only get paid when you work. So you have to find a job. That can be difficult. There are a few jobs that I had to turn down due to the fact that I would miss my BA since I would be out of state. Which is a shame because those are the really high paying jobs for me, but oh well.

It's not really a con but still worth noting. You are responsible for keeping up your PT. I know for me when I took leave I drank a lot and didn't do much PT. It was a time for me to relax. My first BA I put on my uniform and man did it feel a little tighter than I remember. I neglected myself and I am solely to blame for it. I have since corrected myself and at minimum ride a stationary bike for at least 10 miles every day if I don't have much time to do much else. For me, it's something I can do while I respond to emails or heck, even play a game. Turns out Phoenix Wright is the perfect game to play while cycling as all you do is select things. No real action or anything. Who knew haha.

I will give you a warning though. At least in the unit I just joined, things are very different. I had a captain pass by me confused because I saluted. People have their hands in their pockets. When my 1SGT had everyone horseshoe around him very few people went to parade rest. The simple things we learned in AD are seemingly out the window. In fact, the one E-6 that is prior service told me to not even really bother with it. This could very well be just my unit, but things are completely relaxed here. Unnervingly so. Heck, when I met my new SGM, he looked a bit confused when I was at parade rest! Though that could have been because I was in civilians at the time, but respect is respect!

Hopefully my little ramble can shed some light for you Sir. Granted I know it's only a very specific experience but it may help you. Best of luck to you Sir.