Since I want to finish my college degree, should I stay with the Army and reclass/transfer or switch to the Air Guard if they will accept me?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 11:48:44 -0500

So my contract ends in June 2024 with the national guard. I am a current college student and graduate in 2025. I am currently a e-4/SPC. My unit is a CAV unit which my state is disbanding Cav scouts to an armored unit. I’ll have to reclass to stay with the unit or transfer if I have the option too.
But I have considered switching to air force national guard. I have been offered a promotion at my current unit to get my e5/SGT which I want if I re enlist with said unit. I also have no deployments and do not have veteran status since I signed a 4 year contract.
My question is should I stay with the army and reclass/transfer or switch to the air guard if they will accept me till I finish my college degree. I haven’t spoken to the recruiter yet for the air guard and plan to in the next month.

Thank you for y’all’s input on helping my decide

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Jan 22 at 2024 1:05 PM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 13:05:28 -0500

If you are going to have a bachelor's degree, and will meet the age requirement, you should look at going to OCS (ARNG) or OTS (ANG). Other than that, it all depends on what you want to do in the service.

Response by COL Randall C. made Jan 22 at 2024 1:10 PM

COL Randall C. — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 13:10:08 -0500

PFC Private RallyPoint Member, I suggest you edit your post and rewrite it what what you want as your end state.

Your question is, "should I stay with the army and reclass/transfer or switch to the air guard if they will accept me till I finish my college degree", but there is nothing to weigh each option against. Are you wondering about bonuses? Promotion rates? Loan repayment? Difference in culture between the ANG and ARNG? Wondering who would be deployed more? Etc.

Barring that, then the only thing that can realistically be recommended to you is to sit down with a recruiter and have an interactive conversation.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2024 1:28 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 13:28:32 -0500

1: Before asking these RFIs, I recommend you speak with an Air Guard Recruiter now to see if they will take you and to find out if you can switch now or if you'd have to wait until you ETS. You may want to do that sooner rather than later. Like, today talk to them.
2: If you can get into the Air Guard....why not go after you graduate with a degree so that you can commission?
3: How can you promote to SGT before June if you're a PFC? Even if you mislabeled yourself and you are a SPC, there are several tasks you need to complete IOT promote to Sergeant. Basic Leader Course, Packet approved for promotion, and time left in the service IOT promote. You may want to get clarification on this, because this sounds like a carrot and stick sucker bet
4: For reclass, what are you interested in for a new MOS? Do you want to even go Armor? Is there something else that you are interested in/passionate about?

You need to get all your questions answered now and make a decision based on that information. We here at RP can advise all day long, but at the end of the day the decision is ultimately yours to do what is best for you. But, IOT make the best decision for yourself, you need those questions answered now.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2024 2:05 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:05:01 -0500

Depending on your financial situation and getting through school, I have found most who are in the NG or USAR find school very conflicting and causes a lot of the education process to take much longer.

If you have a window of opportunity to get out and finish school cleanly ASAP within your financial means then I would do that.

Then you are in a position to pursue OCS, or whatever you want. If you finished BLC then E5 is essentially a given in the USAR anyway. No one is offering you anything special.

Walk away, get a degree. Then you are in a much stronger position to look for something than retention is willing to offer you from where you are on in inside as a PFC.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Jan 22 at 2024 3:21 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 15:21:16 -0500

Two things about looking at a transfer.

First, does your civilian job have an application that can be used by the Air Guard? I ask because your 19K MOS doesn't have an equivalent.

Second, how long do you have left on your Army Guard contract compared to your finishing your degree? It may be easier to do an extension to finish the degree, then talk with the Air Guard.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 22 at 2024 4:42 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:42:48 -0500

Figure out what your major objective(s) are, then backward plan. One scenario you should look at is if you get a good post-graduation job and get deployed, your income will go down dramatically.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2024 7:13 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 07:13:55 -0500

Air National Guard here who is a VA Social Worker ass my civilian job. Either way, you're going to have to reclass, bc we don't have your equivalent in the ANG.

If you are interested in a deployment so you can get veteran status, those chances are there (my unit, for example, goes about every three years.) The Amn/NCOs in my unit still in school were able to switch to online classes during the deployment or work with their school to take a break for 1 or 2 semesters as needed.

Hope this helps

Response by SSgt Jeanne Wallace made Jan 25 at 2024 4:24 AM

SSgt Jeanne Wallace — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 04:24:55 -0500

first talk to the air guard recruiter to see what jobs the state units have open.....find out what schools transfer and what you may need to attend..and possibly what you could OJT...you never know untill you ask. Also if you can talk to some folk in the unit who actually do the job you are looking at. Could be an eye opener.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2024 1:18 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 13:18:11 -0400

Switching to the Air Guard might give you more flexibility while you finish college, especially if they offer roles more aligned with your future goals. It's worth talking to a recruiter to see what options they have for you in terms of MOS, benefits, and flexibility with your education.