What career/education advice do you have for someone leaving active duty to join the Guard? Additionally, how is the culture shock?

2019-02-10T18:56:11-05:00

My ETS is still a ways out I know that. I am just looking for information. I am currently doing online college at AMU to get a associates degree. I read a lot of posts about this but figured I would ask for myself. My goal is a Bachelors but still advice would be appreciated! Thank You.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2019 8:01 PM

2019-02-10T20:01:47-05:00

Well, why are you leaving? What is your goal or are your goals? That would be a good place to start to lay out some options.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2019 8:35 PM

2019-02-10T20:35:19-05:00

This happens to be one of my favorite subjects. Being a Career Counselor, this is literally what I do.
1. Why did you pick AMU?
2. There are colleges that will offer more credit towards your AA/AS from your JST.
3. What is your end goal? A degree is not a goal (unless you want to be poor) it's a step towards a goal. If your goal was a degree you would stay active till you finish your degree then retire and die. What is it you want to do in 10-20 years?

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Feb 11 at 2019 12:26 AM

2019-02-11T00:26:40-05:00

I concur with all the other comments, especially SFC Boyd’s.

If school is the main goal, then the ARNG/ANG is great in many states as they may provide significant educational benefits above your GI bill (leaving it intact fir family use or you later. You should likely be focused initially towards the forensic sciences, until you achieve it or some other goal/opportunity presents itself. I initially wanted to be a physical therapist and made all my choices for MOS, schooling, ROTC, etc for that (had an opportunity for a great assignment that sounded better than PT school).

Staying in and pursuing CID to warrant officer is great route and could even be done in the NG, but getting into it while on AD is helpful. Go find a forensic guy in the civilian world and ask him.

Also, there are dozens of transition support organizations that could give you mentor ship on all these steps and processes.

Join LinkedIn and make a profile, join the Veteran Mentor Network and look for contacts and organizations that you can follow to get mentorship.

You are more than welcome to connect with me on LinkedIn (as are anyone out here in RP land) at http://linkedin.com/in/stephanporter. I can help facilitate getting you to the people, groups, and resources that can help you further.

stephanporter.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Feb 11 at 2019 12:29 AM

2019-02-11T00:29:15-05:00

There will be culture shock going from Active to the Guard. I was active duty Army and went to the Air Guard. But during Operation Noble Eagle, we worked very closely with Army Guard unit’s. I found their culture very similar to the Air Guard.

The Guard tends to be way more relaxed than active duty. Rules that you used to follow on the AD side may be totally ignored on the Guard side. It pretty much depends on CO and SNCO’s of the unit. You also may deploy as or more than your AD unit, depending on your MOS. I left the Guard for the Reserves because my unit deployed a lot.

As far as the Detective or Forensic jobs go. I spent 31 years in civilian LE, most of that in Investigations. Having a BS degree or higher is very important to get those jobs. In most police departments, you don’t start as a Detective. You have to work your way up the ranks. In those jobs, a BS degree is not required. However, on the Federal side (FBI, DEA, ATF, USSS, etc) a bachelor’s degree is required to get hired. The Major doesn’t matter, but the FBI prefers accounting degrees. Depending on the police agency and the specific forensic job you are going for, depends on the degree you need. Some positions (CSI type jobs) only require AA degrees with a heavy emphasis on photography. Others may require a BS or MS degree.

AMU is great for the military but not so great on the civilian side. It matters who you get your degree from. The sad truth is that online only schools don’t get the same respect as brick and mortar schools. I would either find a brick and mortar school or go online with a brick and mortar school to get your degree from. Such as Arizona State University. They have a great online program and you get the save diploma as if you actually attended the campus in Tempe.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 11 at 2019 1:03 AM

2019-02-11T01:03:12-05:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Your question headline doesn't really line up with the question you are asking in the narrative.

As SSG Private RallyPoint Member asks, what's the goal? What academic area? School? Are you leveraging the Guard for Education Benefits/tuition waiver? You mention wanting to work in Forensics to SFC Private RallyPoint Member. Recommend you find a state school with a good program, where the ARNG has a tuition waiver/education benefit, and tailor your current AMU work to set you up for success in that program (recognized pre-reqs as an example). Sometimes AAS are problematic with translating to a particular school. Schools are fickle on accepting outside credit. You have to Neck this down to where you are trying to go. Otherwise, this is a mile wide and a mile deep.

Then there is the matter of the employer's recognizing the degree and your value to hire you.