Posted on Nov 8, 2013
Tension between National Guard and Active Duty Army?
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I have served in both capacities and even on active duty while in the Guard. I constantly hear Active Duty gripe about the National Guard, and yet even worse I have also heard National Guard gripe about the National Guard. I am very pound of my unit's achievements in the past and while I have served with them. We have fought and lost great men just like our counterparts in the Active Duty Army. I make sure to crush it where I find it. We didn't get the name of Roosevelt's SS for nothing. We literally shredded the German's 1st SS in WWII and later deployed twice to OIF. <div><br></div><div>How do you approach this situation, whether you're in the National Guard or Regular Army? Or are you guilty of doing this? I was in the past. </div>
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 188
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
I spent 29 years on active duty, and I think that we often had unrealistic expectations of National Guard Soldiers. National Guard soldiers are often 10 to 15 years older then their active duty counter parts, and often not in as good a physical condition. Their physical condition was a function of age, and physical training - which isn't part of most civilian occupations. But the aspect that was often over looked, is that when you had a National Guard unit deploying with you, there were always a bonus effect. You had professional electricians, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, lawyers, doctors, nurses... all of those National Guardsmen had years of experience from their civilian jobs - and that always was a wonderful bonus... and helped us solve real world problems. The National Guardsmen that I worked with were good men, dedicated and brave soldiers - but they were different from active duty soldiers, and in some ways better.
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1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR)
6 mo
My Uncle Bill (Johnston) retired from the reserves or National Guard (not certain which) in Washington state. From what I was told, when he performed his annual two week training at Ft Lewis, he just turned the nameplate around on his desk... He was some sort of logistics manager and held the same position for both his civilian and military career.
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SSG Gregg Mourizen
6 mo
Having serve in Guard, Reserve and AC components, I have to concur.
Certain levels of snobbery set aside, most can get along and have much to offer each other. Experience, different points of view, experience.
I once had to find someone to train a tech deployingas the only one in her unit. Her equipment was brand new, still in the box after several years. I had to find a medhold reservist coming off of deployment to train her up aon everthing. Her AC unit was more concerned with vehicle maintenance that the critical role she was expected to play for them.
Usually, tensions build around those same types that claim "you aren't a real soldier, unless...". This usually leads to other problems and my all time fear...Reserve leaders trying to be "Active Duty". Don't get me wrong, some of my bet leaders came from the reserves. But when they start trying to show how Hooah they are, that's where the problems start. Trying to buddy up to the down-lookers, can make some of them forget what leadership principles are important, or worse forgetting who and what their subordinates are.
They key is to be open minded, utilize those different experiences and knowledge. Never be above learning new tricks of the trade.
Certain levels of snobbery set aside, most can get along and have much to offer each other. Experience, different points of view, experience.
I once had to find someone to train a tech deployingas the only one in her unit. Her equipment was brand new, still in the box after several years. I had to find a medhold reservist coming off of deployment to train her up aon everthing. Her AC unit was more concerned with vehicle maintenance that the critical role she was expected to play for them.
Usually, tensions build around those same types that claim "you aren't a real soldier, unless...". This usually leads to other problems and my all time fear...Reserve leaders trying to be "Active Duty". Don't get me wrong, some of my bet leaders came from the reserves. But when they start trying to show how Hooah they are, that's where the problems start. Trying to buddy up to the down-lookers, can make some of them forget what leadership principles are important, or worse forgetting who and what their subordinates are.
They key is to be open minded, utilize those different experiences and knowledge. Never be above learning new tricks of the trade.
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SSG Jack Simpson
3 mo
Once, as a SSG in the regular army at Ft Bragg N.C., my unit, the 46th Support Group (Corps) hosted a reserve unit. I was given the chance to train some of their signalmen in the newest teletype machine. One day their Colonel came and asked what I thought of his soldiers. I meant it as a compliment when I said: "Sir, they are almost as good as regular soldiers." Big mistake. He immediately told me of how they are better because they only train one weekend a month and two weeks a year. I tried to make amens by telling him I meant it as a compliment, but I believe the lines of communication had fallen out of the trees and he didn't hear me.
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SPC Matt Ovaska
2 mo
I was having dinner with my friend (a vet) and 7-8 other folks at a home. This Army Col. kept bragging and bragging and bragging. I finally said, "Excuse me sir, Are you in the Army reserves?" My friend dropped his fork and looked at me. He knew exactly what I was doing. This Col went off on a rant. RESERVES! blah, blah, blah. I just rolled my eyes at my friend and kept eating, with a slight grin. I was in the FED. bldg. in Albany, in the large elevator with at least 8-10 other people. This Navy dude had perfect a perfect white uniform complete with several hashmarks on his sleeve. I ask him, "Excuse me, may I ask you a question?." "Of course" he replied. I said. "Are you in the Coast Guard?" I thought he was going to choke. He opened his mouth and said nothing. I kept a straight face, but inside, I was rolling over...
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Posted 11 y ago
I believe that there is a time and a place for some good natured ribbing and joking between branches, services and components. With that being said, I have served with members of the National Guard in both Afghanistan and in Iraq and to me and my Soldiers, the only difference was the patch on the shoulder. It's a non-issue in my book.
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GySgt William Hardy
>1 y
As an active duty Marine, I was stationed at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, GE and was surrounded by mostly soldiers, but Air Force and Navy also. One day this Army CPT came in my office and said, "SSgt Hardy, I was told you might have nails I could get from you." My response was, "Sorry Sir, I ate my last ones for lunch!" Yes, there is a place for good natured ribbing, but when it comes to differences between active and reserve, there should be no difference. If you run across a bad unit, that unit is bad, not the whole system. I have run across both good and bad in active and reserve status.
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LCDR (Join to see)
9 y
Mid-deployment, we had a visiting CO and CMDCM. There was an active-duty E6 who said, "What's up with all of these reservists?! They may flip burgers in their civilian career, and then they come over here (in theatre) and don't know their jobs!" Mind you that most of the room were reservists including our CO, XO and CMDCM. Thankfully, the visiting CMDCM mentioned that his entire command were mobilized reservists "who can go tow-to-tow" with any active duty command he had been at.
My personal opinion is that after you are deployed for a few weeks or months, everyone settles into their jobs, and besides patches, you can't tell who is active, reserve or National Guard. Many active duty don't have extended interaction with reserves or National Guard, but it is definitely more than a "one weekend a month, two weeks out of the year" commitment.
My personal opinion is that after you are deployed for a few weeks or months, everyone settles into their jobs, and besides patches, you can't tell who is active, reserve or National Guard. Many active duty don't have extended interaction with reserves or National Guard, but it is definitely more than a "one weekend a month, two weeks out of the year" commitment.
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LTC (Join to see)
>1 y
LCDR (Join to see) - LCR, I am sure that many reservists have over 3 years active duty, over 3 deployments since 2001. Due to the recent downsizing talk of reducing the active army by 40k, the active component will have to work alongside the reserve/guard units because of sequestration of $100 billion over the next 10 years. We have come back to the Donald Rumsfeld 'go with what you got' mentality. Rumsfeld said that Kuwait in late 2004. I was not at that meeting where he answered the Louisiana ARNG soldier's complaints about lack of up-armored vehicles with them at Camp Udari.
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Posted >1 y ago
Like many of my counterparts here in this thread, I have served in the AD and am now a reservist. There is some good old fashioned ribing, but there are those out there who think of the Reserve and National Guard as substandard. What COL Roach says in this speaks volumes, but another aspect is this, We "part time" Soldiers are able to complete missions in combat with training only 2 days a month and 2 weeks in a year and are able to keep up and sometimes out perform our AC counterparts. There are thos out there that see this, however I do not believe we will ver totally get out of the "Nasty Guard or Reserve" mentality. Only those that served side by side with them will have a new respect for us. I amproud to be a reservist. We are able to juggle the Military, our civilian job, family school etc. AC is able to concentrate on thier full time Military occupation. Be proud of who you are, AC, Reservist or National Guardsman because in the end we all are on the same team fighting the same fight!
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SSG Edward Rhyan
2 y
We had people from 5 states making up our unit in Iraq in 06-07. We performed more work hours and more 250 hour services (24 VS 17) on Apache Helicopters with 19 people than the previous AD shop with 41 people. I had 6 years previous AD with 5 in the NG at that time. There were many full time Technicians and AGR that really had their eye on the ball. We would finish up a phase in 2-3 days and spend the other 2 troubleshooting and clearing status's.
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SGT Glenn E Moody
2 y
I was ARNG my 6 years. I joined for Mechanics. my Recurter lied to me after i signed my papers took my OATH I got hit with the green weenie. sent off to the INFANTRY. I was A Mechanic in my Cilivan job. after a few years AT camp EDWARDS BASE CAPE COD MA. home of the 26th (YANKEE) INFANTRY DIVISION (the NATIONS FIRST). on our training patrol our platoon truck was the DODGE PICK UP it wouldn't start. our PLT leader said weel looks like we are marching back. i said sir can i look at it. he said go for it. it had gas & spark all lites lit on the dashboard. i said sir give me your K-BAR KNIFE. I told the driver turn on the key & tap the gas if / when it cranks over. I jumped the starter with the LT'S K-BAR it started. the LT said give my self an ata-boy and then said what am i doing here in the infantry. why am I not working in the motor pool. I told him how the recurter screwed me. he told me & helped me go through the chain of command to transfur into a mech infantry unit. every one signed off execpt the BLT. Commander he said no. he needed the numbers for his meal roster. this was 1983 screwed again. then in 1984 they asked if anyone of us wanted to deploy to GERMANY for REFORGER 85. with the MECH INFANTRY UNIT that signed for me to join them but the BLT CO. wouldn't sing off for. but they let me temp for A few months because they needed bodys for REFORGER 85. the MECH UNIT was short of MECHANICS and that was my CIVILIAN job they put me in as A (O. J. T. ) >on the job training. A friend that worked at JANNEL FORD DEALERSHIP with me as A MECHANIC told them that I was a good MECHANIC. i earned & got my MECHANIC / DRIVER badge. with DRIVER-W DRIVER-T & MECHANIC BARS. and when we got back and returned back to my INFANTRY UNIT. they came and asked me if i wanted to work full time in the MOTOR POOL what a kick in the balls that was period. but i loved the guys i served with and still serve as SGT @ ARMS 26th (YANKEE)INFANTRY DIVISION VETERANS ASSOCIATION BOSTON MA. CHAPTER KNOWN AS THE Y.V.D.A.
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SFC Ronald Miller
2 mo
I served 4 years active duty 67-71 during V.N. They held us back from going to V.N. and sent 60 of us MP'S from Fort Gordan GA. to Inchon, Korea the day after the Pueblo ship was captured by North Korea. In 73-77 I was in the Army reserves. 77-81 National Guard at Midway Airport in Chicago. I got out for 14yrs. then joined the Guard as a SSGT. in a National Guard stinger unit. 96-2000 transferred to a CID unit in Lakeland, FL. for a yr. and then transferred back to an MP company in St. Petersburg, FL. I retired on my 60th birthday in July of 2007. I served alongside many good men and women during my 26yrs. and am proud that I did. I have respect for all Members of our MILITARY no matter Active or Reserve, or Guard. We all served in the Military subject to getting sent to wherever we were needed? WE are BROTHERS in Uniform!
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