Posted on Aug 15, 2014
Army National Guard and Air National Guard Questions
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So I am seeking some guidance from of the National Guard side of the house. My ETS is in Jun 2017 a little ways out. But I am ready to leave Active.
I just have some questions and wondering if the more knowledgable SM could shed some light. I know I still need to talk to a recruiter but not ready for that yet.
I have been told that most people want to get on Active National Guard. Not sure how that happens or when you become available to do that.
I am going back to Washington State. I know I want to go National Guard versus Reserves.
Can you go from Army to Air Force? Would I have to do some type of training agian?
I know you can get Tri-Care but you have to pay for it correct unlike Active?
Sorry if these have been asked elsewhere, just looking for guidance from my fellow SM's.
I just have some questions and wondering if the more knowledgable SM could shed some light. I know I still need to talk to a recruiter but not ready for that yet.
I have been told that most people want to get on Active National Guard. Not sure how that happens or when you become available to do that.
I am going back to Washington State. I know I want to go National Guard versus Reserves.
Can you go from Army to Air Force? Would I have to do some type of training agian?
I know you can get Tri-Care but you have to pay for it correct unlike Active?
Sorry if these have been asked elsewhere, just looking for guidance from my fellow SM's.
Military Life
Service
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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Everything that COL Randall C. said plus AGR slots are highly competitive and highly political, maybe less so in a bigger state than RI, but its all about who you know. Get in the Guard branch/unit first then immediately start shining while inquiring. The tough part of AGR is promotions. You may have to change units or wait for someone to retire and/or die for the next rank slot to open up. Say you get an Air Guard E5 AGR slot, You can't necessarily get promoted to E6 in that slot The E6 slot may be allocated to another unit or may not be available as all allocated E6 slots are full. I had a friend who was an E7 AGR who went OCS and waited 5 years for a 2LT slot to open so he could take his commission.
If you are AGR you get TRICARE prime if you are M-Day - weekend warrior - you pay for it . There is another post about TRICARE and paying for it as your insurance which can be a good thing: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/tricare-reserve-select-comments-requested
Best of luck in your transition.
If you are AGR you get TRICARE prime if you are M-Day - weekend warrior - you pay for it . There is another post about TRICARE and paying for it as your insurance which can be a good thing: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/tricare-reserve-select-comments-requested
Best of luck in your transition.
TRICARE Reserve Select - Comments Requested | RallyPoint
I'm interested in hearing from reservists who use TRICARE Reserve Select - especially those who use it now and have previously used private insurance. Looking at its premiums, its considerably cheaper than my private insurance. How has your experience been using it? Plusses and minuses?
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SFC Steven Borders
Thank you Sir, Everyone here has been so helpful in guiding me in the right direction. I really do appreciate it.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
That's why the RP Community is such a great thing SFC Steven Borders You can thank LTC Yinon Weiss and CPT Aaron Kletzing RP's co founders for this great site!
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SFC Steven Borders, a few things for you.
First, there are a lot of discussion threads currently on RP that might answer some of your questions (I'm not just going to say that and run, but you might check them out a bit more).
I discussed some of the advice I would give to a new reservist elsewhere, especially TRICARE Reserve Select: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/advice-to-new-reserve-component-soldiers?urlhash=172063#172063
When you say "Active National Guard", I'm not sure of the status you're referring to. There is "Active Guard Reserve" (AGR) which is what I think you're referring to. From your point of view, this would be the closest thing to active duty, except at the state level. Understand, these jobs are usually few in number (the AGR jobs for Washington state are listed at http://mil.wa.gov/jobs/agr.shtml#army). If not, respond and let me know what you are asking.
Can you go from the Army to the Air Force (specifically, I think you're asking if you can join the Air National Guard in Washington)? Short answer is "Yes, it is possible". Is it possible in your situation? Ask an Air National Guard recruiter (http://washingtonairguard.org/join/ to get the phone #). I assume you are just curious and don't have something specific you're going after. One of the first things you would probably want to do is look at where you're going to be living and what units are around you (http://washingtonguard.org/locations/WNG_Locations.jpg).
TRICARE - check link I mentioned above.
Feel free to contact me regarding any other questions.
First, there are a lot of discussion threads currently on RP that might answer some of your questions (I'm not just going to say that and run, but you might check them out a bit more).
I discussed some of the advice I would give to a new reservist elsewhere, especially TRICARE Reserve Select: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/advice-to-new-reserve-component-soldiers?urlhash=172063#172063
When you say "Active National Guard", I'm not sure of the status you're referring to. There is "Active Guard Reserve" (AGR) which is what I think you're referring to. From your point of view, this would be the closest thing to active duty, except at the state level. Understand, these jobs are usually few in number (the AGR jobs for Washington state are listed at http://mil.wa.gov/jobs/agr.shtml#army). If not, respond and let me know what you are asking.
Can you go from the Army to the Air Force (specifically, I think you're asking if you can join the Air National Guard in Washington)? Short answer is "Yes, it is possible". Is it possible in your situation? Ask an Air National Guard recruiter (http://washingtonairguard.org/join/ to get the phone #). I assume you are just curious and don't have something specific you're going after. One of the first things you would probably want to do is look at where you're going to be living and what units are around you (http://washingtonguard.org/locations/WNG_Locations.jpg).
TRICARE - check link I mentioned above.
Feel free to contact me regarding any other questions.
Advice to (new) Reserve Component Soldiers | RallyPoint
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to a new reserve component soldier that is different from the advice you would give to an active duty soldier?
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SFC Steven Borders
Thank you Sir, that answered my question. I was indeed referring to Active Guard Reserve. I wasn't sure how that worked.
All I know is that I am ready to leave Active Duty. I have been blessed with the opportunities that the Active side has presented me. But I feel it is time to move on.
I did wind up calling the Air National Guard and they can't work with me until I am 120 days out of my ETS.
Again, thank you Sir. I really do appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions for me.
All I know is that I am ready to leave Active Duty. I have been blessed with the opportunities that the Active side has presented me. But I feel it is time to move on.
I did wind up calling the Air National Guard and they can't work with me until I am 120 days out of my ETS.
Again, thank you Sir. I really do appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions for me.
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SGT (Join to see)
I believe that AGR positions are open to AD also I know they have been available to AR for a while but i have never heard of anyone from AD or AR applying for an AGR position. Also they may say you have to ETS before you can transer over i know a few guys in my unit that wanted to switch to to AD and the recruiter told them come back after they ETS and they may be able to get in.
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COL Randall C.
SGT (Join to see), I'm not completely clear on what you were saying, but I think the following is confirming what you said.
AGR is program providing full-time support to the National Guard or Reserves. For all intents, you're active duty, but you are (normally) focused on support to the specific reserve component. Most AGRs are there to support the M-day soldiers (for example, your standard Troop Program Unit (TPU) will have full-timers to take care of the day-to-day administration, supply issues, etc), although on the other side, I've served with AGRs who never saw the inside of an Armory and were Regular Army soldiers for all intents (aside from assignment, etc).
You can go from active duty to the AGR program (sort of) by doing a discharge from active duty with a concurrent appointment in the National Guard or Reserves, then entering the AGR program. This will take coordination between your reserve component recruiter and your personnel folks.
The program (at least in the Army) is governed by AR 135-18 (http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r135_18.pdf) and should answer a lot of the questions you would have.
AGR is program providing full-time support to the National Guard or Reserves. For all intents, you're active duty, but you are (normally) focused on support to the specific reserve component. Most AGRs are there to support the M-day soldiers (for example, your standard Troop Program Unit (TPU) will have full-timers to take care of the day-to-day administration, supply issues, etc), although on the other side, I've served with AGRs who never saw the inside of an Armory and were Regular Army soldiers for all intents (aside from assignment, etc).
You can go from active duty to the AGR program (sort of) by doing a discharge from active duty with a concurrent appointment in the National Guard or Reserves, then entering the AGR program. This will take coordination between your reserve component recruiter and your personnel folks.
The program (at least in the Army) is governed by AR 135-18 (http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r135_18.pdf) and should answer a lot of the questions you would have.
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SGT (Join to see)
That sounds like a better description to me Sir. I am not familiar with the process it would take to go from Active Duty to AGR but i remember something from about 2 or 3 years ago saying they could apply for the jobs also. I only know the process for M-Day to AGR as I have went through the process once before and didnt get the position due to the AGR preference.
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COL Randall C. SSgt Gregory Guina TSgt Joshua Copeland Thank you! Some advice is much better coming from other authority figures then from a father.
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