Post: #1

Is anyone here in the National Guard? I am considering joining because they do offer student loan repayment benefits (in addition to other benefits as well).

Can you share your experiences and give your overall impression on it? Would you recommend joining?

Post: #2

I served 6 years active duty in the Marine Corps as an officer. I got out at my first opportunity and would do the same again. What I would do differently if I had it to do again is to transition to the National Guard after I got out instead of just saying screw it all. They do some interesting stuff.

I don't know how the NG operates but keep in mind that if your contract doesn't say it, then it may not happen. DON'T make a decision based upon a verbal promise from a recruiter.

I say go for it.

Post: #3

Depends on the MOS you choose.

If it doesn't matter go Air guard instead of Army.

Post: #4

I'm on second enlistment and still enjoy it. Contract does mean everything. Combat arms have the least women, so less statistical chances of getting a false sex harassment campaign against you. You can still find a civilian job transferable MOS in combat arms, it all depends on which unit you choose to get assigned to and how members of that MOS are attached to units in combat brigades. If you're close to finishing a degree, choose something very similar to that degree field so you can use the "Green to Gold" program to become an officer. If you're not interested in that or not working on a degree, a trade-inclined MOS may be preferable. Combat jobs are the most fun and I would recommend getting into any flight program or mechanized MOS that I could.

Commissioning as an officer means you'll choose your duty assignment based on how high you rank in an assignment lottery at the graduation of your program that's competitive with all the candidates graduating that year nationally. Your options depend on what's left after all the people higher scoring than you made their picks. From what I understand, you can get a few more options if you contractually agree to remain at those optional posts for a predetermined amount of time.

Bonuses are nice, but never astronomical in amount, so make your decision on something you can live with rather than which placements have bonuses or not.

There are a lot of websites that try to determine how transferable MOSs are to civilian employment.

Post: #5

I already have a degree, a doctorate. I work in healthcare.

I was considering joining the National Guard for the student loan repayment benefits. I spoke with a recruiter in their online chatroom and he said you can expect up to $50,000 to be repaid.

Post: #6

4 years in, 11bangbang. National Guard = ate up pogues who wear cologne and hair gel with their ACU's. For the most part, poor leadership, poor equipment, and shit QRF jobs while on deployment. The former Actives do a good job shaping up the units - be a sponge near those guys, soak up as much knowledge, training, and experience as possible, because it's probably all you'll get.

If you're looking to repay student loans, it's a good option (usually it's a 6-year contract attached, though). If you're after a legit military experience, probably not your thing.

Feel free to PM for more details.

Post: #7

Tree,

I'd definitely go into a medical MOS on the officer side that's in one of the preventative medicine or lab services. They have it easy and get paid well, usually you can find a decent duty station.

If you still get that high amount of loan repayment benefits in a medic MOS on the officer side, then you can have fun too. Medics get to go everywhere and officers get to do more. Your job is to stay proficient at your job and fix whatever typical injuries that come up.


Contrary to popular belief, the NG isn't some parody military branch full of fuck ups and morons. My unit is professional and fun. The stereotypical malingerer, fatbody types are present due to the bureaucracy of the NG, but they don't run shit and are few. We performed very well on every deployment. Realize that most Ng units aren't like this and some are as bad as the army reserves; a terrible half ass military program. There's a direct correlation of how many self centered unpatriotic kids who only joined for the benefits are in a unit with how good it is to be in that unit. Some mixed units(high numbers of women) are not bad to be in, but I wouldn't chance it.

From what active duty people tell me and what I see in the news, active is worse for working in a fascistically progressive environment than the reserves are.

Post: #8

(01-05-2015 06:54 AM)The Reactionary Tree Wrote:  I was considering joining the National Guard for the student loan repayment benefits. I spoke with a recruiter in their online chatroom and he said you can expect up to $50,000 to be repaid.

Wow I did not know that. I am looking into Reserve/Guard options after my contract with the Coast Guard ends in 2020. If the situation overseas dies down I might look into the Army National Guard, if not the Air National Guard (not sure if they have the same repayment options but it's worth a look).

Post: #9

I did three years regular army and eight in the army national guard over three states. The benefits aren't bad but I had enough I couldn't do another 9 to finish the retirement it was just too much a lot depends on which state you serve in. In WV or MN it's a big deal and the governor is highly involved in what the guard does but in FL or TX it's just another agency. Full time guard is the best kept secret in the military a lot of guys try to go do full time technician or AGR so there are other options. I know of people who dropped out of college to take an AGR slot and others who took a demotion from E-7 to E-5 to take a full time slot.

Post: #10

(01-05-2015 09:24 AM)Blick Mang Wrote:  4 years in, 11bangbang. National Guard = ate up pogues who wear cologne and hair gel with their ACU's. For the most part, poor leadership, poor equipment, and shit QRF jobs while on deployment. The former Actives do a good job shaping up the units - be a sponge near those guys, soak up as much knowledge, training, and experience as possible, because it's probably all you'll get.

If you're looking to repay student loans, it's a good option (usually it's a 6-year contract attached, though). If you're after a legit military experience, probably not your thing.

Feel free to PM for more details.

The National Guard has Special Forces Groups, last I knew you could have a guaranteed shot at SF qualification.

Here's the website: http://www.nationalguardsf.com/

I was in an Army Reserve SF unit many years ago. I was support, I am not Special Forces qualified or even combat arms. I did get to go to Basic Airborne course, though.

It was more fun than the usual reserve unit. We often had parachute jumps. One time we had a escape and evasion exercise with the State and local police participating as the opposing force. Some interesting unconventional warfare training courses, too.

Post: #11

Bumping this to hopefully get some information. I've been considering joining the national guard. At this point in my life, I'm starting to feel the need to do some sort of public service and give back to society. For all the doom and gloom we talk about when it comes to modern American society, I think there's still lots of bright spots and I would like to do my best to further light up those spots. I been starting to get more involved with charity work and I was thinking joining the guard would be another way to further this goal of mine. Plus the idea of being this citizen-soldier militia man just seems cool to me.

My main concern is that I have a full fledged career which as of this year has really been bearing fruit. I have a lot of momentum going on with it and I don't want to abandon it which is why I want to join the guard as opposed to the army if I do indeed end up serving. What I've heard is that with the NG, you are typically assigned to your home state and you train one weekend a week at a local base and that once a year you can be deployed for a few weeks elsewhere. How feasible is it to continue a full time career while doing all of this? I'd like to hear from forum posters here that are currently working a white collar job while serving in the guard and how they are balancing the two.

Post: #12

(12-24-2017 03:39 AM)Wutang Wrote:  How feasible is it to continue a full time career while doing all of this? I'd like to hear from forum posters here that are currently working a white collar job while serving in the guard and how they are balancing the two.

It really depends on your company. I know a couple of guys who did it at a company that understand and gives them the time off to do their training and deployments, then welcomes them back.

Other companies will kindly show you the door or look for ways to get rid of you. Yeah, it's "illegal" but some don't give a shit and will find another excuse to legally get rid of you.

Post: #13

You have a medical degree but your considering military to pay off loans???

What?

Post: #14

(01-05-2015 09:24 AM)lskdfjldsf Wrote:  4 years in, 11bangbang. National Guard = ate up pogues who wear cologne and hair gel with their ACU's. For the most part, poor leadership, poor equipment, and shit QRF jobs while on deployment. The former Actives do a good job shaping up the units - be a sponge near those guys, soak up as much knowledge, training, and experience as possible, because it's probably all you'll get.

If you're looking to repay student loans, it's a good option (usually it's a 6-year contract attached, though). If you're after a legit military experience, probably not your thing.

Feel free to PM for more details.

Spoken like a true sham shield. Let me guess, four years in, one duty station, one unit, one deployment. Your wet behind the ears when it comes to your military experience. let me know if you can find the obvious contradiction in your first paragraph.

When it comes to the Student loan repayment program, make sure you read the details of the contract. It helps but it's not like they just pay off your entire loan all at once.

The biggest advantage in my opinion is the like health insurance and education benefits.

Health - A single soldier will pay something like $70 A month for a great medical plan. No need for obamacare.

Education - the GI bill for guard sucks. Until you've done a certain amount of title 10 (active duty, such as a deployment) time, you won't get the full GI bill. But a lot of state universities waive tuition for guard members. Thst includes graduate programs. This is huge. Not a huge factor for you, but it's an insane deal

As far as the guard experience:

You will be assigned to a unit in a state of your choosing. You can swap states as needed, such as if you move. You can swap units as needed, but it does get a little more difficult.

You will normally only work the one weekend a month, two weeks a year. However there are additional military training programs (professional military development, job training, etc) that you can go to. These schools are almost 100% voluntary, but your chain of command will try to strong arm you into going.

The deployment cycle for the guard is normally every 5 years. More if you're in a high demand unit (Aviation for example). Deployments are now normally 9 month with anywhere from a 1-3 month train-up period. These train up periods are pretty much complete bullshit and more about checking all the stupid blocks the active military needs. You get some active duty cats, most of whom are banished to the training station because real units didn't want them, who try to pretend like their omnipotent and you're incompetent.

Outside of deployments and schools, you may also go on small rotations (weeks to a few months) to other parts of the world to take place in humanitarian aid missions. Most states (maybe all?) Have a "partner" country they work with. There's some regular aid missions that go on in central/south America and Africa.

As far your service to the citizens of the state, you may get called in to assist in state emergencies. Some units are more active in state duties, such as aviation which will get called in search and rescues of hikers.

The retirement sucks. You put in 20 years, but can't collect until 60 (subtract one year from that for every one year you've deployed). It's a shitty deal in my opinion. They just changed the retirement program too, so if you're thinking about staying that long you should read up on it.

Yes you can hold a white collar civilian job and be in the guard. Most companies are very supportive and understanding. You mostly only miss two weeks a year from your job due to military stuff anyways. When it comes to state emergencies, I've never heard of a single company give a soldier problems about being called up to help. If your unit asks you for more of your personal time, say a two week school, you almost always have the right to refuse it.

Some companies will continue to pay you a salary while you take time to do military stuff. This "double dipping" can mean you collect both military and civilian pay for a bit, it's a sweet deal if your company does it.

Overall, if you're in IT for money/retirement the guard is NOT worth it in my opinion. The retirement program sucks. If you're in it for an experience, think about what you really want that experience to be. The bnormal guard life is very boring (one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year) where you do the same stuff over and over again. But there are some really cool state missions and humanitarian aid that pops up.

It's like any other job. Sometimes it's awesome. Sometimes it sucks. It will put some extra money in your pocket every month and give you a few cool stories you can tell later on in life. That comes with the cost of a contract, possible deployment, and possibly your life.

Post: #15

I have thought a lot about doing it but realistically I just want to do the same job I have now but for the national guard (Lineman). My brother in law has been in for going on like 7 years now. As stated above the health insurance benefits are the best part of the gig.

Post: #16

(12-24-2017 09:54 AM)Atomic Wrote:  

(01-05-2015 09:24 AM)lskdfjldsf Wrote:  4 years in, 11bangbang. National Guard = ate up pogues who wear cologne and hair gel with their ACU's. For the most part, poor leadership, poor equipment, and shit QRF jobs while on deployment. The former Actives do a good job shaping up the units - be a sponge near those guys, soak up as much knowledge, training, and experience as possible, because it's probably all you'll get.

If you're looking to repay student loans, it's a good option (usually it's a 6-year contract attached, though). If you're after a legit military experience, probably not your thing.

Feel free to PM for more details.

Yes you can hold a white collar civilian job and be in the guard. Most companies are very supportive and understanding. You mostly only miss two weeks a year from your job due to military stuff anyways. When it comes to state emergencies, I've never heard of a single company give a soldier problems about being called up to help. If your unit asks you for more of your personal time, say a two week school, you almost always have the right to refuse it.

Some companies will continue to pay you a salary while you take time to do military stuff. This "double dipping" can mean you collect both military and civilian pay for a bit, it's a sweet deal if your company does it.

Overall, if you're in IT for money/retirement the guard is NOT worth it in my opinion. The retirement program sucks. If you're in it for an experience, think about what you really want that experience to be. The bnormal guard life is very boring (one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year) where you do the same stuff over and over again. But there are some really cool state missions and humanitarian aid that pops up.

Thanks a lot. This is the exact sort of advice I was looking for/

I work for a big consultancy company where it's not atypical for someone to be "on the bench" (not being currently allocated to a client site) between assignments so I was thinking about if I could somehow time basic training during a period of time between assignments.

I can honestly say my motivation for joining up isn't for the $$$ or benefits. The company I work for already takes care of a lot of that stuff so my main motivation is for a sense of purpose (such as being to contribute to missions such as assisting in national disasters) and also just the idea of being a citizen soldier, kinda like a modern version of a colonial minuteman.

Post: #17

Former member of the Army National Guard here, (Now Regular/Active Army).

To add to atomics reply, you will have an initial period of active duty irregardless in the guard, realistically at-least 5 months, consisting of your basic/ait/BOLC. Some states deploy more than others, my states drills were 3 day (Fri, Sat and Sun) and sometimes 4 day drills. (referred to as MUTA 6's or MUTA 8's) sometimes there will be more than one AT or Annual Training period required, I have seen some as long as 6 weeks.

Regardless of the protections afforded by the SCRA and USERRA, employers will, and have, refused to hire, and fired with prejudice, our reservists and guardsmen, however on the other hand there are a lot of good job opportunities only available to members of the Reserve component, and some employers look at it as a bonus.

Everything else appears to have been covered. Best of luck. (I also recommend choosing an MOS that translates directly to a civilian skill, all of my MOS's are combat arms, which for the most part do not.)