12b to 11b and RA to NG. What to expect?

2021-01-20T13:44:17-05:00

Thinking about transitioning from Active Duty to National Guard. Any insight on what to expect? I plan on going 11B in the guard. I am currently a 12B. ?

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jan 20 at 2021 6:52 PM

2021-01-20T18:52:16-05:00

So with NG your days usually are better planned out than an RA unit since you have fewer of them to train with and your unit cadre plans them out while your at home and off duty. There are still times in the NG when you have nothing to do but much more rare as compared with Active Duty. The discipline is more layed back because it is NG, part time civilian and retention of people is more of a concern. PT you have to do on your own and stay motivated to do on your own or you will start to fail the APFT. The younger you are the easier it is to stay in standard. I didn't have any issues the two years I was in but that was after Infantry OSUT. The older folks, OMG. I had a lot of fun the pros of it are you get to maintain a link with other Veterans and the Army. The CONS of it are they slide those NG drill dates all over the Calendar including flipping the date around like a week before scheduled and it just wreaks havoc with any personal life you have sometimes. Way back when I was NG I had to reschedule college exams, miss Family Reunions, miss some Birthday parties, etc, etc. Also, being an NCO after you arrive, make sure your put on the Unit Manning Roster by the Unit Admin. Just keep checking with him. One of the worst NG F ups is to forget to put a new troop on the Unit Manning Roster and then have to tell them months and months later that now the unit is overmanned and they need to go find a new unit. NG is notorious for that.

Response by SPC Kenneth Harris made Jan 20 at 2021 6:52 PM

2021-01-20T18:52:31-05:00

We had guys who were 12B in my mech infantry NG unit. I reclassed to 11B myself. The PA Guard had (probably still has) an 11B school RTI at Ft Indiantown Gap that was surprisingly well run. Your unit should be happy to get someone with extra demo and MOUT training. Definitely keep up on your PT. It's easy to blow it off and considering how often NG units get sent downrange, it's even more critical to take PT seriously. Good luck.

Response by SFC Mark Klaers made Jan 25 at 2021 6:08 AM

2021-01-25T06:08:56-05:00

Like everything in the military, you out of it what you put into it. The Guard, like active duty, is a mixed bag. I came out of the finest National Guard organization in the country. The 124th Infantry was not only the best reserve unit, it was superior to many AD units. As I got older, I transferred to an Air Defense unit that was tied into an Active Duty unit in Fort Bliss. You want to talk about culture shock! In six months, the Guard personnel held every key position within that unit, with myself serving as the post taskings NCO as a Staff Sergeant(a Sergeant Major position).

If you're high speed, you'll make those around you the same. Spend a drill with different units before you sign and see which one fits you best. Talk to recruiter in the state you're considering and press him for an honest answer. He'll be receptive, I'm sure. And once in, it's not hard to move if you see something that's better for you. The most important thing is to keep your retirement alive.

Response by PVT Rocky Susshine made Jan 25 at 2021 8:02 AM

2021-01-25T08:02:42-05:00

In Nam my MOS didn't hold water. 11C. Motors. First assignment in Nam was the 60 Cal. 3 months of that . The best thing carrying the 60 was. Not being assigned point. I conceder myself lucky. I was assigned to the 9th Division. They were their in country 9 months before I was assigned to 3/60. Charlie Company. Infantry. I got to learn from their experience. Myself after being in country 3 months Most of the original company was rotated back, Or killed or wounded . Never had a full platoon. I being a 1/2 country and city boy. I got lucky again and was transferred again to the 5/60 Mach. After calling in Artillery and Air strikes. I picked up fast on reading VC Booby Traps. Thats except for the one that jumped up and bit my ass. Best thing I can say is. No one was killed on my watch. Just learn all you can. You will Neve know when you need to call on experience.
P.S. Keep a medic bag close.