Posted on May 18, 2015
ARNG vs. Reserves: which is a better component?
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I have a little over a year left in the ARNG and I am considering the Reserves as an option before I sign the dotted line for re-up. I'm currently a 92F and I'm looking to reclass to either a 35 series or 38B. In your opinion, which is a better component to serve in for these MOSs and overall? Why?
Posted in these groups: 
Reserves
Reserves
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 13
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"Better" doesn't seem the appropriate word here. They're just different. I try and avoid the artificial animosity that develops between components whenever possible.
First, and perhaps most important, the Guard has pretty much all the Combat Arms branches, while the Reserve has most of the Combat Support and Combat Service Support branches. Since you are in one of those logistical job fields, there will simply be more opportunities available on the Reserve side. (Edit: AOC 35 [Mil Intel] and 38 [Civ Affairs] have more of a Reserve presence as well.)
Second, the Guard can be called up by the state, while the Reserve cannot. Conversely, the Reserve can mobilize and deploy an individual easily while the Guard can only federalize the Guard at the unit level or through volunteers.
Third, while people will point to differences in support and training funds, this differs heavily by state (for guard) or by upper-echelon command (for Reserve) so you can't generalize that as well as many would like.
Fourth, if you're looking at funding for school, and plan to use Tuition Assistance (especially now that it cannot be combined with VA assistance such as the GI Bill) the states do often offer separate TA (which can sometimes be combined with other funding) and the Reserve is notoriously stingy with theirs.
First, and perhaps most important, the Guard has pretty much all the Combat Arms branches, while the Reserve has most of the Combat Support and Combat Service Support branches. Since you are in one of those logistical job fields, there will simply be more opportunities available on the Reserve side. (Edit: AOC 35 [Mil Intel] and 38 [Civ Affairs] have more of a Reserve presence as well.)
Second, the Guard can be called up by the state, while the Reserve cannot. Conversely, the Reserve can mobilize and deploy an individual easily while the Guard can only federalize the Guard at the unit level or through volunteers.
Third, while people will point to differences in support and training funds, this differs heavily by state (for guard) or by upper-echelon command (for Reserve) so you can't generalize that as well as many would like.
Fourth, if you're looking at funding for school, and plan to use Tuition Assistance (especially now that it cannot be combined with VA assistance such as the GI Bill) the states do often offer separate TA (which can sometimes be combined with other funding) and the Reserve is notoriously stingy with theirs.
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I don't think anybody else has touched on it but when you are with a Guard unit and become promotable, you are competing for slots only available in the state you drill in. In the Reserves, you compete against the entire Army Reserves for slots in your MOS. In the lower ranks, this may not be an issue but as you promote higher in the Guard, you may actually have to wait for a Soldier to either retire or die before you can be promoted, even if you are the best out there and guaranteed the next open position. This can bog down a career.
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1SG Michael Blount
MAJ (Join to see) - I've found the old-boy network has a way of deluding itself into thinking it's combat ready. Usually, they're not even close.
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MAJ (Join to see)
1SG Michael Blount I thought about the Good ole' Boy Club but didn't want to muddle up the discussion to bad. The club runs rampant throughout the Guard and I have known officers that could not get promoted past O-2 or O-3 because there was not slots open or because they were not liked as well as some of their peers.
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1SG Michael Blount
@CPT Ryan Hignight - same thing happens on the SNCO side, too, sir. I was in the CTARNG for six years and saw the same saggy wide bodies preaching the virtues of physical fitness etc to BNCOC and ANCOC students while they were busy promoting their buddies. When I had enough of that nonsense, I decided to go to the Dark Side and become a DS. One of the best decisions I ever made. I didn't know it at the time, but that move kick started the hell out of my career.
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1SG Michael Blount
@Capt Ryan Hignight - IMHO, sir, the good ol' boy system takes advantage of an already geographically-constricted area of operations, by either playing musical chairs OR promoting their pals. That mentality is at the heart of why the ARNG isn't all it could be.
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I think that from what I have seen the ARNG is the better choice generally.
There are more MOS to choose from. At least in the State of CA there is more fiscal support (although across the board everybody is poor these days).
The benefits are the kicker.... At least in CA you get the federal student financial aid and state educational benefits.
Also for me there is the fact that we are state troops, under U.S. Code title 32, and therefore the mission is often targeted at the community (DSCA/MSCA).
Just my $0.02 worth.... I'm happy where I'm at. Hope it helps.
There are more MOS to choose from. At least in the State of CA there is more fiscal support (although across the board everybody is poor these days).
The benefits are the kicker.... At least in CA you get the federal student financial aid and state educational benefits.
Also for me there is the fact that we are state troops, under U.S. Code title 32, and therefore the mission is often targeted at the community (DSCA/MSCA).
Just my $0.02 worth.... I'm happy where I'm at. Hope it helps.
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LTC (Join to see)
My experience has been through the ARNG in Ohio and Florida. I would start of with Travel to you unit. For the most part you will be traveling within your state and not throughout the country just to conduct a drill. That said we do have Soldiers traveling 300 Miles to drill and further, but typically because they have moved. The old State vs. Federal mission has pretty much blended and isn't a big difference right now, although it may change again as deployments slow down. There seems to be a lot more opportunity for other positions and promotions, although there isn't a lot of money on either side right now. Tuition assistance was one thing that brought me to the Guard initially, that and I had a unit very close to home after being away on Active Duty for four years prior to that.
Again my experience is only in The Guard and Active Duty, but I have been satisfied with my experience in the Good Old Army National Guard. The one thing I will tell you is that someone who transfers from Active Duty will have to keep reminded themselves it will be much different then Active Duty and remain patient with this change. It was very hard for me at first, but you will adjust.
Again my experience is only in The Guard and Active Duty, but I have been satisfied with my experience in the Good Old Army National Guard. The one thing I will tell you is that someone who transfers from Active Duty will have to keep reminded themselves it will be much different then Active Duty and remain patient with this change. It was very hard for me at first, but you will adjust.
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