Posted on May 16, 2022
Has anyone switched from Medical Service to 38A/38G? How were your experiences?
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I am a 72D. After 6 years in a NG Med Det I decided to move on and I will be transferring to a CA unit. It is something I have wanted to do for a while. What can I expect as far as differences from Medical to CA. I have also been debating trying to transition to 38A/G. If anyone else has done so I would be interested to hear about your experiences. Thanks
Posted in these groups: 
Civil Affairs
Transfer
38A: Civil Affairs Officer38G: Government Functional Specialist
Civil Affairs Transfer 38A: Civil Affairs Officer38G: Government Functional Specialist
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 3
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CPT Kupina, I expect you will find the transition to Civil Affairs an exciting one. At drills (or "Battle Assemblies") you will generally find initially that you are sought out as a subject matter expert rather than the emphasis on managing a detachment. On a CA Tactical Team as an Environmental Science & Engineering team member, your drill weekend may involve doing assessments of local town facilities to learn how they operate and manage water supplies or other environmental services. At the Brigade and Command levels, you may prepare staff planning for those efforts at a larger level, or conduct facility reconnaissance and discussion with city leaders about how to help stand up governmental services at a macro level. Of course, you will also have weekends filled with weapons qualification, ACFT, tactical vehicle & dismounted movement, and the various unit required training. It often takes months to schedule the 38A or 38G courses, so you'll have plenty of time to "test the waters" and see if CA is for you.
My recommendation for a Captain is to go 38A if you like CA. 38G is designed for subject matter experts, often senior Majors or LTCs who have topped out in their original career field due to geography - not everyone can afford the time or money to travel several states for a new senior assignment, and not every State Guard has units in all specialties. As a 38A, you'll have opportunities for command assignments that the 38G program is not designed to accommodate.
Although the operational tempo has reduced as the twin wars have wound down, there are still more opportunities for overseas training in CA than in most Reserve or Guard units. 351st Civil Affairs Command ("CACOM" in CA parlance) is based in Mountain View, CA, just south of San Francisco in Silicon Valley, but conducts a variety of Pacific operations in Hawaii and especially South Korea. BG(Ret.) Glenn Goddard is a great resource on this, since he served for many years in 351. Best of luck! BG(Ret.) Ed Burley
My recommendation for a Captain is to go 38A if you like CA. 38G is designed for subject matter experts, often senior Majors or LTCs who have topped out in their original career field due to geography - not everyone can afford the time or money to travel several states for a new senior assignment, and not every State Guard has units in all specialties. As a 38A, you'll have opportunities for command assignments that the 38G program is not designed to accommodate.
Although the operational tempo has reduced as the twin wars have wound down, there are still more opportunities for overseas training in CA than in most Reserve or Guard units. 351st Civil Affairs Command ("CACOM" in CA parlance) is based in Mountain View, CA, just south of San Francisco in Silicon Valley, but conducts a variety of Pacific operations in Hawaii and especially South Korea. BG(Ret.) Glenn Goddard is a great resource on this, since he served for many years in 351. Best of luck! BG(Ret.) Ed Burley
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CPT (Join to see)
Thank you Sir. This is some great information. I have made contact with a few members of the unit including the Public Health functional speciality group. I have 16 years of professional experience including the COVID support mission in uniform. My next career goal is a deployment and I would very much like for it to be with CA. The Guard was good for a while, but it was like being in a clinic, not much to do. I look forward to sharpening my soldier skills.
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SGT Dillon Ford
Thank you for that post sir,
I am prior service (enlisted 75th Ranger Regiment and recently discharged from the National Guard), and I have recently discovered the 38G direct commission program available to individuals like me.
You mentioned in your post that the 38G role was generally one for senior Majors rather than newer captains.
I have 8 years in the technology development industry, an MBA, and multiple product development certifications. Would that qualify as subject matter expertise, or would they be looking for LTC level experience?
I am prior service (enlisted 75th Ranger Regiment and recently discharged from the National Guard), and I have recently discovered the 38G direct commission program available to individuals like me.
You mentioned in your post that the 38G role was generally one for senior Majors rather than newer captains.
I have 8 years in the technology development industry, an MBA, and multiple product development certifications. Would that qualify as subject matter expertise, or would they be looking for LTC level experience?
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I can't personally help but it may be worth reaching out to BG (Join to see) or BG Edward Burley. They've always been willing to help people with similar questions about CA in the past.
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I'm interested in this as well, and have been keeping an eye out for the MilPer's. I can literally ride a bicycled to the 351's which has 4 vacancies (but they are LTC slots) in what I think is a good civilian career match for me (Commerce and Economics).
Command time of a QM company and CCC is done. But I suspect now that I've gone from 92A to 90A that LG will hang onto me for a few years.
So my question is do I make such a move now, or wait to knock out ILE when I pick up MAJ?
Command time of a QM company and CCC is done. But I suspect now that I've gone from 92A to 90A that LG will hang onto me for a few years.
So my question is do I make such a move now, or wait to knock out ILE when I pick up MAJ?
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BG Edward Burley
First note: the most important thing in the Reserves and Guard is education. You can be promoted without a command or a key job if you have the requisite schools, but you can't be promoted if you don't meet the minimum education requirements.
That said, moving earlier is better if you're moving to CA. As a Captain, you may get team time, but more importantly you'll become well-known in the command. Since company command is not conducted by boards in most Reserve and Guard units (although I required it), you'll need to be circulating in order to be picked up for a CA Company slot, which is commanded by a Major. That will put you in line for battalion command. Just my two cents!
That said, moving earlier is better if you're moving to CA. As a Captain, you may get team time, but more importantly you'll become well-known in the command. Since company command is not conducted by boards in most Reserve and Guard units (although I required it), you'll need to be circulating in order to be picked up for a CA Company slot, which is commanded by a Major. That will put you in line for battalion command. Just my two cents!
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BG (Join to see)
Let me add on to what my good friend Ed relates. Did you know that 351 CACOM is co-located with the 445th CA Bn.? I commanded the 445th and that is probably a better place for a CPT. As a 90A, you can get assigned to the S-4 job - they can double up in that position and often do while prepping you to go to the CA course. Join the 445th as the S-4, work on going to CAQC as a CPT (they generally want you to go as a CPT not as a MAJ) and then you can command a team or company in the battalion. Once you make mid-grade as a MAJ, then move up to 351.
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CPT (Join to see)
BG (Join to see) - Thank you Sir. These are the things that are not disclosed in the MilPers
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