Active Duty to AGR: how does it work and is it worth it?

2015-07-03T11:52:18-04:00

I've been in for a good while now, but I've been planning to get out on my ETS next year for various reasons. Primarily, my wife has a very high-paying job and it's enough that I can afford to do something I truly wanted to do. I don't entirely dislike Army life, and I love training and mentoring Soldiers (yes, that's for real. I'm not just saying that to make myself sound good) but I can feel it's time for a change.

My parents have really been griping that I need to plan for the future and not give up on retirement. But another decade of being active duty Infantry isn't as palatable to me as they seem to think. Regardless, it did put a germ of an idea into my head. I started considering National Guard (to keep my MOS) or Reserve (would have to change MOS) but it would take me many additional years to qualify for retirement. So after reading many threads on here, talking to my uncle and few others, I started looking into AGR.

Sadly, most of the info available is from Recruiters or people who put a nice shine on things. So I want some straight talk from people who have been or are there currently. How hard was it to get into AGR? How long were you in the Reserves before you applied? For those who were previously active duty: did you have to change your MOS? Was it worth it? How hard is it to get a duty station that you like?

I'm well aware of most of the common AGR tropes e.g. take whatever your first assignment offered is, despite how crappy the duty station is and whatnot. Thanks in advance for everyone's help/input.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jul 3 at 2015 12:00 PM

2015-07-03T12:00:43-04:00

I can tell you that in my State, it is almost impossible to come in as a new AGR due to budget cuts. The State is reducing its AGR slots and is doing it by attrition (people retire and their slots don't get back filled). Due to the current trend in downsizing, I imagine this may be true in many States.

That said, I would question the whole idea of going from active duty for AGR because you don't enjoy active duty as much any more, as you would be doing very similar jobs. Among the main benefits of being in AGR is that you can be geographically stable and you can can be in a geographic location that active duty isn't compatible with.

Therefore, a couple of things to think about:
1) Consider joining the National Guard or Reserves in whatever MOS you think you would enjoy the most, and do it in a part time capacity. Once in the service, you can learn more about AGR positions and perhaps apply to one down the road.
2) Explore careers outside the military, so you can make the best decision. The military is hardly the only path to a stable financial life. 99% of the population has relied on something else.
3) How about using your GI Bill benefits to back to school, while serving in the Guard or Reserves part time? By the time you finish school, you'll have more options on the private sector side, while also much more competitive for an AGR slot if your'e still looking for one?

Just some ideas.

Response by MAJ Monique Ruiz made Jul 3 at 2015 1:17 PM

2015-07-03T13:17:17-04:00

Expect it to take years to show your potential and network. Being prior service active duty will not have any weight. You'll definitely need a backup plan in case it doesn't work out.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2015 1:29 PM

2015-07-03T13:29:24-04:00

AGR is essentially still active duty you are just working at the state level now instead of federal. Often times these positions are supply, training NCO and readiness NCO. They are the glue that holds a unit together. They work the hardest and are the least thanked for it. They will inevitably drop things which will upset soldiers. It's a very had, long and thankless job. If you're looking for a change of pace is suggest getting your toes wet.

If you're more focused on your retirement points then I'd suggest simply reclassing at the active duty level.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2015 1:42 PM

2015-07-03T13:42:13-04:00

It varies state to state. I have seen officers and enlisted come straight off of AD into the AGR system. Currently, Oregon is having difficulty obtaining a sufficiently QUALIFIED pool of applicants to fill its' AGR vacancies. That being said, like LTC Yinon Weiss mentioned, the NG is reducing its' workforce and downgrading positions by pay grade to save money.

The main thing I would caution you on is this. Your comments sounds as if you are pretty much burned out on the 24/7 military lifestyle. I will tell that in this time of doing more with less, the AGR staff works their butts off. Also, you mentioned something about not getting to pick your position. This can be true as the most valuable AGRs are the ones that have rotated through Supply, Training, Admin & Readiness positions (at the company level the Readiness NCO is typically the senior and/or E-7).

Promotions beyond E-7 are immensely competitive and the slots keep getting reduced. You should weigh your expectations against reality before making the commitment. You also mentioned your pride...many times the route into the AGR system requires an admin reduction (my old 1SG did this and is currently up for E-9...so a short term set back to set up long term success). As you weigh all of your options, there is one more. In addition to the AGR program, there is also the Federal Technician program.

Weigh the pros and cons carefully, not only for your sake but also for those you would be serving.

Response by SFC Daniel Faires made Jul 3 at 2015 2:19 PM

2015-07-03T14:19:23-04:00

SSG Belet
Great question although along with everyone's comments which I agree with, not one comment has been off base, I have one question for you ?
Have you read a job announcement for what a Readiness NCO, Training NCO or a Supply SGT does ?

If you need help getting job announcements I will be glad to assist you.
If you are under any misconception that an AGR position is way easier than active duty you are definetly not informed about what we do.

I would suggest looking into the requirements for the position.

Good luck in any direction you end up going.

Again if you need advice or just have questions about what The full time staff do, feel free to contact me

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2015 5:21 PM

2015-07-03T17:21:36-04:00

As a Reserves AGR you will PCS every 3 to 5 years like the Active Component. I will assume that's something that you are trying to avoid due to your wife's job. Also, because of your MOS as a Reserve AGR your only options will be Recruiter or Career Counselor. I think the best option will be trying for the NG side of the house.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2015 5:40 PM

2015-07-03T17:40:28-04:00

I will say it can be done but it is extremely rare. I would look to ask an AGR soldier in your state about the chances. It really does vary by state. In my state we have a ABCT. So we only have 4 infantry companies. That is not many AGR slots for those units. I know infantry nco that are AGR in other units but that is very rare again. In some states they don't even have any Infantry units.

In addition to this the leadership picking the soldiers for any AGR may already have a soldier in mind that is already in the NG with a great performance record. You would have to compete against that. There is also Active Duty Special Work, ADSW. It is a type of active duty that is not AGR. I did that for about two years when I was enlisted in the NG. Now as an officer it is even harder to come by. But I wouldn't plan on it. There are also Federal Technicians. It is a type of Federal Employee in the National Guard. You wear a uniform and usually your rank will line up with your position but you are not active duty. You could also look into that once you are in the National Guard.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 3 at 2015 5:44 PM

2015-07-03T17:44:00-04:00

I have seen where AGR drove 100 miles a day due to moving to a new unit for promotion.

Response by SSgt Charles Edwards made Jul 3 at 2015 7:11 PM

2015-07-03T19:11:05-04:00

I tried the USAF reserves after I separated from active duty. Unfortunately, it didn't take. I really couldn't get into it. Additionally, it created problems at home. I would go on a rant, but I'll refrain from doing so. Ultimately, it comes down to you and what your expectations are. Your AD time will get you to retirement quicker than others in the AGR, plus you'll have that experience of knowing what it's like to wear the uniform full time. I wish you the best of luck.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2015 2:33 AM

2015-07-04T02:33:00-04:00

Everyone makes outstanding points. I am extremely interested in AGR myself and have done alot of research. As most people said above, if hired your gonna be either a training NCO or a readiness NCO. Supply is usually ate up by a 92 Mos series. I have been told it's extremely rare to come off active duty and straight onto an AGR slot, also guard I hear that it's tough to get a slot if your not already a member of that states national guard throughtransfer in as they are more likely to give it to some already in state. In the research I have obtained on it most people join the guard and do an outstanding job in their normal deilling duties, get recognized and thus have the inside track since the battalion commander is already up to speed on their work ethic. Like some above mentioned, active reserve is so similar to active duty that you could be stationed in Japan. Have a friend thar is an LT and her father is a COL and been sent everywhere in his 15 plus year active reserve time from Japan to DC. I think you would just benifit more changing MOS on active than to go through the hassle of changing into reserve and MOS anyway. As far as guard they don't really pcs. Most AGR guard personnel are located at the states main headquarters and training site while recruiting positions and training and readiness positions are scattered about the state. I wish you luck on your endeavors and the last bit of advice I could offer is if you switch to guard, do so in a state like LA, NC or TX that are larger organizations for best opportunity. Also there are a few states thay offer tuition waiver and full coverage for college which can allow you to save your GI bill for a master's degree. Some states will even cover your master's if you apply. Options are there.

Response by MSG Robert Baker made Jul 10 at 2015 1:31 PM

2015-07-10T13:31:19-04:00

Simple, Get off active duty, join the Guard, apply for open AGR positions. Each state has a public website that lists career oppertunities. Both recognition and AGR. Be advised, competition is tougher than most prior service expect.

Response by Cpl Mark McMiller made Aug 18 at 2015 3:30 AM

2015-08-18T03:30:59-04:00

After I got out of the Marines in 1984, I joined the National Guard in order to get a civil service job. After about a year in the civil service job, I applied for and was selected for a AGR position at the National Guard armory in the city I lived in. It probably helped that the sergeant major I carpooled with every day at my civil service job was the son of the custodian of the local armory , who was also a retired sergeant major of the field artillery battery that occupied that armory. It was a pretty good life and a lot of responsibility being a AGR. In my battery, there were four of us: The unit administrator, the unit supply sergeant, the armorer, and me. We all watched out for each other and we were pretty much left alone to run the battery since all of the officers were weekend warriors. And we were pretty close-knit with all of the other AGR's in the battalion; lots of beer and Santa Maria BBQ parties. However, that was back during the cold war when there really was no fighting going on. I have no clue what it would be like to be a AGR today.

Response by SSG Julius H. made Mar 8 at 2017 8:06 PM

2017-03-08T20:06:42-05:00

I'm currently on my 2nd AGR tour, 25U30 BN S6. I'm the only S6 soldier (small BN) For the record, YES you can be NG and be chosen for a Reserve AGR slot (I did) I was Texas Guard and applied for AGR on HRC website and was picked up for a Reserve AGR slot 25U20 in Hawaii. AGR personel are the full time staff who run a reserve or Guard unit mon-fri. If you are completely out of the service you will have to join either the guard or Reserve prior to applying. The difference between (AGR Guard) and (AGR Reserve) is with the Guard AGRs they typically remain in the respective state for which they joined the Guard. Reserve AGR can be PCSd anywhere including Guam, Hawaii etc. Any questions fill free to email me sgtjulles007@gmail good luck.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2017 11:35 AM

2017-09-30T11:35:51-04:00

what happened if you decide agr is not for you do you completely out of the army or can I go back to tpu?

Response by CW3 Robert Haffly made Jun 27 at 2018 12:38 PM

2018-06-27T12:38:20-04:00

I went from Active Army to the IRR to AGR in less than 3 months. AGR (I was in the Army Reserve, not National Guard) was better in many, many ways. Primary reason is that your tours of duty were more stable and overseas assignments few and far between, if ever. I spent 8 years in the Active Army and was in 8 different locations. I spent 12 years in AGR and had 3 assignments before retiring. But don't think politics doesn't still enter into the equation. Although not as intense as the National Guard, the good ol" boy system was still strong and steady in the Army Reserve as well while I was in. One reason I retired on the first day of the first month I was eligible.