Posted on Sep 9, 2015
Can a National Guard or Reserve soldier be considered a "Professional Soldier"?
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I have heard through my military service the term "professional Soldier" . If you serve 10 yrs plus in the Reserve or National Guard, or even put in the til age of 60, and retire does that give you the title of a professional soldier.
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As in profession not Professionalism.
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As in profession not Professionalism.
Military Career
Reserves
Army National Guard
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 39
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SGT Bryon Sergent I served a total of 7 years active, 20 years in the National Guard, and 10 years in the Reserves and deployed to OIF 05-07. I've completed every military educational requirement up through the Army War College and served 9 years enlisted and 28 years as a commissioned officer. I've commanded at the Company level twice, the Battalion level for 4 years with missions to South America in National building tours, and 7 years as a Brigade Commander (deploying and building a new Brigade from the ground up). I think that qualifies me as a "Professional Soldier". I believe we have a lot of Professional soldiers in the Reserves and Guard. Keep in mind this country does not go to war with out individuals from all the communities going with the Active Component. It should be "One Team, One Fight" always from here on out! Just my opinion!
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SGT Bryon Sergent
Thank you for your comment Sir. Also I like the one branch Idea. No more national Guard no more Reserve Component All are just Army!
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Certainly every National Guard or Reserve Soldier who has sworn the oath of enlistment or commissioning as a US Army is a Soldier. Every AC, RC and USNG soldier who intends to make a career in the Army is a professional soldier. For those who only serve the minimum number of years they may or may not be professional soldiers. Professional Soldiers are both proud of the Service and they represent the Service through their duty, honor, and commitment to serve.
[Update] US Air National Guard swear a similar oath and are professional airmen. For those who only serve the minimum number of years they may or may not be professional airmen. Professional airmen are both proud of the Service and they represent the Service through their duty, honor, and commitment to serve.
[Update] US Air National Guard swear a similar oath and are professional airmen. For those who only serve the minimum number of years they may or may not be professional airmen. Professional airmen are both proud of the Service and they represent the Service through their duty, honor, and commitment to serve.
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SGT (Join to see)
Track back to the 90s: The Seamless Army doctrine, disseminated through the Reserves, at least to USACAPOC units first, presumably trickling down to all levels. Train as you fight. A Reserve soldier was expected to train to level, self-development, and qualify at standards set by TRADOC. Prepared to plug in as units or specialty into active components either as a volunteer for a tasking by specialty, or under unit deployment ords. The whole concept of "weekend warrior" became obsolete - in theory. Those of us who had previously served in active components- then referred to as "regular", had an advantage, both in performance of occupational specialties and from more frequent reinforcement training compared to Reserve and Guard elements that were largely composed of personnel who had no military experience beyond initial entry, schools, drills and annual qualification training. Hence affiliation bonuses for shortage specialties and prior service, in effort to provide better quality trainers. The momentum for OPTEMPO is lost when they promote out, retire or move on. Periodic structural reorganization serves to compound chaos when a large segment of trained personnel goes away while structural and policy changes are in motion. Once you are mission first oriented in life by reflex, you really never cease to be a soldier under your skin if you developed that far, and it colors how you view things for life. You answer the calls, you stay alert.
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LTC Stephen F.
SGT (Join to see) - Thanks for providing a well thought out response. There are so many comments under my response I wasn't sure if you were responding to my original post or somebody elses.
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1SG Michael Blount
LTC Stephen F. - absolutely. Anybody who says otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about
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Yes. By definition when you graduate BCT you are a trained professional.
"I am an expert and I am a professional." - Soldier's Creed
"No one is more professional than I" - NCO Creed
"I am an expert and I am a professional." - Soldier's Creed
"No one is more professional than I" - NCO Creed
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SFC Michael Hasbun
Oh my god no! BCT makes you a minimally trained, entry level worker. There is far more to being a Professional than just wearing a uniform. Being a professional takes a lifetime, it's not something you get called just for passing an easy, entry level course. Let's not water the phrase down now...
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SGT William Howell
SFC Michael Hasbun It is all a perspective. Professional compared to what? Next to ISIS or the Iraqi Army and those Boots look like Special SEAL Recon PJs. Next to an infantry SSG in the Marines, they are probably seen as lacking.
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Short answer, yes.
Long answer, it depends on what you put into it. Just because you're active doesn't mean you're a professional Soldier. Likewise, just by being in the NG or Reserves doesn't lessen the professionalism.
I know plenty of M-day Soldiers that dedicated personal time to furthering their fitness levels, personal education, and military knowledge and seek out military education to support the unit and their career.
You get out what you put in. I feel that the time, effort, and level of dedication you put into it is what defines "Professional" or not.
Long answer, it depends on what you put into it. Just because you're active doesn't mean you're a professional Soldier. Likewise, just by being in the NG or Reserves doesn't lessen the professionalism.
I know plenty of M-day Soldiers that dedicated personal time to furthering their fitness levels, personal education, and military knowledge and seek out military education to support the unit and their career.
You get out what you put in. I feel that the time, effort, and level of dedication you put into it is what defines "Professional" or not.
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As a National Guardsman, I say yes. I put just as much time and energy into my training/education as an Active a Duty SM. I have just as much leadership ability, as well. We all wear the same uniform, and take pride in our service. We deploy alongside our Active Component brethren. We adhere to the same oaths and creeds. We are professional.
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LTC Stephen Conway
A few months back, I was in a debate on RP from an AC Officer insulting those in the RC who may be interested in going AC. I told him that some said cases we lose people in combat. I lost my first sergeant in Afghanistan from a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device where it was a closed casket ceremony period when I was with the Idaho Army National Guard in kirkuk Iraq operation Iraqi Freedom three and four I went to about a half-dozen ramp ceremonies were people were killed from improvised explosive devices or from rollover accidents. It does not matter if we are the AC or AC. We trained as Professionals. We trained up for this mission and some of us did not come back.
http://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/blue-c-rowe/
http://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/blue-c-rowe/
The Times collects the stories of California servicemembers who died during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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SGT (Join to see)
What do you think of a guardsmen that put in 15 yrs in a there him that he can be call a veteran
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It is more complicated than that listed above. I have seen career service members come to the guard after being rifted or being passed over for promotion and forced out. I have seen service members come from active duty and succeed and I also have seen them not fit in.
Some people start in the guard and then go active because they love the military life style, or stay guard and do a wonderful job as a part time soldier. Then there are those who got in and now just want to do their time and get out.
The primary thing that makes active soldiers question the RC's is that there is a different culture. Some units may not be as polished or strict with discipline as the active side, this however by no means applies to them all. Still the vast majority can get the job done and done well. The problem lies with the question; do you mean profession or professional behavior. For some the guard is a profession and they are professional, others are just doing their time. Try telling a full time police officer or fire fighter who is a stellar NCO in the guard that they are not professionals and you will not be well received.
Some people start in the guard and then go active because they love the military life style, or stay guard and do a wonderful job as a part time soldier. Then there are those who got in and now just want to do their time and get out.
The primary thing that makes active soldiers question the RC's is that there is a different culture. Some units may not be as polished or strict with discipline as the active side, this however by no means applies to them all. Still the vast majority can get the job done and done well. The problem lies with the question; do you mean profession or professional behavior. For some the guard is a profession and they are professional, others are just doing their time. Try telling a full time police officer or fire fighter who is a stellar NCO in the guard that they are not professionals and you will not be well received.
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SSG Lonny Self
I can say the Army guard is not what it was in 1992 it is way better . And by unit there are many difference's because of the place the unit is located and the civilians that maintain it as army professionals , I was in two unit's in the same state in different city's one was stellar and the other was mired in nepotism , this will happen I found with civilians or military so it is not the military or the civilians issue , it is people issue sorry but anytime you have a undefined program with no oversight it will rot ,
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SSG John Erny
SSG Lonny Self - You right, 1990 time frame I was a paratrooper with the 82nd (AIRBORNE) Desert storm was getting wound up. I had an E-5 from the North Carolina NG come to me for a requisition of equipment. When I addressed her by rank she said not my name is Sharron and that I could call her that. My entire chain of command would have come down on me like a ton of bricks had I done so, and my pride as a paratrooper as well. I explained that I could not call her by name and why. She then said we are having a party out at tent city and that I should come visit her. Well I knew what I wanted to do and what I should do were two different things. I did not go.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you! This is a great way to put it into words. I myself am a fire fighter and corrections officer and my thoughts exactly.
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SSG Lonny Self
yes this is true there is a big difference but yes a they can be career it just depends on what side the coin turns
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I have served on both sides, AD and USAR. Good and bad Soldiers on both sides. So, as long as you serve honorably and not act the fool and do stupid legal trouble stuff, then you are a Professional Soldier.
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In my opinion the term Professional Soldier refers to the folks that devote all of their time to the said profession (and accounts for a bulk of their income).
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Yes .. Absolutely, now more than ever in our history.
pro·fes·sion·al
/prəˈfeSH(ə)n(ə)l/
adjective
adjective: professional
1. of, relating to, or connected with a profession.
"young professional people"
synonyms: white-collar, nonmanual
"people in professional occupations"
antonyms: blue-collar
2. (of a person) engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime.
"a professional boxer"
synonyms: paid, salaried
"a professional rugby player"
antonyms: amateur
•having or showing the skill appropriate to a professional person; competent or skillful.
"their music is both memorable and professional"
synonyms: expert, accomplished, skillful, masterly, masterful, fine, polished, skilled, proficient, competent, able, experienced, practiced, trained, seasoned, businesslike, deft; More
informalace, crack, top-notch
"a thoroughly professional performance"
antonyms: amateurish
•worthy of or appropriate to a professional person.
"his professional expertise"
•informalderogatory
denoting a person who persistently makes a feature of a particular activity or attribute.
"a professional naysayer"
noun
noun: professional; plural noun: professionals
1. a person engaged or qualified in a profession.
"professionals such as lawyers and surveyors"
synonyms: white-collar worker, office worker
"affluent young professionals"
pro·fes·sion·al
/prəˈfeSH(ə)n(ə)l/
adjective
adjective: professional
1. of, relating to, or connected with a profession.
"young professional people"
synonyms: white-collar, nonmanual
"people in professional occupations"
antonyms: blue-collar
2. (of a person) engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime.
"a professional boxer"
synonyms: paid, salaried
"a professional rugby player"
antonyms: amateur
•having or showing the skill appropriate to a professional person; competent or skillful.
"their music is both memorable and professional"
synonyms: expert, accomplished, skillful, masterly, masterful, fine, polished, skilled, proficient, competent, able, experienced, practiced, trained, seasoned, businesslike, deft; More
informalace, crack, top-notch
"a thoroughly professional performance"
antonyms: amateurish
•worthy of or appropriate to a professional person.
"his professional expertise"
•informalderogatory
denoting a person who persistently makes a feature of a particular activity or attribute.
"a professional naysayer"
noun
noun: professional; plural noun: professionals
1. a person engaged or qualified in a profession.
"professionals such as lawyers and surveyors"
synonyms: white-collar worker, office worker
"affluent young professionals"
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