Contemplating guard or reserves after ETSing in December. Any advice?

Unless something changed, the CO ARNG only has M109 Paladins. Just a side note from Uncle Mark.

Don’t. But seriously those are two different animals. They both come with their BS. The guard has to deal with both state and federal issues. I’ve seen some really good NG units. But there’s also some really crappy NG units. Good luck on finding a good one. But I’d go NG over reserves.

Your choice of Army Reserve is very admirable and recommended. Normally higher ranking enlisted and cadre type are in the Army Reserve whereas Combat Arms Soldiers and lowers ranks are predominant in the Army Guard. Recommend you seek out information by speaking to your major command’s Retention NCO!! Hooah?? And yes, you can retire from the Army Reserve with great benefits that you will have for the rest of your life. Seek out MSG Barnes at Fort Carson and let him do his job.

I did it. Guard has been good to me. The Guard is starting to try and compete with AC right now so you still might get some good opportunities like schools and promotions.

I recommend examining which MOS has promotional opportunities when you choose either reserves or national guard. The national guard uses a unique promotion system which is based off vacant slots and competition against peers. There is no magic cutoff score in the national guard. National guard perform homeland response missions which give guardsman additional skills working joint interagency operations. Either way, guard or reserves, I encourage you to stay in until retirement.

SGT Hill,
If you are going to go to school after the military. May I suggest looking into the Guard there are a few benefits that the guard has over the reserve as well as a few disadvantages. Most states but not all offer tuition exemption if you are a member of the guard due to the fact for the majority of the time you are a "state employee". you must look into this by contacting a guard recruiter. reserves and guard both are eligible for Tricare reserve select. Insurance companys cannot compete with this. it runs around 50 or 60 for a single soldier and around 200 for a family. The only dis advantage between them is you can be called up to provide service to the state for emergencies. I am a member of the Louisiana National Guard and have been called up for 4 hurricanes. The state pay sucked but I was helping my state and received personal satisfaction that i was helping someone who cared about me instead of when i was in Iraq and they didnt give a damn about you and your battle buddies. I would look into the Guard. This is only my personal belief. Either way there are retirement benefits.

Research units in the area, both Guard and Reserve. You have the power to choose. It would be a good idea to contact the units you're interested in directly. You may even be able attend a drill with them to see if it's a unit you would like to join. And don't limit your search to just that state. You may find a unit that fits your needs in an anointing one.