Do you lose rank going from Active to National Guard?

2015-11-09T07:54:34-05:00

I am an E-5, I was active duty for about 5 years before I joined NG. I was promoted to E-5 in the NG. I went to WLC(now BLC) on active duty in May 2010. Will I keep my rank as an E-5 or will they try to take me down 1?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 8:00 AM

2015-11-09T08:00:50-05:00

There's a typo in my question. The second (to) is supposed to be from.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 8:12 AM

2015-11-09T08:12:27-05:00

Depends. Some States will take you as an E5 some won't. I can only speak from my part of the world, and we don't accept NCO's from AD. Reason being is we are full strength on NCO's, and if I accepted a NCO he would be excess/over grade . Current policy is you sit excess for 1 yr you get reduced.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 8:42 AM

2015-11-09T08:42:14-05:00

Consider the Army Reserve. We are trying to keep/recruit all we can get.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 9:15 AM

2015-11-09T09:15:16-05:00

Not usually, but the unit has some say. The rank is earned, so it comes down to whether you are qualified in an MOS in the unit of assignment and sometimes relative strength. The various states have different rules as well. It is not a fait accompli, so make sure that you make it clear to the recruiter/ career counselor that retaining your rank is important and that is something he discusses with the potential gaining unit prior to assignment.
Breaks in service matter too.
I have drafted many a memo to support retaining rank when gaining Soldiers via transfer when there was question about it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 9:49 AM

2015-11-09T09:49:10-05:00

you better keep it, it you were going from guard to active then the situation might be different.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 5:46 AM

2015-11-10T05:46:04-05:00

I was an E-5 on Active Duty, had a 19 year break in service, then came into the KY National Guard with the same rank. Have now made E-7 and it was a great move for me. Depends on the State and Unit.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 7:09 AM

2015-11-10T07:09:23-05:00

Biggest factor I can think of if your incoming unit has a slot available

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 10:44 AM

2015-11-10T10:44:54-05:00

Case by case basis. Factors include whether there is a vacant slot, time between transition and if the active duty commander has faith in your standing. Junior NCO's might have a chance, but if that commander already had a promotion planned for a soldier already in the unit... doubt he/she will want an outsider stirring the coop,

Response by SPC Dave Elzinga made Nov 10 at 2015 2:52 PM

2015-11-10T14:52:27-05:00

You will keep your rank

Response by SFC David Kauppi made Nov 10 at 2015 6:53 PM

2015-11-10T18:53:59-05:00

Call a National Guard unit to see if they have an E-5 slot available. Get the para/ln and have it put on the enlistment contract.

Response by SFC David Kauppi made Nov 10 at 2015 6:56 PM

2015-11-10T18:56:42-05:00

Call a National Guard unit that has your specialty and see if they have an E-5 slot available. Sweet- talk the Ops NCO and get a para/ln and have it put on your enlistment contract.

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made Nov 11 at 2015 12:47 AM

2015-11-11T00:47:00-05:00

The answer is "No, you shouldn't" but the NG is strange. Be all you can be and join the Army Reserve! All joking aside, you at least need an E5/E6 slot or a unit willing to retrain you. Probably 10 other solutions as well.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2015 8:10 AM

2015-11-11T08:10:24-05:00

No you can be accepted as an NCO. Some states are hurting for strength and if the EPS list is exhausted you can be recruited into an E5 billet.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2015 6:28 PM

2015-11-11T18:28:18-05:00

I didn't lose my rank, but as pointed out by others, the unit had an open E-5 slot (well every slot is E-5 at minimum) and I had the AFSC that I was entering. Personally in 24 years I have not witnessed someone losing rank upon entering the Guard, but doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

Response by SGT Dan Knispel made Nov 11 at 2015 9:15 PM

2015-11-11T21:15:16-05:00

It was a long time ago for me but when I went into the Guard I was already E5 and kept the rank.

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2015 11:15 AM

2015-11-16T11:15:43-05:00

If they don't have a slot you will be an E4. It is a disgusting SLOT system. One of my buddies was an E5 in the marines and is now an E3 because he didn't appreciate the disrespect and got a little too vocal about it. You remember the feeling of being E4 then the smooth transition to E5. Going the opposite way is demoralizing and unless you get it in writing you wont be carried over.

Response by 1SG Tom Ahearn made Nov 18 at 2015 10:12 PM

2015-11-18T22:12:07-05:00

Main factors are your current MOS, where you will live (how far you will travel for drill), willingness to reclass. In small states #2 is not as much a factor but in Texas or California it is.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 6:34 AM

2015-11-23T06:34:24-05:00

If you already earned the rank and have no break in service you should keep it. An E5 can sit in an E4 slot or an E6 slot so slotting shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Response by SFC Carlos Gamino made Nov 23 at 2015 3:50 PM

2015-11-23T15:50:22-05:00

soup!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 10:00 AM

2015-11-24T10:00:41-05:00

My unit has accepted AD SGTs and allowed them to keep their rank. As others have said though - it depends on if there is a slot available. Depending on the situation though and how badly the unit needs people they could always double slot. The best bet is finding a contact at the unit - preferably the Retention NCO.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 10:02 AM

2015-11-24T10:02:17-05:00

I know that it depends on the state, your MOS, and what slots they have available. Usually they'll let you know before you make up your mind what's available and if you will or will not have to take a reduction prior to you signing anything.

Response by 1SG David Niles made Dec 4 at 2015 10:44 PM

2015-12-04T22:44:30-05:00

Short answer is no but you need to make sure you are enlisting into a sgt billet if not you could be reduced. NG is about billets and if they don't have an open billet in your most you may have to recasts. If you have to ensure it is an most with promotion opertunity

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 2:29 PM

2016-02-19T14:29:00-05:00

SGT,
There is a high probability of you staying an E-5. The Guard/Reserves will more than likely slot you into a unit with an open E-5 slot, or double slot you as excess into an existing E-5 slot. They don't usually demote E-5s coming off active duty. E-6 and E-7s have been known to be reduced depending on the circumstances of the position they are trying to fill. But I would be completely surprised if you were told you would be demoted. Good luck to you.
-MSG Reeve

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Aug 24 at 2020 10:44 AM

2020-08-24T10:44:57-04:00

Generally speaking, it depends on the slot you are going to. I spent 24 years in the Guard between 4 states, and never heard of an NCO losing rank to come into the Guard from AD. If you are changing MOS's that may complicate things. If you are going straight into the unit in the same MOS, you may be over slotted. Things I have seen: if the unit gets restructured and losses the MOS in question, you may be given the choice of reclassifying, finding another unit, or accepting a reduction after a given time period if you choose to stay in the unit.