Does anyone have details on transitions from Active Duty to Guard or Reserves for KD complete Officers?

I am prior active and been Reserve since 2009. Assignments are on you to find and get accepted into. I voluntarily transferred into and out of different units. For promotion, you need to proactively seek schooling as opposed to active duty ordering you to school. You have similar zones based on time and grade with KD and schooling with good evaluations needed for consideration.

Big difference is working to have full time civilian employer accommodate time off for school without impacting job

You are your own Career Manager. As such, you should speak with an in-service recruiter about available positions. They will have a vacancy list for most, if not all Reserve units and some of the National Guard positions.

If you choose to go to the National Guard, then you will need to contact the State Headquarters and determine if they have vacancies. If they do, then that addresses the first hurdle. If they don't, then you will need to consider alternative Career fields. This would require additional schooling and training. In some cases, you may be reduced in grade. But, this is your choice. In the long-term, your career in the National Guard will require flexibility (family, job, financial and time). If you want to remain and get promoted in the National Guard, you have a limited number of units, limited number of positions and a state geographical and political boundary. Your promotions require formal schooling but to often, more importantly, political connections. These political connections are inside and outside of the military. Most positions above CPT are as close to political selection as they come (they are so few). This is because once you make Colonel, you are eligible for selection and political appointment as the State Adjutant General (Major General). I served in the National Guard as a 1LT thru CPT but had to move to the USAR for promotions above CPT. You may have to do the same.

If you choose the USAR, then your geographic border is the world, not a state. But, you have to be your own career manager. You will have to find every assignment, regardless of location, interview for the position (just like any other job) and perform. As a USAR officer, my normal commute was a 5-8 hour drive, each way, with overnight stay in a hotel or base housing, in addition to demands on my time during the week. For years, I spent more to perform my military duty than I received in pay. for years, I had to take calls and attend meetings during normal business hours of my civilian job (requiring that I take time off or risk losing my job). More importantly, as a USAR officer, I was routinely tapped for additional off-cycle annual training.

I served in both National Guard and USAR. I made the best of the situation to maximize my career opportunities and achieve more than I expected. But, I sacrificed a growing civilian career and a family to achieve all of this. The demands placed on me by my country forced me to choose military over everything else. I don't regret my choices but the sacrifices may be more than you want to make.

Good luck

I recently transitioned from Active duty to the National Guard and then a year later to the Army Reserve. I'm suppressed how different the Guard and reserve are. Unless you want to change to a specialty branch I recommend going to the Guard as a FA officer. I didn't find it difficult to change branches but you have to do a lot of work yourself.

I have found the Army reserve to be the "army of one" in that it's just a bunch of individuals grabbed up to fill upcoming missions. That can be good and bad. It's on you to find your job your schools and your next position. The guard does a fairly good job of managing their officers (in that they actually do it) the reserve seems to be a pile of individuals moving from slot to slot in-between ATs.

Let me know if you have any more questions.