Help & info concerning the joining National Guard

SGT John Nast — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 11:17:46 -0400

I am prior service active and recently contacted a national guard recruiter about joining a unit somewhere in the Northern California area where I currently live. I have been out for 4 years, and to add to my confusion the guard's unit structuring is very unfamiliar to me. I am a 13f (e-4) and the recruiter I'm speaking with mentioned I would not need to re-attend basic or AIT (not even a short "good-boy" school) and I would not loose rank.

That sounds great. If this is or isn't the case I would love to hear more confirmation from others who know or are familiar with the process.

Also, the fact that your unit is ultimately determined by who has an available slot for your MOS makes for more than a few choices in my area.. I think.
I do not mind driving two or even tree hours for drill if it is with a proactive unit that is squared away and makes the most of their allotted time every month.
Specifically in my area is the 79th IBCT, and as a 13F I don't know if I'd go down to their artillery battalion or go to a line battalion's HHC platoon. (During my time active I served on my brigade's COLT team and never got to experience the life of a line FiSTer). If anyone knows where 79th IBCT keeps their 13F's please share the info. I have a friend in B co. 1-184th IN batt, which falls user that brigade, and I would love to train with him, but I understand this may not be possible (he is 11b and I am 13f). Their HHC is in Modesto CA, and if it's anything like conventional structure, would be the most likely place in the battalion that I would find a FiST team.. Any info pertaining to that, the 1-184th, or the 79th in general would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 27 at 2014 1:04 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 13:04:45 -0400

The structure of the units and their highers is the same as on AD depending on if its a BCT type of unit or a higher echelon.

There are some quirks in the command structure based on state alignment for command and control, like we were an MP Bde with a medium truck company and a signal company under us for state CoC reasons. The individual units have a force structure higher HQ but unless they are deployed together, the relationship is more advisory than administrative, especially if the units are in different states.

Whether you and your friend are actually able to train together would depend on the training schedules of both units. Used to be in the good old days, you would train with units within the state as long as you planned your schedules to coincide. Since 9/11 most training is based on your force structure and war time alignment. If your unit and your friend's unit fell under different BCTs, your units would most likely train separately under their respective force structures.

Hope that helps SPC Nast. Best of luck to you and thanks for your continued service, Go Guard!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2014 9:35 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 21:35:03 -0400

I'm interested to hear how after a 4 year break in service, your recruiter told you that you will keep you rank?

Only reason I ask is this: AR 601-210 Ch 3 Para 3-17 b(2)

b. A former member of AC/RC Service and current member of the RC.

(2) If applicant was last separated from any component or is a current member of an RC in grade E–4 with not more than 7 years AFS and enlists within 48 months from the date of separation, the enlistment grade will be the same grade held at time of separation. If enlisting more than 48 months from completion of MSO, reduce one grade.

I posted the link to the Cal Guard, not sure if you have it.

http://www.calguard.ca.gov/members-veterans/organization

Member Veterans Organization

State of California

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2014 3:56 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 03:56:42 -0400

I've been in the Guard for 6 years and beyond the BN level, it still doesn't make much sense to me in some instances.

Example: I was in an Aviation BN. Our BN HQ, A, D, E, and F COs were all in the same place. We had a medevac CO and a Kiowa/Lakota CO on the other side of the state. They were in the battalion but they wore the designator of a command in IN. We also had COs in VT, MD, and NY. At the BDE level, we fell under a BDE in MA, but wore the designator of the 42nd in NY.

Concerning your question about training. I had a 7 year break in service between getting off of AD in '00 and joining the Guard in '07. The only thing I had to do was a NG reclass school that was 6 mos of 2 day drill weekends and a 2 week period a month after that was finished. I THINK that attending a 2 week "refresher basic" may be required after a certain period of time being out, but I'm not 100% certain. As far as AIT, you should only have to do that if you're reclassing. And whether you get a full course or a "good ol boy" course depends on what slots are available when. I had a choice of which I went to and I chose the full course. I figured it would be a good idea if I were going to be maintaining aircraft to get the whole thing.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jan 31 at 2017 6:55 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 18:55:36 -0500

Only if you are going to unit that has a slot for a 13F. What part of Northern California? If I am not mistaken the FA units are from the Stockton to Bay Area and South, you may have a drive ahead of you. I know the Engineers have Eureka and Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and a few other places in Nor Cal. Sacramento has a mix of stuff.

I read once a lot of the FA units go down to NTC and Camp Roberts depending if they are M109's or towed 105's. So get used to long convoy's.