How can I switch to National Guard from Active Duty and reclassify?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 18:34:36 -0500

I am a 13B and am serving Active Duty at Ft. Carson. I've been in for over half a year now and my little brother wants to follow me in my footsteps and enlist. He however wants to go 11B. I want to serve together so we have considered the national guard and I would would want to reclass to be an 11B as well so that we could be in the same unit and I honestly would prefer to be in the infantry vs the artillery in the national guard. We are from Ohio if that'll help at all.
So my questions would be.
How would me reclassing work?
How would I go about switching switching from active to national guard with or without acapping at the end of my contract?
And since Id have to go through OSUT to reclass is there a way to line us up to go through together?
I have seen stories of brothers in the reserves and the national guard doing this multiple times where they go through all their training together and go to the same unit but since I'm already in as Active Duty is where things have gotten tricky for me to figure out. An answer to any question would be very helpful. Thanks you for your time.

P.S.How does drill pay differ from active salary aside from the amount of money?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 6:47 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 18:47:36 -0500

I’m not sure how it works mid-contract to convert to National Guard. You would need to see about changing MOSs prior to exiting Active Duty or you would do reclass school through the Guard would be shorter I would suspect. We have a Infantry Battalion in Ohio and a Combined Arms Battalion that has a Company of Mechanized Infantry. Drill pay is two days pay for each day of drill. If you want to talk to a recruiter from Ohio I can get you hooked up with one.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Feb 22 at 2018 7:07 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:07:53 -0500

When it’s time for you to re-enlist you and your brother go see a National Guard recruiter together that way you can do you both of your contracts together!

Response by SSG Keith Amacher made Feb 22 at 2018 7:42 PM

SSG Keith Amacher — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:42:44 -0500

Reclassinbg to 11B should not be a problem as we need them more then ever but 11B P for Airborne would open a lot of doors for both of you....

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 8:13 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 20:13:12 -0500

Your a private, do your time. It’s only 4 years and one year was pretty much BCT and AIT. 4 years of active duty goes a long way on resumes and qualifying for jobs. I would recommend sucking it up, get your E4; then join the guard of you still want. When you join the guard you can ask to be attached to a unit with the MOS that you want. Then it’s up to the unit to send you to Reclass.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2018 9:00 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 21:00:43 -0500

Wait till your contract is done get with your retention NCO and request to reclass to an 11B and airborne in your new contract. Don’t go in the National Guard whatever you do just don’t.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Feb 23 at 2018 12:35 AM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 00:35:50 -0500

Do you have plans as to what you're going to do to make money the other 28 days of the month that you and your brother aren't working in the Guard?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2018 2:04 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 02:04:29 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member, contact SSG Robert Tromp at [login to see] or by phone at [login to see] . He is a recruiter with the Ohio Army National Guard and will be able to answer all your questions and start the process. You will attend a two-week 11B MOSQ course in Pennsylvania, not AIT. Drill pay can be calculated using: https://www.nationalguard.com/pay/calculator More information can be found at https://www.dfas.mil/dam/jcr:4a30221a-c554-4f01-b9f4-9e22378aa0ef/MilPayTable2018_2.pdf

1-148th Infantry Regiment (light infantry) is headquartered in Walbridge, Ohio with companies scattered nearby in cities like Tiffin, Bowling Green, and Sandusky. There is a mechanized infantry company part of the 1-145th armored regiment out of Canton and Kent, Ohio. I've been at both and they are great organizations however I would point you towards 148 (more fun). My brother is assigned to 145 at the moment so I can understand your intent to serve together with your family.

The Ohio National Guard is a great option because they offer a 100% tuition scholarship at all state colleges/universities for four (4) years towards a bachelors degree, then you could use TA for your masters. You could use your GI bill while using the scholarship. Good luck and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

National Guard

Find out how much money you can make when you enlist in the Guard. Or explore the pay you might receive as an officer. If you’re not sure which is for you, learn more here.

Response by SPC Izaiah Calabrese made Feb 23 at 2018 10:25 AM

SPC Izaiah Calabrese — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:25:52 -0500

Can’t talk to reserves/NG until you have 6 months left in your contract. There’s no way you can switch over mid contract

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2018 7:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 19:46:08 -0500

I actually write the reserve contracts for people getting out of the Army.
You cannot leave your active duty contract early in order to go into the reserves. Six month from your ETS you may go see you Reserve Component Career Counselor, there's one per brigade and they're usually colocated with the MPD as they are part of your clearing.
You'll need the zip code of where you'll be living and they will find you a slot near there. When you ETS your reserve contract begins.
Your brother will have to go to a NG recruiter or even right to the unit and enlist that way. Once you have both started your reserve contract, you can arrange with the unit for your school date.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2018 10:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 22:25:28 -0500

To reclass, you can check our options when your reenlistment window opens. As for changing to the guard, you have to wait until your enlistment is up. You will see a career counselor as part of the process. They can enlist you in the guard at that time.
They’re not going to let you out of your contract to transfer to the guard. Especially at this early in your 1st enlistment.
You won’t have to go OSUT to transition to 11B. You’ve already completed BCT. You’ll just have to do the AIT portion. The chances of you and your brother doing that training together are somewhere right around zero.
Drill pay is basically 1 day of active duty pay per MUTA. Each drill day is 2 MUTAs. That’s 2 days of pay per drill day. The 2 weeks of AT pay is straight 2 weeks of active duty pay.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2018 9:43 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 21:43:09 -0500

While there are a few exceptions out there, you do need to understand that by-and-large, the military, even the state military, does not allow family members to serve together in the same unit.
This is due to the chance of favoritism in the wrong place (ie, when you are deployed). They will allow you to serve in the same state, but it is very possible and even more likely than not, to send you both to separate units.

However, this being said, the only way that you can transfer to ARNG, you must separate from the Army. The only way to voluntarily do this is via a Chapter 6 (Voluntary Separation), which is entirely up to your Commander's discretion. Most Commanders will not approve the request unless it is due to Family Hardship (special childcare or medical needs that require your presence, and you have another job on the outside that pays better).

My advice to you; you've only been in for a minute. Finish your contract. Because right now, unless you do so as a reenlistment incentive, you will not be able to reclass. The in/out calls do not allow for it at your level. Keep your nose down and do the duty that you volunteered to do before you start trying to play the field. Trust me, you have no clue how many way even a simple request to (even by perception) turn back on your contract can screw you in the long run.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2018 10:50 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 10:50:13 -0500

The national guard would be happy to take you once you AD contract expires, you will still be required to A CAP since it is a transitional service to help you get ready for semi civilian life. as far as reclass the NG will send you to one of thier 2 week infantry courses. So probably no chance to ride the 8 weeks with your brother. As far as pay the NG pays you a full AD pay for each MUTA which typically is defined by no less then 4 hrs so a weekend drill usually consistent of 4 MUTAs for Saturday and Sunday

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2018 10:34 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 10:34:06 -0500

You would have to wait until the end of your active duty enlistment. At that point, before you ETS, go to your posts NG recruiter and tell them what you want to do. Reclassifying as an 11B in the NG is a two week COI. You don’t have to go to Benning.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 5 at 2018 12:39 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:39:04 -0500

Active duty forces are hurting for people, and now have a budget which will allow expansion. You are nowhere near any time for a reclass. His choices are not your choices, and even if someone waved a magic wand, there is not sure thing about the OH NG having any open slots.

Response by SSG Roy B. made Mar 11 at 2018 6:11 PM

SSG Roy B. — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 18:11:25 -0400

I'd stay arty,at least u het 2 ride,serving as both,grunt and gunbunny, artillery was more fun,shooting and moving, vs walking around with ruck 4 miles,to shoot ur M4 at the range, c'mon, artillery is the king of battle, infantry is the queen of battle, my own motto I came up with is this,while serving as a gun chief, " I don't create chaos, I end it " ARTY.,but it is y'alls world,do what works best for you, or 2 me being a grunt was like boot camp daily just no DS.'S yelling at me all the time, I've been on towed and SP.M109A6,that gun was awesome, heat an a/c,grunts a/c is the wind blowing, try bragg n August, riding beats humping a ruck,molley,3 day pack, whatever, being the king is always better!!!we a little crazier, but u gotta b 2 do either MOS, try going 4 a 18 series MOS, engineers get 2 play with a lot of Demo!!!!

Response by SSG Roy B. made Mar 11 at 2018 6:20 PM

SSG Roy B. — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 18:20:57 -0400

Airborne period will open doors,plus u stay at bragg most of the time, did 12 yrs their myself, also u have ft.campbell, airborne also,plus they pay extra $ 4 being on airborne status

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Feb 15 at 2021 12:33 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 12:33:11 -0500

Drill pay you get one days pay at your rank and TIS for every Unit Training Assembly (UTA). A UTA is a Minimum of four hours and a typical weekend Drill is a MUTA 4, or 8 hours training time as a minimum per day. So for a MUTA 4, you get 4 days pay. AT's and full schools or the title 32 duty are paid just like active.

Response by SGT Justin Brothen made Mar 1 at 2021 12:16 AM

SGT Justin Brothen — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:16:30 -0500

Can't cancel your contract, you signed it. Finish it then try for something else. They'd gladly take you for guard. Infantry isn't much better.

Response by CSM Tim Bebus made Mar 2 at 2021 11:58 PM

CSM Tim Bebus — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 23:58:49 -0500

Well you cannot switch from active to Guard while you are still under contract with the regular army. At the end of you enlistment you can join the National Guard. There are in service recruiters so you can donit at your duty station, however I recommend that you go home and do it with a National Guard Recruiter in your hometown. That way you can check out the units near you and the Recruiter will know which one is a better choice. No chance that the in service Recruiter will have that knowledge. As for One Unit Station Training the answer is no you will not be going with your brother. They have reserve component reclassification school which is what you will attend.