How can you switch from active duty to National Guard?

2017-11-09T14:49:16-05:00

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2017 2:51 PM

2017-11-09T14:51:35-05:00

Stay Active don't go Guard if not then go Reserves

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2017 4:24 PM

2017-11-09T16:24:13-05:00

Are you wanting to jump ship in the beginning of your Active Duty contract and switch to Guard right now?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2017 10:20 PM

2017-11-09T22:20:13-05:00

I went through the DD Form 368. Major pain in the ass, and depending on your S shops, it could take 3 months to 8 months to even be completed.

I tried to go active from National Guard. These are the steps I had to take, hope it helps:

Obtain the 368 from the recruiter at a National Guard armory that you want to attend. Be mindful, you will need to have a job that the state needs. Otherwise, you will have to attend a re-class school. But I hear those are kickin'.

The state will look at it's needs, see what spots are open. If it's a simple transition with the same MOS, even better.

Your commander needs to sign your 368. It's a good idea to get a recommendation from your PSG and LT and hand those in with your 368 request. Hopefully you aren't a blue falcon. It's Active Duty to NG, so everyone is going to give you a lot of grief about it. Be prepared for that. Your commander will probably ask you why you want to switch. If he approves it, it goes up to your BC, maybe higher. For the National Guard, we had ours go to the Adjutant General and he had to sign it. Not sure what active duty has to do.

If your commander and the next higher up has signed in approval, you turn that 368 into the recruiter right away. Just remember, those 368's have an expiration date. Try and get your recruiter to have it be a year long release, hopefully your commander will sign off on that.

You'll be signing a whole new contract with the Guard. They're separate entities. You'll have to go through all the same paperwork all over again, get a whole new packet, etc. It's a process.

On the flip side:

You can attend school while Active Duty. I really recommend looking at that. It's possible. It's Peace Time Army. Use the benefits you have. The federal government has a lot more money than a national guard's budget.

In the end, it's your choice. Again, those are the steps the Army national guard had to do. It should hopefully be somewhat similar on your end. You need signatures, and that's it. But it will take. A. Very. Long. Time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2017 12:29 AM

2017-11-13T00:29:04-05:00

Yep DD 368, the recruiters will fill it out for the most part. After that, the process of sending/routing it through your command will begin. Had to do it PLENTY of times.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2019 11:30 AM

2019-10-05T11:30:49-04:00

I’m just now getting in that Army and I realized that active duty wasn’t for me so I’m trying to go guard before I make a horrible decision and go awol!