How does the transition process work from Active duty to National Guard?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 20:30:07 -0500

I'm currently Active duty and my ETS is around 6-7 months, I was planning on re-enlisting for FT Bragg but my request got shot down by the Army.

So I've been exploring other options and came across the National Guard and was given an option to reclass into the 15 series with an open training slot, which I am interested in Because it would set me up with training for a civilian job in aviation.

Now the only thing that's holding me back from signing is the fact that I lose all my benefits and could be stuck without a job after training which is a no-go with three kids.

Does the Guard offer help or do they work with civilian employers to help secure a job after training?

Do they offer any kind of housing allowance if I'm going to School?

How do I switch from the Montgomery GI Bill to the Post 9/11?

Does the Guard offer help and guidance with the transition process or am I on my own in the civilian sector and have to find a job immediately?

I am going to talk to the RCCC in the next couple of weeks but just trying to get info if anyone has been through this situation. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2015 8:39 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 20:39:05 -0500

The guard has job fairs all the time to get you in contact with employers or at least my state does. Also if your unit has a good FRG they will update the unit on job openings in your area. Again at least the FRG for my unit does.

As far as you Montgomery or post 9/11 GI bulls go. You can choose which one you want to use. But from I have been told you can use your Montgomery and still have your Post 9/11 available to use. With you Post 9/11 you do get BAH.

Also if you're reclassified in the guard and are on orders you will get paid as active duty and get the incentives that go along with it. But your BAH will be paid off your home of record.

Good luck man

Response by SGT Stephen Gober made Dec 2 at 2015 11:41 AM

SGT Stephen Gober — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 11:41:50 -0500

The benefits of staying on active duty far outweigh anything you will get with the National Guard. Especially because you have 3 kids to take care of, my advice would be to stay active and try to lateral move into the MOS that you want. I left active duty once and I regretted that decision every day after that.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 12:35 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 12:35:18 -0500

First off in the national guard U can still get life insurance and tricare reserve which will cost U around 200 a month. If you're relying on a potential MOS in the guard guaranteeing you a civilian job I suggest a few more years on active duty and maybe use some of that TI for civilian training. That being said depending on your state there are plenty of jobs available as a technician for the guard or as an AGR. I recommend a supply MOS or Admin if U are interested in working full time for the guard. Go to your states National Guard website and see what positions are available. supply is always in demand. I transitioned two years ago as an E5 supply sergeant from active duty. I'm now a full time National Guard employee and a W1. The guard won't get U off your feet right away but if U put in a little time and do the research there are a lot of opportunities available.

Response by CPL James Mellar made Dec 2 at 2015 11:30 PM

CPL James Mellar — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 23:30:42 -0500

The National Guard is good but I preferred being in the Army Reserves. I started as a Reservist while in high school, then went active duty, after graduation, and then went back to the Reserves. The Army pulled all Reserve units from my state, Vermont, so I went into the National Guard. I don't know exactly what the process is for going from the active duty to the National Guard, but if it's like the Reserves, I had to contact the unit I wanted to join and see if they would accept me. They might not have any positions open. You probably should research the National Guard recruiter for your state, and contact him, or her.

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2015 3:34 AM

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 03:34:13 -0500

tricare reserve select is about $193/month for a family. As a specialist you'll probably make 300$ a drill weekend. There are agr jobs (active guard reserve) which aren't completely easy to get. It's the same pay as active and same tricare if you do that. Most states offer some employment help in the form of resume services and job blast emails.

15 series is good but enjoy waiting for an e5 slot. Either someone has to die our retire to move up.

One benefit in the guard is that they will give more leeway based on your individual skills and education than just your mos and rank. Guard has more well rounded people and generally set up a nicer fob than active guys that only learned to play with certain widgets since 18. That being said you'll also get more diversity. That's not always good despite the misguided polarization of mainstream media. There will be hooah hooah guys and there will be those that signed up for college only, and then you have old timers that are dual status technicians in a good ole boy status. The last one makes it breaks promotion. Aviation is a smaller community and the politics are stupid sometimes. The life in 15 series is closer to air force minus the hotel rooms though.

9/11 is the only way to go, the regular gi Bill is limited. However depending on your program and state you can look at a state gi Bill. Wisconsin and Illinois have some great benefits for service members (check residency requirements). Use FTA. 4250$/year and all you have to do is get decent grades.

Be wary. Get it all in writing. Or else you could end up a spc/cpl working on a PhD stuck in a slot waiting for that act of contrition to get out of purgatory. Results may vary. Remember, the civilian world is full of the most self serving blue falcons. It's an alien world to AD. You may get culture shock because it's rather putrid out there. Thank god you're in Texas though.

Response by SGT Brian Wawsczyk made Jan 2 at 2016 11:29 PM

SGT Brian Wawsczyk — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 23:29:53 -0500

You can also touch base with a Local Veterans Employment Representative at the one-stop in your area. They have a lot of employment resources. If you plan to go to college, you can work at the VA or veteran's representative tax free while attending classes.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 2:45 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:45:19 -0500

SPC,
To switch from the Montgomery GI Bill to Post 9/11, you need to go benefits.va.gov/gibill and apply for benefits. Apply for education benefits, and then you will have to fill out a new form requesting Post 9/11. The form will ask you if you're willing to relinquish the Montgomery GIBill.

Once you're done training in the 15 series MOS, I highly recommend jumping onto mobcop.army.mil and applying for an active duty tour. You may or may not get picked up. But if you're converting over to the guard and haven't set yourself up with a job upon leaving active duty, then it might be a good start.

In the next 6-7 months, you need to be looking for a civilian job. Use the ACAP resources to assit you. 15 series training won't occur immediately after you jump into the Guard. So you need to be prepared to start work now. Good luck to you.
-MSG Reeve

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Apr 12 at 2016 1:37 PM

SSG Ed Mikus — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 13:37:21 -0400

Your local Army Recruiter would be the place to start. every state is a little bit different, and your medical issues and current MEPS politics would have to be considered.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Jun 8 at 2016 3:31 PM

SFC J Fullerton — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 15:31:16 -0400

See an in-service recruiter at the transition center on your installation. USAR generally has more openings for AGR than the ARNG, only because they have more recruiting slots to fill. From what I know, its tough if not impossible to go straight from AD to AGR because of the limited slots and in many cases a waiting list of those already in a drilling Reserve/ARNG unit that have already applied. You will likely need to enlist in the ARNG first, then apply for AGR.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Jan 2 at 2019 10:09 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 10:09:38 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Your post was over three years ago. How was your experience? Did you transition to ARNG or choose a different path?

Response by SFC Patrick Machayo made Mar 3 at 2019 5:24 AM

SFC Patrick Machayo — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 05:24:46 -0500

Sign up for VGLI right away. VA has Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor s to assist in career transition. Make sure you a a complete set of Personnel and Medical records. Can you get character references from your supervisors? Do you have copies of all certificates and awards?

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Oct 22 at 2019 11:36 AM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 11:36:40 -0400

You need to also look into the Army Reserve as they have Many SR NCO/Officer positions and reassignment from RA is similar to the NG. I managed that program for the Army Reserve years ago.

Hooah!!!

R
Chuck
LTC, Army, Retired
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Response by PO2 Jasmire Thomas-White made May 11 at 2022 7:26 PM

PO2 Jasmire Thomas-White — Wed, 11 May 2022 19:26:45 -0400

I did 5 years Coast Guard and then went into the reserves. Having a regular full time job and being a single parent caused some difficulty in scheduling. Also leaving for 2 weeks each year was like a working vacation.