How hard is it to transition to the Army Reserve from the National Guard?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 22:35:10 -0500

Out of curiosity I'm wondering what the transition would be like going from the Army National Guard to the Army Reserve. I know sometimes you may have to reclass but what was the result of it for those that did that? Is promotion better? What about getting some AGR positions or deployments?

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2017 10:53 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 22:53:54 -0500

For officers, its a much more streamlined process.
For enlisted, not so much, but it varies by state (TAG). Promotion opportunities are great for E-5, E-6, E-7 and thru O-5 for the O ranks. Warrant officer is wide open in most WO MOSs. You may have to reclas if you are coming from combat arms unless you are interested in instructor or Drill Sergeant positions which are MOS immaterial. The USAR also has quite a few Branch immaterial positions for Officers to include Command positions as well as bn/bde staff level positions.

AGR postions are available, mostly in support roles for enlisted, most units have a 92Y, and 42A and a Training NCO.(MP units will need 31Bs, Medical Units will need 68W, Transportation Units will need 88Ms) Recruiting and Retention (79R and 79V) are always in demand.

For officers, LOG, AG, QM, MPs are usuallly needed. Be MOS Q, NCOES qualifed and willing to accept an assignment and you will have a better chance.

HRC accesses a couple of thousand USAR AGR Soldiers every year.........

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jan 12 at 2017 11:02 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 23:02:12 -0500

In truth, your answer will vary from state to state, and from grade and MOS to grade and MOS. It is all about strength and needs of the service, and I am pretty sure their is no matrix that will tell you how hard it is for you or your area? The process is simply getting a release and then finding a slot in the other component.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jan 12 at 2017 11:39 PM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 23:39:13 -0500

The Army Reserve has vacant position posted, Retention NCO should have access to see these open positions. The best way is to target those openings and discuss the fit with the gaining Command, especially if there is a reclassification or school that must be paid for by the command. You need to think about how the Guard unit Command will react, they must release you. Transition from the Guard to reserve takes time.
The best situation is where there is a win/win.

Response by COL William Oseles made Jan 13 at 2017 1:45 AM

COL William Oseles — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 01:45:11 -0500

The National Guard tends to be a bit protective of 'their' people.
A friend of mine was going to join a Guard unit since he moved to the area and they had an empty E-5 slot in his MOS and he was an E-5. They offered him an E-4 position, with reduction in rank because they were getting ready to send one of their people off to BNOC, in a couple of months or so.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Jan 13 at 2017 10:31 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 10:31:16 -0500

I have done this and would be happy to talk to you at greater length in a non-public forum if it is something you are seriously considering.

As a general rule:
If you have a (NG) service obligation remaining, it is as easy or as hard as your state PTB want to make it. If you have no (NG) service obligation remaining, it is as hard as falling off a log. As an O, you can literally write a letter stating that you are resigning your NG (but NOT your reserve) commission effective such and such a date. The admin process is a bit more than that, but not much. Then again, the admin process is not your problem.... Of course, that's kind of a scorched earth approach, and shouldn't be taken lightly. But I guarantee it works!

As an O, you likely will NOT have to reclass. Remember, you have about 2 years to become DMOSQ. Which is about the length of the average position.... Not an issue in the company grades. The bigger issue, based on what I have read of your writing, is going to be the branch structure. As an IN Officer, you will be in the same boat as me (AR) - you only "qualify" for Branch Immaterial positions (unless you are willing to commute to Hawaii for drill!). While not a show stopper (I held a BN command and a number of other decent positions over the last 10 years), it does limit your options at the field grade level. If you were to move over, I would strongly suggest you consider a branch transfer prior to MAJ. It will make life easier. Or adopt a FA. I'm FA30, which definitely makes me more marketable.

Promotion opportunity, especially at field grade ranks is better - at least if you are motivated. There are at least five reasons for this:
First, you will be eligible for promotion on average of one year earlier (don't take my word for it, peruse the last 4-6 Reserve component FG promotion board milpers messages and check the DOR eligibility requirements for the NG and USAR populations.
Second, you are competing nationally. This is a bigger deal in small states than in large ones, but each state board may be looking at filling a FEW vacancies, while the USAR boards are looking at all anticipated nationwide vacancies.
Third, you don't NEED a position nearby to get promoted (or further your career in general). You can accept a position in another state, as long as you are willing to commute. I would expect this to be bigger deal with the smaller states. Moreover, it is much easier to move from a TPU unit to the IRR for purposes of accepting a promotion, if a slot isn't immediately available, and then come back into TPU.
Fourth, there is only ONE board that needs to be passed for promotion, not two.
Fifth, The structure of the USAR is somewhat top heavy. There's more room at the top. Additionally, there are a lot of vacancies at higher ranks.
(there is a sixth, dealing with the OBC, but that could always be just sour grapes, so I'll leave it out. ;-) )
I can't speak to AGR, as that has never been my direction. And I'm just too damn old. One difference with Mil Techs is that USAR ones do NOT wear the uniform during the week.

Mobilizations (stateside or overseas) are fairly easy to come by as an individual, less so as a unit. At least right now. Also, my experience is that commands are more willing to support individual mobilizaitons. That will vary by state and commander, but there is less of a sense of "this Soldier is MINE", less of an instinct of "we can't do without Joe."

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jan 13 at 2017 1:39 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:39:52 -0500

I think LTC Yinon Weiss is going through this process now as well. Perhaps he has some insight from the officer side.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2017 5:21 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 17:21:53 -0500

Team,

It's not a difficult process, but each state will have a checklist for completing the transition. Your S1 can contact higher for the most up to date checklist as more than likely it has changed. The first step is to contact the Army Reserve Careers Division at the link below. They will assign you an Army Reserve Career Counselor for where you live and want to transfer to. It’s an easier process if you are enlisted, but my response if for officers. You can either transfer to the IRR for the reserves to pick you up, or you can transfer straight into the reserves. If you are using Tricare, then the only option to not lose your coverage is to transfer directly into the reserves. If the guard screws up your paperwork like mine, you can contact the NG liaison at HRC (Career Manager [login to see] ) and they can turn it around in 48 hours and backdate all of your orders. Then you’ll have to contact Tricare to make sure everything updated correctly. The Career Counselor will fill out the majority of the information for you once you provide what they need, but below is a list of documents that will be submitted for the process.
DD368 – Request for Conditional Release
Memo to BN Commander
DA71 – Oath of Office
DA 4651 - Request for Reserve Component Assignment or Attachment
A document stating that you have read AR600-20, Chp 4, para 4-23 (Federal Recognition Board: Statement of Compliance)
Once everything is completed you will have a completed DD 368 with signatures, NGB 0123E, Separation Orders and NGB 22. If you are transferring straight into the Reserves, then make sure that they put your gaining unit in block 9 instead of the control group. The control group is the IRR.
If you are in North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, or South Carolina you can contact SFC Katrina McNeil directly. She was tremendous help.
SFC Katrina H. McNeil
4th BN, Army Reserve Careers Division
500 Wilshire Ave SW
Concord, NC 28025
Office: [login to see]
Mobile: [login to see]
Fax: [login to see]
Email: [login to see]

http://www.usar.army.mil/Commands/US-Army-Reserve/ARCD/ARCD-Resources/

Army Reserve Careers Division Resources

Official site of the U.S. Army Reserve, the federal military reserve forces of the United States.