I'm active USAF cyber and am thinking of going into the Air National Guard after my ETS. What's your experience at your base/unit?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 07:18:50 -0500

Response by MSgt Neil Greenfield made Jan 23 at 2018 7:36 AM

MSgt Neil Greenfield — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 07:36:41 -0500

Well, that all depends on what unit you aim for. There are flying wings, combat communications squadrons, air control squadrons, isolated Air National Guard stations, units assigned to active duty bases to include other services, etc. Each unit has its own culture and it can take awhile to get promoted above SSgt since promotions are by slot. You have both AGR and Air Technicians as full time staff. You’re asking from a 50,000 foot view. What specific questions do you have and which state are you going to?

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2018 10:34 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 10:34:44 -0500

if you are trying to be closer to home and family, I say do it. You will spend most of your time doing computer based training and never ending tasks during your drill weekends. I will say this, drill weekends always seem to fall on the weekends everything is planned.
with your active points though if you do 20 and retire you will have a nice extra paycheck when that time comes to draw on it.
I've never regretted the Guard. whenever I get sick of the everyday life of groundhogs day I put in for a deployment and break up with my civilian life for a while. when I return home everyone is so happy to see me and its a nice fresh restart.
I ALWAYS deploy during the holidays, it makes for a faster deployment and a nice bonus on my pocketbook.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jan 23 at 2018 12:30 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 12:30:00 -0500

My experience in the Guard was generally very good. However, everything is unit specific. I had a knucklehead CMSgt that either liked you or hated you. He liked me so I was ok, but he hated one of my friends in the unit and made his life miserable. There are those types everywhere and the Guard is no exception. I would talk to the specific squadron you would be assigned to and get a sense of how things are.

The other thing to remember is that the Guard has a much more laid back mentality than the AD side. AFI’s are often times more like a guideline than the rule. I enjoyed that culture, but some folks do not.

Take the time to do the research before you commit to anything. It will be worth it.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Jan 30 at 2018 8:57 AM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 08:57:39 -0500

I loved being in the guard but it is a shock to system coming from active or another branch.
Do your research, talk to people in the units you are interested in, and as long as you have your IT certifications you should have no problem finding a civilian job.
Good luck

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2018 6:50 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 18:50:16 -0500

Are you looking to be a Drill Status Guardsman?

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2018 3:28 PM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 15:28:23 -0500

Life in the Guard is great. You still get to serve, but also have a civilian life the rest of the month. Also a great avenue to get some education if you want to.

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 10:44 PM

2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 22:44:44 -0400

Love the guard