In terms of lifestyle, how difficult has the transition been from NG to Active Duty?

NG you drill or annual training then go home and forget it till next training event, especially for lower enlistment. Your life revolves mainly around your civilian word.

Active Duty your life revolve around the military. Yes, you have free time but your thoughts become focused on your Army life.

I started out active duty, when to the NG. During my guard time transitioned to Active Duty several times including a four year tour just before I retired.

Rally Point, can someone help with this?

LTC Stephen F. SPC Douglas Bolton Sgt John H. TSgt Joe C. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL TSgt David L. SMSgt David A Asbury MSgt David Hoffman SGT (Join to see) LTC David Brown CPL Dave Hoover CMSgt (Join to see) SPC Mark Huddleston Maj Marty Hogan CPT Jack Durish CW5 Jack Cardwell Sgt Randy Wilber SCPO Morris Ramsey SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see)

I spent nearly 4 years in the AL-ARNG on the enlisted side and deployed a couple of times prior to submitting my DD368 and putting in my packet for Active Duty OCS. The change from NG to Active Duty has been far less drastic for me than going Enlisted to Officer. You clearly enjoy the Army, otherwise you wouldn't be making the transition. That tells me that you'll do just fine. Right place, right time, right uniform etc... It all still applies. Have a good attitude and be willing to learn. You'll be ahead of many of your peers just with those basic tools. Also, biggest advice on the 368 is to stay on top of it. Paperwork has to go up to the General Officer level (or the delegated authority), so it sometimes has a habit of disappearing somewhere along the way. Ask your full time Admin at the armory about it every other week or so.

SPC (Join to see), RallyPoint member CPT (Join to see) made this transition a year or so ago. Perhaps he'll be able to provide you some enlightenment.

I personally found Reserves harder than Active duty. You have more responsibilities to balance against each other. ( Granted I was doing externships/internships, law school and reserve flight commander) when I was active duty my life centered around the job and you put that first. Its easy, military mission comes first. Make sure your spouse knows that is what is going to be expected, and that you will move- although I found making friends easier on active duty because people are more susceptible to making new friends ( you have to active duty).

I started out regular Army, then went ARNG, then regular Army, then back to ARNG. The regular Army is immersive. In my personal experience, the regular Army expects more from a Soldier at an earlier rank than the ARNG. There is a difference in the level of detailed knowledge due to the different amounts of time spent doing the job. It would be difficult to address that on your own. Also, I changed MOS going back to regular Army, and what I did then was I showed up all-ears, like a human sponge and just learned, learned, learned. I got up to speed pretty quickly - just took paying attention. Culturally, it is very different, though. The TXARNG and FLARNG units I was in were fairly informal, whereas by comparison, the regular Army was formal, thorough, and immersed in a distinctly military atmosphere. If that's what you want, then all you should need is a good attitude and it should go fine.

I wish you the best Zachery.