Posted on Mar 6, 2015
SFC Operations Nco
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Recently I was denied the opportunity to attend an Active Component school for because I'm a National Guard Soldier. My meeting all and exceeding most of their requirements to attend made no difference. I'd like to hear others thoughts on this?
Posted in these groups: Books SchoolsGraduation cap Education
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
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I want to preface my comments with the fact that I am a HUGE supporter of the Reserve Components (Guard and Reserve). I have been a very active member of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for several years and have received every award they give, both individually and corporately. I have great admiration and respect for the citizen soldiers in the Reserve Components. That was not always the case, as I have described in an earlier RallyPoint post. However, over my almost 30 years of active duty, my opinion has drastically changed, primarily due to having several National Guard units assigned to my active duty battalion during Operation Desert Storm.

Having said that, my personal belief is that there is nothing wrong with the idea that certain things (benefits, etc.) be limited to active duty personnel only. Although I know that the Reserve Components have deployed as much as, and in some cases, more than their active duty counterparts, the fact remains that they are still not full-time active duty. If they want to have all the benefits that active duty soldiers/sailors/airmen/marines have, they have the option to be active, not reserve components.

Training, however, is one area that should not be limited, to the extent possible by budgets and availability of training slots. If we truly expect our RC units and individuals to maintain the proficiency required to be totally effective, we need to afford them the opportunity for training and schools.
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SFC Operations Nco
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Well put Sir. I agree that their are seperations that are valid. I am an AGR Soldier and train year so I can better train my traditional Guard Soldiers. Just want to keep them in the fight with the most current systems and TTPs.
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SSG Everett Wilson
SSG Everett Wilson
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Why not as long as there is an opening. Active Duty attend National Guard Schools.
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SGT Howitzer Section Chief
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When I went to INIWIC (non lethal weapons instructor) there were several NG Soldiers and I was a Marine Reservist. What school was it?
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SFC Operations Nco
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Full story is Individuals at the school asked for 1 NG applicant to attend the pilot course. I was selected and after applying and receiving approval to attend someone with more rank said no Active Component only.
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SGT Howitzer Section Chief
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That's a b*tch. I guess since it is a pilot school they didn't want to spend the extra money putting a NG Soldier on Active Duty for the length of the school in case it was a massive failure. Hopefully they'll allow you to attend the 2nd class after the kinks are worked out.
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SFC Operations Nco
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I attended their pilot for the Joint Fires and Operational Effects Course years ago. But of course with every change of Command comes a change in decision-making and opinions.
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LTC Ops Team Chief
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It could have been a funding issue; but, were you told specifically who restricted the course to AC-only? At the very least, your CSM, 1SG, Retention NCO, and NCO support chain should appreciate the amount of time you spent outside of IDT preparing the application packet as well as the perception created by soliciting for applicants specifically in the ARNG and then not accepting the selected ARNG candidate. A funding issue I might understand.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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And believe me, I'd also asked even as active duty to go to an Army program I'd found for training on a mainframe of been expected to use for work...I was told I'd have to learn OJT, from other active duty as well as civil svc staff, which, most definitely, being denied, in retrospect, slowed me down in adjusting...I hadn't known of permissive TDY at that point, as I was a newbie then, and had never heard about it till later on, had I known about it, of have asked to go that way, most definitely, as an incentive to get reasonably qualified cheaper, saving USAF money in the process, I just didn't know about such a possibility at that point, as I'd said, unfortunately....
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