NEED ADVICE! If you were going back in (ARNG) after about 3 years of being out, what would you brush up on?

SFC Nikhil Kumra — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 15:51:22 -0400

So I may be getting the opportunity to go back (into the ARNG - never been). Anybody have any suggestions, books, advice, anything for someone who has been out for 3 years?

Any suggested reading for someone planning on applying to OCS?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2015 4:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:06:38 -0400

PT, weight control regs, clothing regs, and regs that deal with general wear and appearance of the uniform (many changes in the last few years). Contact the Regional Training Institute in Illinois about OCS. They have a wonderful program.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2015 4:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:08:16 -0400

The 129th RTI has a website with OCS information on it, how long class is,etc.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jul 6 at 2015 5:23 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 17:23:15 -0400

SFC Nikhil Kumra, I can't really address your first question. However, here's a link to the Alabama Army National Guard's 200th Regiment (LDR). As a Guardsman, it's most likely you would go to such a Regional Training Institute (RTI), and the 200th Regiment is one of the premier NG-OCS programs and is considered the "go to" SME for all other RTIs.

http://alguard.state.al.us/Careers/OCS/default.aspx

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2015 11:04 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 23:04:16 -0400

I think it is great you would join the National Guard. We can always use some prior service officers. I Active Duty prior to the Guard and then I commissioned.

First off, I would recommend avoid approaching the National Guard the same way you would the Regular Army. There are many different factors that you would never consider in the Regular Army. A lot of people, myself being one of them, left Fort Bragg as a paratrooper and went into a Support Battalion and just about lost it. I didn't know what to even think I was so lost how things got done. But this did get done and they were actually pretty successful. It just didn't fit the regular army paradigm.

Next, I would venture out and do some civilian leadership professional reading. In the Guard you will have soldiers that civilians most of the month. They often think as a civilian even while they are on drill weekend. As I said this is something you never deal with on the active side. Being able to harness this potential of civilian thinking and logic is one of the greatest assets of he guard. The civilian work force is typically much more efficient than the military. Oddly enough, I will say that I think I have received some of the best leadership training while I was an assist store manager with Walmart. Everything was outcome base and result driven. If you performed poorly they let you know.

In relation to OCS. I attended accelerated OCS. It was a 2 month long active duty school. It was 24/7 unlike federal OCS. It wasn't really about how much you knew but how you would react. They put you in some very stressful situations. Everything was very particular and had to performed just right meanwhile they are yelling into your hear. I think I set a one day push up record at my OCS.

I hope this helps.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2015 9:14 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 09:14:28 -0400

Your a SFC, you know what to do... Welcome Back!