Soldiers who transferred from National Guard/Reserves to active duty, what was the transition process like?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 12:36:29 -0400

I joined the National Guard because one: I'm seventeen and wanted to get into the game as early as I could, and two: I wanted to go to "normal" college. I've been trying to find more information on how to transfer to Active after I graduate, and from what I gather it's a lot of paperwork.
Those of you who transferred, what was the transition to "normal" Army life like, getting used to the way things are run, etc.? Also, is there any way to put in a request for a duty station?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 1:40 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 13:40:32 -0400

The transition process, depending on the point of view, can be difficult or easy. Your part is getting in touch with an Active Duty Recruiter and filling out a Conditional Release form. This is the form needed for your Component to release you to Active Duty. Bear in mind that your entire Command levels do not have to approve. Then, you go thru MEPS again when it's all approved. The difficult part of the transition will be the culture shock you will experience when you get to your Active Duty assignment.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 4:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 16:23:13 -0400

I did this about a year ago. Went from FLNG to AD, SFC Livingston is 100% correct. Your command will probably have you write a letter of hardship to get you out of the NG. Don’t listen to SPC Head because I got my signed DA Form 358, went to MEPS and was at Fort Campbell inprocessing within a week.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 5:12 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 17:12:48 -0400

One thing I forgot to mention about another difficult part. When you are approved for release to Active Duty, when you go to MEPS, you will be there ALLLLLL DAY. The reason being is that you would be considered Prior Service, so you will be one of the very last folks finalized for processing, contract signing, and swearing in at the end of the day. It's gonna be a long wait. Bring a book (a very thick one) if you can.

Response by SPC William Wilson made Aug 27 at 2020 5:55 PM

SPC William Wilson — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 17:55:13 -0400

The culture shock is a big one. Going from really relaxed national guard standards to a active duty standards was a eye opener for me.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 9:53 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 21:53:17 -0400

It's a couple of forms that need a couple of signatures that could take 2 months or 6 months.
In the Guard, your state G1 approves your conditional release for AD.
Or if your ETS date is coming up within 6-9 months after graduation, you can just have the AD recruiter do a prior service contract for the day after your ETS.
You can also just do ROTC while in college, smoke it and qualify for an AD commission...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2020 8:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 20:36:27 -0400

So I switched from the National Guard to active duty in 2011, so the process may have changed since then, but yes it's some paperwork. You'll also need a memo endorsed by your commander that sells your need to switch components, it will have to bee some sort of hardship like unemployment, etc. Once you get the conditional release approved by the state your active duty recruiter will run you through MEPS again, but you will be considered prior service this time so you will get what you get at this point. When I was making the switch the active Army was only taking like 5 MOS' for prior service, so unless you were willing to be an 18X you weren't going to be accepted. You may be told the only way to switch is to reclass and they will ask you which three duty stations you want, but I didn't get any of mine and I have asked around over the years and it seems to be a thing to not get your choices.

Once I successfully switched it took almost 60 days to get my pay, and some parts of it still weren't right, for example, I had to do more paperwork to get my first uniform allowance. All the dates for promotion get reset, so if you were an E4 who was almost going to the board, you now are reset as if you had just joined the army with a degree and have to wait for minimum TIS/TIG to get promoted. They only dated that stayed the same was my PEBD, which turns out to be pretty sweet. All of your S1 functions will have to be done over. When you finally do make it to your unit, you're going to be the one from the Guard so until you prove yourself you will have it rough. They are going to expect your military customs and courtesies to be on point, they are going to expect you to know all your basic soldier and MOS skills by heart, even better than the SM who grew up there in the unit. You had also better make sure you are as fit as you can possibly be, which meant for the APFT you had better get a 300, for the ACFT you had better outscore everyone there. BUT it's really not that hard to get used to the day to day of the active Army.

With all that being said, seriously do ROTC in college and commission onto active duty. It is the most efficient route onto active duty in your situation, after all the state may not even release you, and the active Army may not be accepting prior service which does happen from time to time.