Tension between National Guard and Active Duty Army?

I always let our actions speak for us. I recall being deployed overseas with my unit under the oversight of an AD command structure. The AD Colonel stopped into our command center to warn us to be pros like them. Quite condescending. We jyst said "Yessir!" and proceeded to fly 100% of our missions, and 20+ of theirs when they couldnt get a plane airborne. Our mechanics took a lit of their junior Airman under theur wings and taught them better maintenance practices. As the deployment ended, that Colonel was man enough to come back, apologize for his mistaken perception of us, and tell us he would be proud to fky with us anytime.
Action speaks louder and more clear than reaction.

Pretty much the same with active duty Navy and Navy Reserves! Active duty sailors go to sea for up 10 months at a time and the reservist only 2 weeks a year! Had an ABH-1 reservist that came on board Coral Sea when I was the FDLPO! He checked into the office and immediately went to the Chief and said he was flight qualified, and should be put into a leadership role for his 2 weeks with us! Chief called me in told me the ABH-1 would be the AFDLPO! He knew absolutely nothing about how a flight deck operated! Later the Chief found out he had only been on hangar decks during his 2 week active duty cruises! My Chief sent him to the MAA for rest of his time on the ship!
Have never been impressed with Navy reservists!

Wow. I retired in 2012 after 30 years in the "Reserve Component". The first 20 years or so, were "normal" Strategic Reserve type training and duty. However, 9/11 changed that. For everyone. The Strategic Reserves (National Guard and Federal Reserves) quickly became "Operational Reserves" because the OP-Tempo was so great. In my personal experience, (almost ten years on Active Duty post 9/11), I deployed both with my National Guard unit and later as an individual, I experienced very little animosity or prejudice. We fell in alongside, did the job to standards and moved forward. Very often, the active component troops/units we supported and worked with expressed surprise to learn that we were indeed National Guardsmen/Reservists.

This is a common issue among all the branches of the military. I served on active duty in the Navy and the Army as well as in the Army National Guard and Naval Reserves in the Seabees. I think I have a pretty good grasp of what you’re talking about. I can tell you that in the Navy/Navy Reserve, the active duty 20 something year old Navy Seabees don’t hold a candle to the 30 and 40 something professional equipment operators, plumbers, electrician, steel workers, and mechanics when it comes to doing the actual work expected of a Navy Seabee. Those youngsters may be able to run all day and do a lot of push-ups but I’ll never outwork an experienced professional that only wears the uniform part-time. I know for a fact the public works departments of ever base I visited as a reserve Seabee was thrilled to have us because we got stuff done without tearing crap up!!

I am retired active duty. Proud of anyone that wears the uniform. Some people go to college after high school, get a degree, nice paying job and join the guard and reserves. Nothing wrong with that, they are willing to put luxury aside for the defense of our great nation. Salute

Many years ago our Direct Support Maintenance National Guard unit, the rebuild shop was sent for 3 weeks to Camp Dodge, a major Depot rebuild facility. We out performed the Active duty personnel hands down. Of course it helped to have on our crew, two Detroit Diesel factory master mechanics, an ASE certified master mechanic, a NAPA store owner of the 8 persons that went plus myself, a marine machinery mechanic of 22 years. The rest were very well versed in the different tools and applications. Interestingly they caught one Sgt attempting to sabotage one of our rebuilds, in which we didn’t see again, so I have no idea what happened there.

Early in my military life (70's), I worked on the active duty side of OSD Test #2, a kind of battalion level ATT for infantry and armor battalions to determine their readiness. In retrospect, I think we somewhat shaded the testing. Interestingly enough, unit levels weren't too bad but individual soldier skills were lacking. Later on (1990) my National Guard Unit was called up for Desert Storm and we were Opcon to the 2ACR. Again, I think that they, the ACR, had some preconceived notions. Since we had a commander who was awarded a BS Valor for a BMP/tank battle since one of our missions was security of the RSS and both the commander and 1st Sgt were made members of the regiment during redeployment at KKMC, I think some attitudes were changed.

COL Roach nailed it. My dad helped found the Territory of Hawai'i ANG in 1946 and I heard many stories from him (Thus I wound up in the USAF). One issue that happens within the NG is perochialism & familiarity. AD troops tend to PCS once every 3/4 years so that this doesn't happen. When you are in the NG, you are tied to a position within a State or territory and much like private enterprise, you may find yourself stuck with a boss you don't like and it could be for your entire career. This also means that you are more tied to politics than the AD forces, at least through Field Grade. I know a MSG in the Oregon Army National Guard and his expertese is in demand all over the country with a MOS in logistics. One other item is that most full time guardsmen are state employees about 5 days a week and only wear a uniform on weekends, but doing the same wartime job. In the Air guard, you may find yourself flying with an Air force Reserve unit sharing the same airplane. People doing the same job but being paid from a different pot of money in the Pentagon.

When I was in the Kansas Army NG in 74-80.....WE had a LOT of Vietnam, and even Korean war veterans in my unit. They really taught us young guys alot. And When Ft.Riley opened the new tank range back in that era, we guardsmen SMOKED the Tank range and qualified every single gunner in the outfit as Expert with tank weapons. Long before the regular Army guys qualified a single crew. To this day I would not hesitate to command an M60 tank in battle. as long as I had the crew I had back then. Hell, My gunner was 30 years older than I was AND he out ranked me.....But he was the best gunner I ever saw......except for me that is. Old guys rule......young guys are just baffled. lol Hooah

I've looked at the posts, and feel nudged to log in a few comments:
>Concur 100% on view that reservists bring a broad range of civilian expertise with them. I bet many a soldier is happy to get tax advice, among other things!
>Reservists are all volunteers. If they don't fit in, they can find escape routes. That leaves the remaining ones with greater cohesiveness and esprit. There are bound to be some mere time-servers, but, hey, the regulars are not immune to that, either.
>An anecdote, on the down side, sadly. At the Portland Highland Games several years ago, the Marine reservists who were there (I forget why, probably color guard) participated in the tug-o-war. maybe 10 on each side. On their turns, they were defeated first by the Boy Scouts, later by the female members of one of the pipe bands. The latter were from British Columbia, where they makes 'em tough. I don't think the Corps were just being generous. They did have skinny legs. Probably had their PT beefed up in subsequent drills.
> I was a reservist for about 9 months at the beginning of my illustrious career, in a small communications unit. From the viewpoint of a humble seaman recruit, later seaman apprentice, I could not really judge them. But later, after going regular, there was no apparent difference from the reservists I had known, and the regular Navy salts.
>The National Guard has an illustrious history of responding to domestic emergencies, for which they can be justifiably proud. I will admit, that they have at times been ordered to act shamefully, but that has happened to regular troops also.