What advice would you have for a prior service Marine wanting to join the Army National Guard?

2017-12-20T21:58:51-05:00

Response by A1C Ian Williams made Dec 20 at 2017 10:00 PM

2017-12-20T22:00:39-05:00

I would recommend being patient and seizing opportunities to show your military bearing and leadership potential SSG Jason Berghammer Good luck on your transition.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2017 10:36 PM

2017-12-20T22:36:23-05:00

Get ready for the culture shock. However, you will find a lot of Marines are serving in the guard. Do what's best for you and your career.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2017 11:51 PM

2017-12-20T23:51:48-05:00

Well I've met a few Marines that went Guard. There doesn't seem to be an issue acclimating to Army culture, in fact Marines seem to be the last ones to relax kind of like guys fresh out of training regardless of their rank. My only active reference is training but it feels as though the Guard is more relaxed.

An issue for many is balancing Civilian life with Guard life. It interrupts your work week, if you get orders outside of the 2 days a month it annoys your Civilian employer, and sometimes messes with your pay if your Civilian job pays you more, so you need to plan around that. In addition your Unit may not be in your City, and may be 100+ Miles from your place of residence, so lodgings need to be planned, make back up plans because someone somewhere is going to fuck it up for you at least twice.

My recommendation is to research the Units in your State and find out which MOS' are likely going to be readily available and what options are available to you. If you're going Guard, then pick a job you want to do or that might assist your education or job prospects.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2017 6:24 AM

2017-12-21T06:24:16-05:00

As an active duty Marine (HQ Platoon 3/11) who transferred to the Air Guard it was quite a culture shock. Complete different idea of military bearing and attitude. I would think it wouldn't be as bad with the Army Guard. Good luck in your future endeavors.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2017 8:42 AM

2017-12-21T08:42:40-05:00

Be prepared to be shocked/angry/shaking your head. I joined the Guard after spending times as active duty combat arms and I suffered from culture shock. It was waaaaaaaay more laid back. Then I went from being a Guard MP to Guard aviation and got the shock again.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Dec 21 at 2017 10:25 AM

2017-12-21T10:25:30-05:00

Before you commit to the Guard, do your research on Reserve units in your area. Both Army and USMC. The ARNG is almost completely funded and controlled by the state, where a Reserve component is Federal. Schools, promotions, training budgets, etc., are different between the two. You may find that USAR or USMCR is a better fit for your goals than a state ARNG.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2017 10:28 AM

2017-12-21T10:28:13-05:00

The good thing (or bad thing depending on how you look at it) is that the Green Blood never goes away. Unless you make a concerted effort to de-Marine yourself, that saying "one a Marine, always a Marine" is absolutely true. I've been 'blue' for 16 years and never once 'fit in' in the Navy. No one can 'figure me out' until they figure out that I came through Parris Island... then all of a sudden I make perfect sense. I've had to learn that 'nasty' uniform standards, weight standards, and general behaviors are 'normal'. Depending on your organization and peers, holding yourself to a higher standard could be good or bad-- if they think you are trying to show them up or otherwise make them look bad-- it could end badly. Fortunately, I believe there are far more of the former than of the latter (at least as far as the leadership is concerned).

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Dec 21 at 2017 12:45 PM

2017-12-21T12:45:38-05:00

It's a different from what you were used to, I had on former Marine that literally foamed at the month come time to clean weapons for the comment inspection, best person I have on that detail.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2017 3:43 PM

2017-12-21T15:43:11-05:00

The culture shock 1LT Private RallyPoint Member spoke of is real. I was in 1st Tanks in the stumps in the late 90's. Got out and joined Army ROTC. While in school I drilled with a Guard aviation unit. I thought I had made the biggest mistake in my life. On my very first drill weekend I was told we were going to the field. So like any good Marine I showed up with everything I would need in my Ruck Sack. That was it. I loaded the bus first because I was one of the first ones there and then watched as people got on with coolers, comforters, pillows, etc. I nearly cried. But I digress...

The thing to remember is that the Marines, like active duty Army, train to basically be ready at all times for combat. The National Guard doesn't do that. Besides our duty to our state (which is cool and unique), the NG is a reserve force that can be called if needed. It's a way for the gov't to have a bunch of available people without the expense of full time pay/housing/training/etc. But as deployments get close, training ramps up and things return closer to normal as you know it now. And once the NG is down range and acclimated, they'll perform as well as anyone else. After a stint in AD Army I'm now in the NG. It's not a bad gig once you understand the role it plays and that that role is different from what you're used to. And I run into Marines all the time in the NG. Marines typically excel in the NG.

Response by Cpl John Barker made Dec 21 at 2017 4:02 PM

2017-12-21T16:02:06-05:00

...don't...

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2017 4:37 PM

2017-12-21T16:37:26-05:00

No USMCR units nearby? Don't know about staying in tracks, but a lateral move could open new doors and still stay Marine. Talk to a Recruiter and go from there. If you have GI Bill, drill with USMCR and get degree. Maybe do OCS route while still young. Clock is ticking so.... BAMCIS. Good luck.

Response by SFC Jeffrey VanBeekum made Dec 21 at 2017 4:47 PM

2017-12-21T16:47:02-05:00

Did 4 yrs in Marine Corps Air wing myself (1976-1980) was out a year then went to Aberdeen Proving grounds for Tank school (63H). Biggest difference was the discipline as a few other former Marines at Aberdeen agreed. Corporals in the Corps are Jr NCO's and have a lot of responsibilities. In the Army E-4s are specialists and Sgts E-5's are NCO's.