What are the biggest differences between the Guard and the Reserves?

SSG(P) Loris Metzinger — Tue, 22 May 2018 20:14:33 -0400

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2018 8:18 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 May 2018 20:18:47 -0400

The Guard are State troops, and promotions take longer because you also have to be federally recognized. The Reserve are Federal troops. With the Guard, someone has to retire or die for you to move up. With the Reserve, you have to find an open slot. With the Guard, if you want to travel to Battle Assembly to get a slot for your MOS, you can only travel within your State...or seek an Interstate Transfer. With the Reserve, you can go wherever there's an open slot.

It's a safe bet if you go Guard, you'll know more of the people in your unit and be closer with them...

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made May 22 at 2018 9:31 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Tue, 22 May 2018 21:31:23 -0400

Who is in charge.

Response by CW5 Ranger Dave made May 22 at 2018 10:02 PM

CW5 Ranger Dave — Tue, 22 May 2018 22:02:58 -0400

The Guard has a better union. LOL

During my AD career, I noted the NG due to their unique funding had much better maintained equipment. During the Carter Administration, things were so bad at the 24th ID, we borrowed parts for our OH-58s from the Florida Guard in Jacksonville. Seriously!

The Reserve had much older equipment. We flew Old U-21s and C-12s. The reserve was still flying U-8s.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made May 22 at 2018 10:58 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Tue, 22 May 2018 22:58:46 -0400

Reserves combat support and NG combat Arms. Reserves federal funded and NG state funded. Reserves you can transferred to a unit in any state NG only in the state you in!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2018 11:22 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 May 2018 23:22:31 -0400

Guard you are locked in by the State because they don’t fall under federal funding Reserves is where you want to be because they have more funding and it is a lot more easier to go Active because the Guard will not let you unless you ETS. I’ve been in all yheee components and Reserves/ Active is where you want to be.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made May 23 at 2018 12:44 AM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Wed, 23 May 2018 00:44:09 -0400

The biggest difference between the Guard and Reserve? Having served in both, the Guard being a state entity is highly political. Especially in the officer corps and among senior NCOs. The Guard also has a tendency to make up their own rules.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 23 at 2018 2:50 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 23 May 2018 02:50:09 -0400

I'm just curious if you could elaborate at all, are you in school at all? Assocs? Bach? What ultimate objective? Senior enlisted? Warrant? Commissioned? Have you looked at AGR? Guard tech? Reserve tech? The latter are the dual hat programs combining civil svc for a state for Guard, or Federal for Reserfez with drilling, where one wears the uniform during work and drills on drill time on weekends or on deplymnets...AGR I've never entirely understood...then, with Reserves, there's also the whole indiv Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) program, I'd looked at that quite heavily nefor I'd been discharged and mymtotal perm disability now...also, USAFR has a program with Civil Air Patrol (CAP I'd seriously looked at for awhile...the USPHS Commissioned Corps had a Ready Reserve for awhile, then it got shut down...I'd be most eager to hear more, if you'd care to elaborate, as I'd said, I have an interest in such questions, hope was of use, many thanks.....

Response by MSG Pete Miller made May 23 at 2018 7:27 AM

MSG Pete Miller — Wed, 23 May 2018 07:27:52 -0400

Guard is run by the state and is combat arms orientated. Activated for civil issues, floods, riots etc. Reserves is federal and combat service support orientated can only be activated on a federal level. Can be deployed in either.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2018 8:12 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 May 2018 08:12:40 -0400

Combat arms and State Active Duty (Riots/Natural Disasters). We're much more fun!