MSgt Private RallyPoint Member 137146 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would like to hear what experiences Active Duty has had with these components and if none, what they have heard about them. <br /><br />I have been in deployed locations amongst AD and it has amazed me how little some people have even heard about "The Guard." 2014-05-28T17:36:01-04:00 MSgt Private RallyPoint Member 137146

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would like to hear what experiences Active Duty has had with these components and if none, what they have heard about them. <br /><br />I have been in deployed locations amongst AD and it has amazed me how little some people have even heard about "The Guard."

2014-05-28T17:36:01-04:00 2014-05-28T17:36:01-04:00 CMSgt James Nolan 137193

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As a former AD Marine, we saw zero presence from the Reserves. Then upon separation, I joined the Reserves until I found out that Police Departments would NOT hire Marine Reservists and had to separate-and was immediately hired (funny how that worked). Then, later, I joined Navy Reserves, then transferred job locations and switched to Air Force Reserves. Then, I heard of the Air Guard and swapped, and love where I am.<br /><br />After 9-11, we hooked up with AD units and had run ins, until the kinks got worked out (mostly AD prejudice against the Guard. Since then, there has been so much co-mingling that for the most part, you cannot distinguish the two.<br /><br />What I can tell anyone is that for the most part (there are always exceptions) the Guard and Reserves are a tremendous asset and in many cases the experience level carried by the average Guardsman/Reservist is off the charts. <br /><br />I am in a Security Forces Unit that has a significant number of personnel with greater than 15 years of service, many with active duty, many with cross service affiliation (former Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard and numerous Air Force-both from Active and Reserve of all).<br /><br />In addition to all of the cross service experience, the unit is full of civilian law enforcement, many with over 15 years there. <br /><br />When we deploy, we can pick up the ball and run. How do you replicate that level of experience when joining up with active duty? My answer is that you cannot. That is not a knock on active duty-it is a plug to the Guard/Reserve.<br /><br />It does take a minute sometimes for Guard/Reserve to get back into the AD swing of things, but good troops pick that up quickly.<br /><br />The major difference between AD and Guard/Reserve is that most Guard/Reserve are fulfilling two full time careers and are in a constant juggling act of pleasing two masters-they have to keep the Military and the Civilian bosses happy and that "aint easy".<br /><br />My .02 is that if you link up with a Guard/Reserve unit-give them a minute to acclimate, then watch them excel. I would not trade my Active time for anything in the world-Semper Fi Marines, but I also would not trade my Guard time and experiences. It has been great. <br /><br />If you are getting out of the Active Duty, and going into Law Enforcement, my advice to you is find an Air Guard SFS unit and join. What you will find is a unit that knows what time it is, and a family that will help you get where you want to go! Defensor Fortis

2014-05-28T18:52:46-04:00 2014-05-28T18:52:46-04:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 137216

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would say it would depend on the unit. I am in the Guard and have been in good units and have seen some guard units embarrass the guard. I am lucky to be in one of those good guard units. I am in an awesome infantry unit. I have even been afforded the opportunity to attend Ranger school. It is hard to get that in the Guard. It is all what you make of it. I would say we are found to be the victim of many jokes from the AD side.

2014-05-28T19:08:17-04:00 2014-05-28T19:08:17-04:00 MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca 137370

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My Army National Guard unit, the 43rd MP Bde, was responsible for CLOSING Abu Ghraib prison. <br /><br />Not to be confused with the 800th MP Bde who the whole mess started under.<br /><br />'Nuff said about how I feel.

2014-05-28T22:06:55-04:00 2014-05-28T22:06:55-04:00 TSgt Joshua Copeland 240463

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>After 9/11 most of the active duty guys out of the 305 SFS (now the 87th) were deployed and the entire squadron was back filled with our sister Guard Unit the 108 SFS. I spent 8 months as a full time augmentee and loved every minute of it. The SFS/CC even got me awarded a secondary AFSC. These guys were 100% professionals and almost without exception they all were either a local cop or NYPD.<br /><br />While deployed I supported a few guard units and outside of the everyone on first names, they had better Mx metrics then their AD counterparts flying newer aircraft.

2014-09-14T09:26:22-04:00 2014-09-14T09:26:22-04:00 SPC Private RallyPoint Member 356993

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It is a broad spectrum. Everyone had bad eggs, but how they're handled varies

2014-12-05T18:27:28-05:00 2014-12-05T18:27:28-05:00 SPC Nate Lamphier 485547

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>A National Guard unit was responsible for keeping the roads clear for the company I belonged to. Those Soldiers rolled out nightly and kept our roads clear. <br /><br />Nothing but respect from my end.

2015-02-19T12:06:16-05:00 2015-02-19T12:06:16-05:00 2014-05-28T17:36:01-04:00