Posted on May 28, 2015
What does the National Guard offer that the Reserves doesn't and Vice-Versa?
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If you were a recruiter, what would your angle be?
Posted in these groups: 
Army National Guard
Army Reserve
Army National Guard Army Reserve
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 43
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While both are reserve components, and while both have been blurred since 911... ARNG is the state militia, and under the command of the governor in normal times... The guard belongs to the state, and routinely provides support to local, and state governments and law enforcement for a wide variety of contingencies. They can also be augmentation forces to the Regular Army, when needed. The Reserves are simply always just augmentation forces to the Active Army. The Guard seems much more exciting and relevant day in and day out.
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SSG Gerhard S.
Col Williams, respectfully, a point of contention here. The National Guard is actually not THE militia. It is made up of militia members (able bodied males) between 18-45, but only those members who have agreed to enlist as members willing to be called up for Federal service.
The following quote comes from the provided link.
Sen. Proctor (36 Cong. Rec. 125 (Dec. 9 1902): "The old law makes every able-bodied man in the country a member of the militia, and provides no further organization. This bill separates and makes a class which can be called into active service."
Proctor, at p. 305: "The National Guard is in full organization; it is already created and would naturally be first called upon if wanted for a limited time, and then the militia would be called upon."
http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2005/04/is_the_national.php
The following quote comes from the provided link.
Sen. Proctor (36 Cong. Rec. 125 (Dec. 9 1902): "The old law makes every able-bodied man in the country a member of the militia, and provides no further organization. This bill separates and makes a class which can be called into active service."
Proctor, at p. 305: "The National Guard is in full organization; it is already created and would naturally be first called upon if wanted for a limited time, and then the militia would be called upon."
http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2005/04/is_the_national.php
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MSG (Join to see)
Don't let the state governors fool you, there is so much more directive from National Guard Bureau (NGB) than you think. We do things much different than the active component but we are still held to their standards because folks at NGB are with the active component folks at the Department of the Army and Pentagon.
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COL Charles Williams
Thanks MSG (Join to see) SSG Gerhard S.. Thanks for the comments and clarification. I appreciate the detail.
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SSG Gerhard S.
You're welcome COL Charles Williams. I would also like to agree with MSG (Join to see) that the NG, at least in my experience is held to a high standard as evidenced by the number of units and commanders that were quite surprised to learn we were a National Guard LRS unit AFTER we had performed in an exemplary manner in theatre.
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First off, I am in the National Guard so that makes it pretty awesome. But there a lot of factors going on. Each state is different. I have looked at the Reserves too. Being how I am infantry there isn't a traditional infantry unit I could go too. But there are training and other duties that I could do as an infantry officer. You would really have too look at the surrounding units. I know promotion in the Reserves can be quicker and from I understand they can pay for travel. What really keeps me in the Guard is the combat arms side. I like infantry and want to try SF. I couldn't do that in the Reserves. Push in usually the state will offer more benefits to guard members also.
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CPT (Join to see)
SFC James Sczymanski I was referring to why I am in the Guard. I do realize that there is one infantry battalion that falls under a NG command for operational task org but I have no means of going to HI and being a part of that. I was saying there isn't any that I could go to.
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The guard offers jobs close to home with promotion opportunities close to home. The reserves cannot provide this. In the reserves the chances of having to travel hundreds of miles to drill is high. This makes leadership difficult also. In the guard most of your Soldiers will live in the immediate area.
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SPC (Join to see)
If it is a BENEFIT to not be called up by the State for relief or police augmentation issues, then wow SSG. Serving the country apparently does not include the community. I don't believe his logic is completely flawed. The semantics of his opening statement, maybe. However, the point he was bringing up is that in the Reseves is it highly likely that you will NOT be stationed close to home. As a 68W of course there would be a wide range of units open to you....everyone needs a medic.
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