What does the National Guard offer that the Reserves doesn't and Vice-Versa?

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.

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.

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.

Lots of good information, and lots of half-truths.

I spent 22 years in the Guard, 11 in the Reserve, and 5 on Active Duty.

There is more politics in the Guard, but then as a purely state force, this should be expected. In Texas, the Airborne Mafia was well known for getting the lion's share of funding, at least in the 80's.

In addition to the 2 Guard SF groups someone else mentioned, there were two Reserve groups, the 11th and 12th. The 12th was headquartered in Oklahoma City, with a detachment near Dallas, and my unit jumped with them regularly. But the real story on what is available is what you want and how much you are willing to suffer to get it.

I know paratroopers who commuted monthly from Texas to Mississippi to stay in an Airborne unit. I know of people who did 20 years and retired as a SP4 - because they wanted to jump more than get promoted.

Promotion in the Guard can be very difficult. You have to have an EMPTY slot (no double slotting), and you have to be fully MOSQ to be put into it BEFORE you can get a promotion. So you either go to schools to get MOSQed, or you wait for the guy above you to die or get promoted.

Personally, I looked for opportunities to get extra training, and qualified for slots that no one else wanted. I retired with MOSs in 5 career fields, 11B, C, and H, 19K, 25B, 37F, and 96B.

I made E-7 as an instructor in a Reserve school. It was a retirement home for broke people and the unit I was least proud to be associated with. But that's life - I got the promotion, I did the job, and I went back to a field unit as soon as I could manage it.

The Guard does specialize in combat units, especially Infantry. That doesn't means the Reserves don't deploy - just ask the PSYOP, Civil Affairs, and Water Purification units.

On active duty, you do your job, the Army rotates you regularly to other units, and you get promoted from a list. This is the significant difference between the Active and Reserve forces. You have more control over your career in the Reserves and Guard, but YOU have to take care of it yourself. If you don't push, you can stay in the same job for your entire career. And if the only unit within driving distance is a Laundry and Bath unit, you can either go with it, or you fly to drills. It's very much up to you, and how much it's worth to you.

Army Reserve Civil Affairs has the most airborne slots of any unit in the Guard or Reserves. Come jump with one of our six airborne battalions! Note that getting in to one of these units is not easy. Be prepared to sell your skills to the Commander.

The National Guard offers a geographic limitation in where a soldier or airman can serve whereas the Reserves is a global force. Unfortunately, this limitation in geography also comes with increased nepotism (friends and family units) and decreased promotion opportunities (sometimes overcome by political activism and support of governor). The Reserves have units throughout the US and OCONUS, which is necessary to ensure soldiers and airman can find promotion/unit assignments. Unfortunately, this usually means the soldier or airman must travel extensively to maintain unit affiliation and obtain promotions. This can lead to stress at home and limited civilian career opportunities.

The National Guard has the RC combat units and that is huge. They also offer state educations benefits which are unmatched by the USAR. In Iowa, a NG Soldier who is AIT complete gets 100% tuition assistance to one of the 3 state schools. This does not affect G.I. Bill benefits so these Soldiers get considerably more college paid for. I think the USAR offers more opportunities for senior NCOs and officers because each state will stovepipe at the top and senior promotions will be based on a vacancy opened up when someone usually retires. As a Federal force, the USAR gives more flexibility in assignments since you are not tied to one state (that may require more travel). Also, I think there is less of the "good old boy" network in the USAR. Because many senior NG appointments are political, that opens the door for more corruption. Both will allow a person to serve the Nation in a great way while pursuing a civilian career.

Reserves provides an easier means of transferring from one place to another. I move when the Army PCSes my spouse, that could be anywhere. Instead of having to jump through hoops or spend a wasted year (that doesn't count to retirement) in the IRR the Reserves is everywhere there is an Active component (Germany, Korea, etc). There are some MOS differences as others have mentioned, the mission is different, and the funding is different (state vs. federal).

I'll tackle promotions only:
Reserves have more promotion available for all MOS depending on HRC-released slots. In the Guard, promotion is only within the state you belong to, which could take a lifetime to promote. Whereas in the Reserves you can get promoted across state lines to different Regional Support Commands. Had a Soldier transfer from NC to TX when he got promoted to E-7.

I served in the reserves. I knew several guard personnel. It seemed, and this is just an opinion, that there were more politics with the guard.