What is the best fit for an Army Officer - Reserve or Guard?

2015-01-01T10:43:39-05:00

Alright guys, I'm transitioning into civilian life and will be starting graduate school at IU in a week or so. My ETS date is 18 FEB and am giving some serious thought to serving in the Reserves or the Guard back home in Indiana, but unsure which one is the best route since I've only know active duty since 2003.

Can anyone give me some good advice? Any senior NCOs or Officers serving back in the great Hoosier State wanna help a guy out?

Thanks in advance everyone, and I hope you have a blessed New Year!

Response by COL Randall C. made Jan 1 at 2015 1:14 PM

2015-01-01T13:14:33-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member, congratulations on considering your continuum of service. There are other discussion threads already established with general comments and views on reserve component service and I would highly suggest you search for those (one I did for "advice to new reserve component soldiers" is at https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/advice-to-new-reserve-component-soldiers).

The main difference between the Army National Guard (ARNG) and the US Army Reserves (USAR) is that USAR is a reserve component of the title 10 active Army and the ARNG is a mainly a title 32 force that is under the control of the Governor of the state/territory (there are 54 different states and territories, each with their own Air and Army National Guard forces). There are many other differences, but for your consideration, this is the big one.

Both reserve components (Active Army is Component 1 (COMPO 1), ARNG is COMPO 2, and USAR is COMPO 3) operate very much the same way - the differences are largely at the upper levels. You have a traditional force of M-day soldiers supported by a small full-time cadre to take care of the day-to-day business. At the higher levels, you have more full-time staff (soldiers or military technicians) providing the infrastructure so that the M-day units can operate.

Contrary to what 1LT(P) Steve Philpot stated, the promotion process in the ARNG and the USAR are the same - there has to be a vacancy that you can be slotted against in order to be promoted (normally ... there are exceptions and they are mostly political). If you're a Field Artillery officer and there aren't any Field Artillery units around, you're only going to be promoted in an branch immaterial position or you're going to have to travel to find a position. Because of this, RC soldiers can simultaneously hold three MOSes. For example, there might not be any Field Artillery positions around, but there's a unit nearby that has a vacancy for an Infantry officer ... just become branch qualified (on active duty you would transfer ... in the reserve component, you just pick another one up).

Some things to keep in mind about your transition.

RYE date - Most active duty soldiers have no idea what this is. Your RYE date (Retirement Years Ending date) is the day which your 'retirement year' closes out. This is different for each soldier and is based on you came in to the military. For straight active duty soldiers, this will usually be your BASD. Look through my post about retirement points to understand why this is important.

ARNG vs USAR benefits - Since the ARNG has a dual-status (T32/T10), all of the T10 federal benefits will apply, and possibly some additional state benefits. For example, many states will exempt your National Guard pay (or a portion of it) from state taxes, provide free tuition to National Guard members attending state educational institutions, etc. This varies from state to state, but is something you would want to look at.

You've heard before that you are your own career manager. Well, in the RC this is doubly true. On active duty, 'Big Army' will generally keep you on a correct glide slope for your career by putting the round pegs in round holes and generally you have to fight for the good assignments (or at least let your branch manager know that you're interested). In the RC, you have be involved in your assignments, promotion boards, etc. If you are in a Troop Program Unit (TPU - the standard unit you generally think of when you think of a reserve component unit), then the readiness NCO will generally try to keep you on track with things you should be worried about (upcoming promotion boards, assignments available, etc) - but that really depends on the strength of the readiness NCO.

If you have any specific questions regarding the INARNG or USAR units in Indiana, I would suggest you start with the "Explore by Units" or "Explore by Location" under the Networking drop-down and find people in that area that are on RallyPoint. I and others can answer general questions or can access databases (for example, I pulled a general vacancy report for the INARNG and see that there is just one O-3 vacancy for a 14A but there are 19 01A (branch immaterial) positions there. Looking at HRC's website on USAR vacancies, there are 15 01A positions and none for 14s or 49s within the state.

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Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 2:10 PM

2015-01-01T14:10:07-05:00

CPT Springer,

As an Indiana resident as well, you might want to consider benefits that Indiana gives to Guard and Reserve Soldiers. I've gone through them before, from an Active Duty standpoint, and I noticed significant differences between Active, Guard, and Reservists. This might not lead to much, but I think it's worth a look.

Just another thought. Good luck and Go Hoosiers!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 1:56 PM

2015-01-02T13:56:07-05:00

I would look at the Guard. They usually offer more benefits. Here are some links to some places to look at. The reason why I like the Guard is that you get State and Federal Benefits. It can really help out if you are going to a school that costs more than your GI Bill. I have used FTA and State Tuition Assistance in the past.

It also seems that the IN National Guard has two battalions of FA in their state. It would help with promotion. The Reserves are not combat focused like the Guard. The Guard contains about half of the BCTs in the Army. The Reserve doesn't not have any BCTs. They have brigades but they are mainly set up for support roles.

http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Home/Benefit_Library/State__Territory_Benefits/Indiana.htm

http://www.in.ng.mil/TroopResources/EducationServices.aspx

http://www.in.ng.mil/Portals/0/PageContents/SoldierResources/Education/UnitEducationandIncentivesFlyer.pdf

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2015 10:53 AM

2015-01-03T10:53:53-05:00

You are going to have to separate individual experiences from facts in this thread. Just because something happened to someone doesn't mean it would happen to you. Just because the regs say X, Y, Z, it doesn't mean that is exactly how things will fall for you.

I am in the TXARNG and I can tell you that in the last two years, I have worked with 38th ID and I think they are a tight outfit. I say this after working closely with 6 DIV HQs in the NG and they and the 34th are top notch (of those I worked with). Note that I live in DE but fly to TX for drill because the quality of the unit and the opportunities available to me in TX.

I knew I was leaving AC at the end of my deployment. The 1LT I did right-seat/left-seat with was Reserves and warned me that he had been in the Reserves for less than 3 months when he got orders to Iraq. He said, "if you do not want to be shaking my hand in a year, go Guard." We have a boutique high-demand skill set and it was his opinion that having a state to protect me would be beneficial. I left AC for family reasons and if I wanted to deploy, I would have just stayed on active duty.

I did run into promotion issues in the NG, but it had more to do with the month-to-month nature of the Guard. I got my packet together and it took the better part of a year to get everything through even though I was in a slot. Consider that so many pieces of your packet expire: APFT, PHA, etc. As soon as I would get one thing fixed, something else would happen...oh, your company had a change of command so now you need a new letter from your company commander; your dental will expire next month before the packet is presented...really one thing after another. I doubt it would be different in the Reserves.

All in all, I have been happy in the NG. I have several friends in the Reserves that have said (warning: these are rumors) that it would be much easier for me to pick up full-time orders if I was in the Reserves (and willing to relocate). I was interested in full-time orders at one point, but that is not a factor for me any more. I would say it is pretty unrealistic to think you can come off active duty and walk straight into an AGR slot in the NG. I know we have had our AGR slots slashed in TX an the slots we do have are greatly coveted by our current M-Day Soldiers.

Good luck! Hit me up with questions anytime if you think I could help. (Goes for anyone)

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2015 11:41 AM

2015-01-03T11:41:44-05:00

Jon, If you are a Combat Arms guy and you want to stay operational in that branch, go Guard. If you don't want to stay operational or if you are a CS/CSS officer, I would go Reserve. Send me an email (I'm in Global) and I'll walk you through the pros/cons, opportunities, etc...

All the best,

Rinaldo

Response by SGT Justin Singleton made Jan 4 at 2015 11:59 AM

2015-01-04T11:59:41-05:00

Just keep in mind that the National Guard makes up 51% of the entire Combat Force, with Active Army making up 48%, and the Reserves making up 1% (all training positions). So, the difference between Guard and Reserves is mainly combat related. Very many support units are reserve (which is considered federal), and Guard units sort of act more like state militias (the Commander and Chief is in fact the governor until the unit is federalized) and are therefore more combat related. So...what is your preference?

One more thing, if you are wanting to go to graduate school, the Guard is likely your best option. On top of your education benefits now, different states have more options. Ohio, for example, offers 100% tuition, whereas the Reserves barely offer anything at all (not beneficial for anyone to join the Reserves solely for education benefits these days.

I'm not a senior NCO, but I was Ohio Guard for 6 years and presently finishing a PhD. I used Ohio Guard tuition for my undergrad, Post 9/11 GI Bill for my Master's and half of my PhD, and now I am out of money, lol.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 4 at 2015 12:31 PM

2015-01-04T12:31:00-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member, many have already given very articulate answers, so I'm not sure I can offer much more, but here's my response to a similar discussion thread:

I served in the FLARNG, the ALARNG and the USAR. I finished my career in the USAR. I found it easier to transfer among the various units of the USAR, rather than try to go from the guard of one state to another, especially at field grades. There are always politics, but I found that to be slightly less problematic in the USAR than the mini-armies of each state. The various Guards have more combat arms and the USAR is principally combat support and sustainment.
One downside is that a service member in the USAR is subject to individual call up whereas in the National Guard, only an entire unit can be called up.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 4:51 PM

2015-01-05T16:51:40-05:00

Quick Recap; I loved seeing the answers from all different levels of rank and experience. The one thing that SGT Singleton and Captain Wolfer brought up that was extremely important is that Educational funding from the State's adds an extra incentive (especially if you do not have T/A or Post 911 for whatever reason (Yes it has happened lol). The larger State's with the more squared away Guard unit's tend to do better than some of your smaller budgeted States with this.
If your goal is to go to a unit and then a tour (NOT AGR), you will have an easier time with this in the Reserve. If you are a 25 or 35 series, I would definitely say Reserve just based on opportunity alone. If you are Combat Arms and wish to remain, ARNG may be for you.
The only thing I noticed on this post that I may have had issue with is Reserve members being individually deployed (attached to a deploying unit other than their own). YES this can happen but have I actually seen it? Nope! I have been 11B4OW6 (Counter IED Senior Sergeant) along with my 42A MOS for quite a while and despite the uptick in deployments for Counter IED related support, I have never been called to go with a unit different than the one I was in (unless I volunteered to do so). I can't imagine another MOS other than maybe a 35 series being called by themselves to deploy. Just my take on it...

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Jan 5 at 2015 7:52 PM

2015-01-05T19:52:42-05:00

Great question, I had the same question as you did. Ultimately I chose the guard and have enjoyed every minute of it. one thing to note is that the reserved don't have combat arms (except the 442nd) so I don't know which branch you are. If you are combat arms and can't live without it, then the choice may have been made for you.

Another thing I took into consideration was where I was going to end up. I love Hawaii and didn't want to move. For the state guard, it is very close knit family (especially in a small state like ours) and everyone knows everyone. That can be both good and bad.

Also the state reports to the governor for natural disasters etc. I wanted to support that mission, especially since Hawaii tends to have hurricanes come through.

Ultimately it is your preference. I would visit the different units. That is what I did. In the end, it was the people that helped me make my decision!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 11:59 AM

2015-06-30T11:59:37-04:00

What Career Field do you want to serve in; by design the reserves don't have combat arms, and the guard does. I think the proximity of your home to units will be a bigger factor than culture issues (at least it would be to me).

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 4:45 AM

2016-03-02T04:45:29-05:00

Jon,
One thing to also consider is what kind of civilian career do you wish to have, i.e. will your future civilian career after grad school allow for upward mobility and move you around a lot, kind of like the Army for promotions, etc. or you going to do something like teach or be a police officer in your home state that won't require cross country moves, like LTC Curlee stated, it is easier to move around in the USAR than the ARNG