Posted on Nov 16, 2020
What should I consider when deciding between becoming an Army National Guard officer or an Air Guard enlisted?
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I have several friends who are veterans. I myself am in the process of looking to join the Armed Forces, and have a question.
I have heard that the Air National Guard stands head and shoulders over the Army National Guard in almost every way. They give you more educational benefits, the food is better, the barracks are better, culture better... You get the picture. So the natural choice would be Air Guard, right?
But, the Army National Guard is offering an 09S MOS to guarantee a slot at OCS. So I would get to become an officer.
Now I am at a loss. I want to be an officer. But ideally want to do Air Guard. Is being commissioned in Army Guard better than Air Guard enlisted? I scored very high on the ASVAB and have decent PT (still improving running) so I feel like the sky is the limit.
I have a degree in the arts, so no major help with going to OTS on the ANG other than the fact that I have a degree....
What should I do? Which would you choose? Army Guard commission? Air Guard Enlisted with the possibility of officer in the future?
I have heard that the Air National Guard stands head and shoulders over the Army National Guard in almost every way. They give you more educational benefits, the food is better, the barracks are better, culture better... You get the picture. So the natural choice would be Air Guard, right?
But, the Army National Guard is offering an 09S MOS to guarantee a slot at OCS. So I would get to become an officer.
Now I am at a loss. I want to be an officer. But ideally want to do Air Guard. Is being commissioned in Army Guard better than Air Guard enlisted? I scored very high on the ASVAB and have decent PT (still improving running) so I feel like the sky is the limit.
I have a degree in the arts, so no major help with going to OTS on the ANG other than the fact that I have a degree....
What should I do? Which would you choose? Army Guard commission? Air Guard Enlisted with the possibility of officer in the future?
Posted in these groups: US ANGOhio ARNG
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
Officer Training School (OTS)
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army) Officer Training School (OTS)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
Connor Reese
Sorry for the issue. When I saw the rank and *(Anonymous)* of others, I thought it was okay. Thank you for your info, I have corrected the issue.
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Connor Reese
MSgt (Join to see) of course! Brand new here and I want to ensure I follow the regulations!
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OK, I'll take a swing at this one.
The educational benefits in the Ohio Army National Guard and the Ohio Air National Guard will be essentially identical except for MOS/AFSC schools. So you get GI Bill and State Tuition Assistance which ever one you join. The Army Guard is much large, so there are more slots and jobs available, which also includes for Officers. These days, from my experience, the difference in quarters and facilities has gone away, you don't see the WWII barracks that were common in my day anymore and the Air Force mess is about the same as Army Mess Halls.
Air Force Basic Training is Easier that Army Basic Combat Training. How hard your advanced schools are just depends on what you choose. The big difference is that in the Army National Guard, if you enlist on an OCS contract, you will attend BCT before you attend OCS. The Air National Guard will send you straight to OTS. There are several choices of how you can attend OCS, depending on what you state will fund. You can go to the 12 week Federal OCS at Ft Benning, the "Traditional" NG OCS, which just takes place of your normal drill weekend and annual training over about 14 months, and there is an Accelerated OCS in the Guard that last 8 weeks. I don't know if there is similar choices in the Air National Guard.
The educational benefits in the Ohio Army National Guard and the Ohio Air National Guard will be essentially identical except for MOS/AFSC schools. So you get GI Bill and State Tuition Assistance which ever one you join. The Army Guard is much large, so there are more slots and jobs available, which also includes for Officers. These days, from my experience, the difference in quarters and facilities has gone away, you don't see the WWII barracks that were common in my day anymore and the Air Force mess is about the same as Army Mess Halls.
Air Force Basic Training is Easier that Army Basic Combat Training. How hard your advanced schools are just depends on what you choose. The big difference is that in the Army National Guard, if you enlist on an OCS contract, you will attend BCT before you attend OCS. The Air National Guard will send you straight to OTS. There are several choices of how you can attend OCS, depending on what you state will fund. You can go to the 12 week Federal OCS at Ft Benning, the "Traditional" NG OCS, which just takes place of your normal drill weekend and annual training over about 14 months, and there is an Accelerated OCS in the Guard that last 8 weeks. I don't know if there is similar choices in the Air National Guard.
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Connor Reese
Excellent answer! How do I secure an OTS contract with the air guard? I may not have been speaking to the correct person as the initial recruiter I was talking to didn't have any info on the officer process.
Is it normal to find that Air Guard is less responsive to the candidates? Or is that just my experience? Not a slight against them in the slightest, merely curious.
Is it normal to find that Air Guard is less responsive to the candidates? Or is that just my experience? Not a slight against them in the slightest, merely curious.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
Connor Reese - They could be less responsive because they don't have a slot for OTS. However, that is the other side of the Guard and I am certainly not an expert on the Air Guard. I do know that the starting point is their version of the an ASVAB, the Air Force Officer Qualification Test and a 4 year degree. I would call the State Headquarters and see if they have a department that deals with Officer Recruiting for the Air Guard.
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Well considering you are looking at a weekend warrior thing those pros and cons you speak of only apply on the weekends and annual training.
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Connor Reese
That is true a majority of the time. But I think it naive to not plan ahead for the very real possibility of a deployment.
I guess all I'm trying to do is think through as many situations and scenarios as possible before making a huge commitment.
I guess all I'm trying to do is think through as many situations and scenarios as possible before making a huge commitment.
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Connor Reese
CPT (Join to see) thank you for advice. You've given me some things to think about for sure.
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