Why did you chose National Guard over Reserve or Reserve over National Guard?

Mainly it was because my AOC was not available in the national guard, but even if it had been I would have went reserves anyways.

I wanted to go active duty, but my wife did not want to move away from home since we had just moved back to be near family after being away for several years.

I had no desire to be in the national guard because I’ve heard it’s harder to get promoted or transfer to different units. I also did not like the idea of being at the whim of my state governor who could call me out for state issues, but also call me out for federal deployments to get political points (I saw this happen with Iraq and Afghanistan).

I like the reserves. It’s easier to transfer to a different unit if I want to and I don’t have to worry about two budgets and two masters in charge of me. (state and federal)

I have the upmost respect for guard just as I do the reserves. I often feel like we are treated as being less than soldiers compared to the active duty folks.

Having served in both for different reasons here's my answer. I came off AD with an RA contract onto the TDRL, so when the PEB cleared me 18 months later I had no active reserve commitment. I was contacted by a reserve recruiter who was trying to get a USAR MP unit up to strength for REFORGER. My AD contract had an 18 month rotation to USAREUR which I was no longer going to be able to use, so I thought why not? Transfer, see the FRG, come home. I was already in the IRR so a transfer to a TPU unit cost me nothing in terms of commitment. I ended up staying, reenlisting, and called it quits right at the 10 year mark for all the wrong reasons.

Fast forward to 2006 and I want to serve, and to be able to retire. I looked into the NG and the USAR, and the guard let me keep my rank. The USAR would require me to enlist as an E4, which would put me at the very bottom of the promotion list, so it was guard here I come! It turned out to be a good choice for numerous reasons. I retired in 2013.

Thanks for the question Francesca

When I joined the Reserves, it was just after being passed over twice and separated. I got a letter from three commanders, and they did a review of my records to determine that I would qualify for a promotion. It all worked out, and I was promoted twice in the Reserves (I was expecting only one). The reason I joined the Reserves was because it seemed the easiest transition (it was).

After I retired from the Reserves, I joined the State Guard. They promoted me.

Not going to bash because you are right, we are supposed to be one team with one mission, protecting this nation. Okay, now my thoughts: first you go and serve where you feel comfortable and are made to feel appreciated. Second, for too many years the Guard, and even Reserves, were looked down upon by the regular Army establishment. The equipment problems were part of that problem since the two "junior" services got leftovers and worn out equipment. This was not the only problem; others included training time availability, money, schools, and manpower. Fortunately, these problems are being addressed, although slowly. Perhaps things would change if a Guard/Reserve General sat on the JCS but really don't know (just my opinion).

I had a 9 year break in service and wanted back in. There was an ADA guard unit in my hometown and the next closest unit was an hour drive away. Made the choice pretty easy. Then, less than a year after I got back from ADA OBC, they reclassed our entire BN to MPs. I transferred to the Reserves because I got tired of spending 6 weeks every spring and 6 weeks every fall on state active duty orders (read base salary and nothing else) doing tornado and hurricane relief duty.

I went Guard because the unit I was assigned was not to fare form home. and the guard gets called out far more then the reserve, I live in Florida and was called out for every disaster Florida had made lots of money.

At the time it was all about combat arms vs service - as such I went into a Field Artillery unit in the reserves. When big Army restructured all support to the reserves I switched to NG to stay in a combat arms. I will say my reserve unit was ate up and my NG was squared away. However it was more regular Army due to it being HQ for Camp Shelby and we were activated due to Desert Storm.