Does anybody have any input on infantry National Guard life (preferably Michigan)?

2017-03-26T22:13:12-04:00

Response by SFC George Smith made Mar 26 at 2017 10:18 PM

2017-03-26T22:18:40-04:00

Be a little More Specific... Thats a vague and empty Question...
What ...where How when

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Mar 27 at 2017 12:10 AM

2017-03-27T00:10:08-04:00

Coming from active duty and going guard will be quite a large change of pace. Many soldiers I served with who came from AD and liked, as well as hated, some of the changes.

Your experience will depend greatly on the unit you go into. Some NG units try to reduce the "check the box" training as much as possible to focus on MOS specific tasks. And some unit administrators are very content to boil their unit's training to a Powerpoint after yet another SHARP training.

Response by SFC Derrick Harris made Mar 27 at 2017 12:34 AM

2017-03-27T00:34:35-04:00

It depend on the unit I been all three Army national Guard and Reserves and active duty I hated the Guard because it was a good old boy system and a slow promotion system and they are a wanted be active duty but a long way from it love the reserves and it has a quick promotion system and instructor and drill sergeants units which is great

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Mar 27 at 2017 3:35 AM

2017-03-27T03:35:54-04:00

The Infantry units in Wisconsin are decent. Google the blog: FOBBITS NEED ICE CREAM TOO. Ask the author about Michigan ARNG. I enjoyed his first blog immensely (before he had to redact things) even though I am not a GWOT era Veteran. I miss the Infantry sense of sarcastic humor I guess. Thank you both for your service.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2017 7:49 AM

2017-03-27T07:49:13-04:00

I'm part of an Ohio ARNG BDE that had a MI IN BN attached (explaining that is for a whole different day and discussion). Personal opinion, based on training interaction and deployments, is that they were as decent an IN BN than the one I was in (1-148th IN). Not sure what their training or deployments will look like moving forward; they're in the process of being detached from OH.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Mar 27 at 2017 7:59 AM

2017-03-27T07:59:18-04:00

You might check with the 37th IBCT Ohio Army National Guard. I believe that two battalions, one Infantry and one Cav. are actually based in Michigan. I did some time with the Ohio Guard when it was 73 Infantry Brigade during the 80's, it was very active for a Guard unit of that period and I understand that the 37th spent a lot of time deployed from 2004-2012. It was a pretty decent infantry unit, especially at squad and platoon level.

Response by SSG Brian Kresge made Mar 27 at 2017 9:10 AM

2017-03-27T09:10:26-04:00

I started off my Guard infantry life after Active Duty with LRSD (which is no more), followed by the Guard's (at the time) only Stryker Brigade. Field time (and jumps!) were great with LRSD, but the Stryker stuff, got a lot of good schools, including 80 hour OPNET, SDM, etc. But that was pre-mob, flush with federal cash time. Plus, the Stryker platform was really exciting.

Now that I'm a loggie, I see the kids over at the Mountain infantry unit here in Maine, and it seems like retention is an issue, but the training and field time looks as groovy as it can be for MUTA 4 drilling.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2017 9:48 AM

2017-03-27T09:48:55-04:00

Call me. I can answer your questions. SFC Groom [login to see]

Response by SGT John C. made Mar 27 at 2017 6:55 PM

2017-03-27T18:55:48-04:00

The USAR has only one Infantry unit left and that one is assigned as a subordinate to the 25th Infantry due to the fact that the units HQ is located at Ft Shafter Hawaii and it's AIR is the Pacific.

The ARNG maintains all Infantry units now with the above exception. Having spent most of my career in the ARNG I can speak with some experience on the subject.

I came from Active to the Guard and it was a serious shock. The attitude is not quite as "hard core" as Active Duty but it has it's moments. The downside to the ARNG is that they have to cram everything in a much shorter training period than Active Duty. A lot of this pertains to SHARP, EEO, and all the other briefs that we get to sit through. These take time from training that we also need to do in order to maintain a combat ready status. The Op-Tempo for deployments is not what it was during the height of the GWOT but they do still happen. My old Infantry BN has deployed to several locations over the past 5 years. Rotations to places like Kuwait do still happen so expect those types of deployments unless things go seriously south in the obvious places across the globe. Expect to spend a lot of time out in the "field" at your state's training location. I'd look that location up and get to know it if you decide to go ARNG. As others stated above the ARNG is a good old boy network. As much as they try to hide it it still exists. It's what happens when you have people serving together who also work at their civilian jobs together and go out drinking together etc etc. I've witnessed this firsthand and it sucks. The best advice I can give you in that regard is do your job, pass your APFT and stay in shape so you can be promoted without any regard to "who you know".

In regards to promotions there will come a time where you may have to transfer to another unit in order to accept a promotion. This unit may, or may not, be in the same BN. It may be closer to you but then again it may not. It all boils down to what YOU want to do in order to get promoted. I took a promotion and now drive about 4 hours to where my current unit drills. It sucks but it was my only option to get promoted. When you get to your unit ask a lot of questions about those things and don't accept what sounds like the standard answer. Talk to soldiers at the unit or maybe at different unit to get a better opinion from the grunts. If you wish shoot me a PM and I'll give you my contact info and we can discuss this "offline".

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2017 9:05 PM

2017-03-27T21:05:23-04:00

I'm in a KY Infantry guard unit right now. Expect to be in the field every drill with the exception of admin drills, expect to ruck at least 12 miles every other drill and a lot more during your 2 weeks annual training, and if the unit there is anything like mine, expect to take a PT test every month even if you pass. Field time is pretty enjoyable for the most part, you aren't as restricted on the shit you can bring out with you like on Active Duty. A lot of the leadership is former Active Component in my unit, so training has always been pretty top notch.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2017 5:58 PM

2017-03-28T17:58:42-04:00

I'll start with what I don't have: Experience in any of the items you asked about. However, I do feel that I have something to add to the discussion, so I'll put it up for what it's worth.

I was a combat engineer in the 32nd, and loved it. The Michigan Guard just placed an infantry battalion back in the 32nd (where it should have been all along.) The 32nd trains hard, and spends a lot of time in the field. The culture we had was something guardsman either loved or hated. Most of the cooks, mechanics, etc. hated the 32nd, because they had to be in the field and wear full kit. But as a combat engineer I loved it, because that's exactly what I signed up to do.

http://dma.wi.gov/DMA/news/2017news/17007

‘Red Arrow’ gains back historic Michigan infantry battalion - Wisconsin Department of Military...

‘Red Arrow’ gains back historic Michigan infantry battalion

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2017 5:12 PM

2017-04-03T17:12:46-04:00

Im an Infantryman in the Wisconsin National Guard and I enjoy. If you want some more information let me know

Response by SPC Anthony Kaiserman made Apr 30 at 2017 1:31 AM

2017-04-30T01:31:52-04:00

It really varies on unit and command can be awesome with little BS and good training in the feild most drills with the right leadership(first half of my career), or with the wrong leadership be the longest Death by PowerPoint, kiss ass, dog and pony show of your life (second half and main reason I got out). Same unit all 7 years. After first deployment had awesome leadership and thought I was a lifer. Second deployment left afterwords and CO didn't appreciate me telling him that his soldiers were more important that his next paygrade.

Response by 2LT Earl Dean made Mar 4 at 2019 3:02 PM

2019-03-04T15:02:52-05:00

Being part of the 38th infantry division isn't easy but it is worth doing and being part of it.
I spent 20 years with them. They can be demanding and should always strive to be. The war eagles which was the Brigade I was in was always asked to do things that seemed crazy, like traveling 200 miles at night only in less than two weeks. DONE! Being the eyes and ears of Dessert Storm, observation and listening post fifteen miles to the front DONE ! The unit I was with trained with Green Beret and SOF before we went. Without knowing were you are and there information it's hard to say.best thing you can do i can do is keep an open mind and do the best you can do. Leave the politics to politician and be a soldier. Good luck my brother in Amsterdam, God bless and keep you