Fellas, I was wondering if any of you have been or are currently serving in the Texas Army National Guard?

I've been seriously thinking about joining for almost a year now and would really appreciate some insight from other Aggie's who have served or are currently serving.

Specifically, which length of service did you sign up for? It looks like there is 3, 6, and 8 year terms.

How did it affect your current job, specifically leaving for 10 weeks of basic? Was your employer understanding? Were you able to work at all (possibly via email) while at basic?

For the last year I've been unable to shake this want to serve a greater purpose. And regardless of the current administration or things going on around the world I'm afraid that if I don't take this step I will regret it for the rest of my life.

I appreciate your thought and opinions.

Sorry this won't help with your situation.

Most dudes who went to basic (20 week OSUT for Tankers back in the 90s) just left their job at HEB and got another one when they got back.

I served 6 years in the TXARNG. Never a problem leaving for 2-3 weeks at one go for Annual Training. It was a hassle and everybody thought you were on vacation (while you were really working 16-20 hour days) but my employer never hassled me. Obviously you had to turnover projects while you were away.

Thanks Hollywood. Is this something you would recommend? How did you handle the living of two lives?

Any suggestions on career choices? I'm in sales, so I don't really see much correlation between civilian and military jobs for me. I always just thought about joining Infantry.

e-mail me (e-mail in profile.) I'm currently in the Guard.

There's probably a balance you need to consider of how likely you are to deploy. These days, that likelihood is probably pretty high. But still, some jobs more than others.

If there's something you really want to do, I recommend going for it. Infantry, Ranger, etc. But, if you want to do it hard core enough to do it part time, why not take a couple years and do it full time? That way you'll be better prepared for when your unit gets activated at some future date.

I'll say, it wasn't easy juggling two careers. In my case, ultimately one of them had to give. It was easier to chuck the military career.

Best of luck to you. Go for it!

Current TXARNG officer here. I did BCT then the state traditional OCS program. My job had no issues with me leaving for 9+ weeks for BCT. OCS was two 2-week AT periods with 12 months of weekend drills in between. After that, I was gone again for 6 months for FABOLC.

You will not be able to communicate much, if at all, during BCT; other than the occasional phone call, and of course letters. I could have theoretically worked via email during FABOLC, but I had my hands pretty full with the coursework.

I picked branches that were completely opposite of what I do for a living (I'm in IT, and my top 3 were Infantry, FA, and Engineering), because I didn't want to do the same thing in the Guard as I do in the civilian world.

My advice would be to go talk to a recruiter and get the ball rolling. Take the ASVAB and see what jobs are open to you. The TXARNG has a pretty wide range of available MOS's, so you'll probably have a pretty wide varity of things you can try to do. Decide if you want to go officer or enlisted, as well. Your options will narrow some on the officer end, as you won't be guaranteed to be able to pick your job. There are plenty of people who went both routes here who can help.

As mentioned, there are plenty of jobs out there but the ones you want are all in aviation. Everyone knows this they are all just hesitant to admit it. Not that I'm biased or anything.

He's 28 they won't let him go aviation.

He wants to be a trigger puller and not a taxi driver anyways.

Thanks for all the advice! To answer some of your questions:

I'm not concerned with being deployed. I'm not exactly excited to be away from home that long, but if it's apart of the job and my country needs me, then I'll do what I have to do.

Right now I'm leaning toward Infantry, and I don't have much interest in becoming an officer. I think I'd rather be a guy on the ground doing work.

Hollywood, I understand what you are saying about joining full time, and I've thought about it. But I've got a good job and nice life surrounded by friends and family. Since the guard will allow me to serve my country without having to uproot I'd prefer to do that.

I have no doubt it won't be an easy juggle with the Guard and life/work, but I'm always up for a good challenge.

I got the contact information for the recruiter in my area and will be contacting him when I get back from working out of the country in a few weeks. I took a practice ASVAB the other day and scored ok I think (42/60). Not sure what that would equate to on the real test, but I'm confident I will do at least well enough for Infantry.

Thanks for all the advice, as things progress I may be back with more questions.

I was an infantry NCO, active and guard. I would not recommend joining the guard if you have any desire to become a professional soldier.

Whatever the case, I'd do a little investigating into your prospective unit, there are some that are just absolutely terrible.

[This message has been edited by aggie1357 (edited 1/14/2013 8:51p).]

Also, find a unit close to you and find out if their are any slots available in the MOS you want. Promotions are based on slot availability and if you want to get promoted, you may have to travel across the state. I was in both the Guard and Reserve and the same holds true. I live in SA and my last Reserve unit before I retired was in Dallas.

I'm in the guard, 11 bang bang. i just finished OSUT in December, and wasn't able to train with my unit this month b/c i don't have my TA-50 issued yet, so i can't really help you out as far as life in the guard is concerned. employer was understanding about me leaving for 4 months to train.

Retired TxARNG officer here. Geography is VERY important on your choice about signing up for the Army National Guard. Find out what units are within 50 miles of your home or where you expect to be living for the next 4 to 5 years. Find out what MOS's those units have and pick a unit that you think will be interesting to you over that time period. Understand that you have a chance to be mobilized and insure you and your family have a plan to deal with life if you are gone during that time frame. Pick an MOS that has a 'mainstream' opportunity of getting promoted during your first 4 to 5 years. Meaning that if the closest/best unit to where you are going to be is a Field Artillery Battery, then sign up for a FA MOS. Don't sign up for some MOS that does not exist anywhere close to you just because you can or some recruiter lets you make this stupid choice just to get your X on the line. Like signing up for some Intel MOS when the closest Intel unit/section is 200 miles away from you. There are other bad fit MOS examples like this, I am just using one to make a point. Intel is a fine MOS if you live in the Austin area and close to the MI BN.

Picking an MOS is like getting married. You live with it a long time and hard/expensive/time consuming to change. Choose well.

Units change with time. A 'good' unit now can turn into a 'not so good' unit and vice versa within a couple of years. Commanders change, NCO structure changes. Units are dynamic things. You can't control that but you can control you. Pick well and do a good job. Good things happen to good soldiers. Good luck.



[This message has been edited by WBBQ74 (edited 2/4/2013 4:17p).]

I don't know if you got my last email but for the love of all that is holy to you sign up for federal student loan repayment and ask for it. When you are contracting ask for any and all schools you would like as well. Airborne, air assault, etc etc. The recruiter I told you I knew is no longer recruiting, but if you have a question about what a recruiter is telling you, tell them you need a day or two then email someone in this thread or post on the board. Many know the spiel and can help and tell you if the recruiter is FOS or not.

Ok here's the skinny. I'm an 11B out here in lovely RC West, AFG. My biggest piece of advice to you, no matter what MOS you choose, get a feel for the battalion that you will be serving with as a whole. I love my company, but I cannot stand my batt here. ~90% of the stupidity I encounter on a daily basis comes from the batt level and the HQ guys who work there.

Other advice:
Be upfront with your employer and notify them of your upcoming duty dates.
Go to every military specialty school that you can while keeping your employer happy.
Join the infantry and have fun while doing real work and playing with dangerous toys!

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Go to every military specialty school that you can while keeping your employer happy.

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This one is easy - You'll never be able to go to anything, due to "funding"! So don't worry.

They just grounded our Lakotas, canceled schools and told us not to expect nothing for next FY. Get schools in your initial contract or forget about it.

quote:

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Ok here's the skinny. I'm an 11B out here in lovely RC West, AFG. My biggest piece of advice to you, no matter what MOS you choose, get a feel for the battalion that you will be serving with as a whole. I love my company, but I cannot stand my batt here. ~90% of the stupidity I encounter on a daily basis comes from the batt level and the HQ guys who work there.

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I would also expect that any of the "stupidity" that is flowing down to you from battalion is coming from higher. Battalion headquarters are little more than managers and just about everything comes with little wiggle room from BDE or DIV.

Schools for active duty are going to be cut as well. TRADOC is one of the big areas that will be cut as they push to keep line units at full strength while absorbing cuts.

Again, thanks for all the input!

I've migrated away from enlisting and am seriously considering going to BCT and then state OCS.

Has anyone gone this route? Thoughts?

As long as you are ok with not getting to pick what you get to do .

I enlisted 09S, did BCT and then State OCS, so I'd be more than happy to answer any questsions you have.

And while TXAGChick06 is correct in that you don't get to pick what branch you get, it's not a complete crapshoot, either. I ended up with my 2nd choice, which, looking back, was the best fit for me anyway.

Feel free to email me, jkylenelson (at) gmail (dot) com, with any questions about the BCT-> State OCS process.