I have some questions about joining back up. I work for a big insurance company in San Antonio that serves the military and after being out a few years and working here, I've found myself feeling that calling again, but most definitely not full-time.

Would just like to see some pros and cons of your time in either of these services. I currently am talking to a few recruiters with some Reserve slots here in San Antonio and am about to contact from the Guard side.

Background:
A&M c/o '08, joined the Army in May of '09, Intelligence Officer, deployed to OEF X-XI, got out in August 2012 and now am in San Antonio working full time.

If you'd prefer to take it offline you can email me as well. I'll PM you my address.

Guard FA officer here, not prior service, joined in 2009, did BCT then state OCS. Commissioned in 2011. I joined later in life, I was 33 when I went to basic, and commissionsed just before my 35th birthday.

Currently a battery XO out in El Paso (live in DFW). Should get a CPT slot after AT this year. Haven't deployed (I got done with BOLC right after they finalized the rosters for a SECFOR mission and the last SFAAT mission).

I love it, even though I have to travel to El Paso for drill once a month. Pros for me are I'm living a lifelong dream to serve, while still being able to maintain a civilian career. I get to blow stuff up once a quarter. I'm still a junior officer, so I'm able get my hands dirty with the Joes quite a bit.

Cons include travel, for sure. I'm paying out of pocket for a flight to El Paso once a month. They also recently suspended lodging for E-5s and up, unless you're a commander or 1SG/CSM. So, I just stay at the armory (at least it's one of the nicer ones in the state). To offset that, they're starting to pay us an extra RMA each month (about 2 MUTAs worth). You can also deduct 100% of your non-food military-related expenses from your taxable income. That helped drop us down a tax bracket, saving us a bunch this year in taxes. So, keep all your receipts. Deployment opportunities are almost zero ( realize this can be both a pro or a con, depending on what you're looking for). Money is very tight in the Texas Guard right now, schools are getting cancelled right and left. I still have my CCC reservation, though, so hopefully that sticks.

While the "Cons" paragraph ended up about twice as long as the Pros, I still love doing it. Some people dread drill weekends, I mostly look forward to them, especially field weekends. AT is always a blast, since we're usually firing rounds for a week straight.

Any specific questions you have, feel free to ask on here, or you can email me at jkylenelson (at) gmail (dot) com.

Are you thinking of enlisting or being commissioned? I'm still on AD, but will probably transition next summer. I have considered staying in the Guard after leaving, but I really have no interest in being a field grade so I've asked around about resigning my commission and enlisting. Recruiters say "it's possible" but nobody seems to have any idea how to do it

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Are you thinking of enlisting or being commissioned? I'm still on AD, but will probably transition next summer. I have considered staying in the Guard after leaving, but I really have no interest in being a field grade so I've asked around about resigning my commission and enlisting. Recruiters say "it's possible" but nobody seems to have any idea how to do it

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I know that's possible. One of my E-5s is a former field grade. I'll see if I can talk with him about how he went about it.

Thanks!

Keep in mind that the Guard or Reserve is a different world than the Active Duty. Just make sure you manage your expectations. I've spent 28 yrs in the Guard, deployed to OEF 10-11 (probably about the same time as you), been to Germany, etc. I recently spoke to an OC/T from Leavenworth about which types of units were better at WFX - his response was that Guard, Reserve and Active are all about the same - they all screw up the same tasks.

I'd say that being a Guardsman or Reservist is a bit tougher - you're expected to maintain your military proficiency at about the same level as the Active Component, all the while being proficient in your civilian career. Sometimes they overlap, but rarely. It's also tough to work civilian job M-F, go to drill Sat-Sun, then go back to civilian job M-F back to back.

All in all, I have no regrets taking the 'pure' Guard track. I'm sure that if I'd have gone Active Duty back in 85 or 86, I would've enjoyed that as well.

As far as benefits, not in it for the money, though. GI Bill and Hazlewood definitely worth it. Plus, I get to deal with Enterprise Email.......

I'm enlisted, deployed, guard.

It's generally not bad, but ******** games are plenty, and there are no shortages of people not wanting to do their job.

If you can read and respond to email, and occasionally submit a DA-something, I'd love for you to go S1!

Back on track though, we have several Aggies over here, enlisted and officer.

Are you still interested in working in S2?

Kyle98
Wow... Dallas to El paso, that's a haul. Luckily the unit here is about 5 minutes from my house. I talked to a MAJ in the Guard a few months ago and he suggested Guard over Reserve because he thought they had more money than the Feds but seems that could be cutting back. Appreciate the insight.

Tango Mike

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Are you thinking of enlisting or being commissioned? I'm still on AD, but will probably transition next summer. I have considered staying in the Guard after leaving, but I really have no interest in being a field grade so I've asked around about resigning my commission and enlisting. Recruiters say "it's possible" but nobody seems to have any idea how to do it

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Officer. I've worked in a lot of intel and while it may not be completely relevant, still stay pretty up on current events and in the intel community. I've talked to a lot of people, one that's AF Reserve in SA right now that I work with and he said the Guard/Reserve doesn't have that specific "up or out"-type mentality. I could be wrong.

86sq6

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deployed to OEF 10-11

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Where were you? I was in Logar/Wardak province with the 10th Mountain.

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I'd say that being a Guardsman or Reservist is a bit tougher - you're expected to maintain your military proficiency at about the same level as the Active Component, all the while being proficient in your civilian career. Sometimes they overlap, but rarely. It's also tough to work civilian job M-F, go to drill Sat-Sun, then go back to civilian job M-F back to back.

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Good point. Luckily I have a very flexible schedule at work as well as a company that supports military service 110% (it's pretty obvious where I work).

Naveronski

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I'm enlisted, deployed, guard.
It's generally not bad, but ******** games are plenty, and there are no shortages of people not wanting to do their job.

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It's hilarious that a civilian would be like, what curse word is 8 letters long. I knew exactly what word(s) you used when I read it.

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If you can read and respond to email, and occasionally submit a DA-something, I'd love for you to go S1!
Back on track though, we have several Aggies over here, enlisted and officer.
Are you still interested in working in S2?

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Where is here? I'm very much interested in S2 still... it's very relevant to my civilian job (analysis, not the military type). I told the recruiter that I MIGHT be interested in Signal work because I need to bone up on that part of my life, but meh. Nothing else really interests me besides flying and those are a) impossible to get slots and b) I'm colorblind so it isn't worth pursuing. S1 is pretty low speed, but I sit at a desk all day anyway in my current job so no big difference.




It's not a money thing, but the retirement is interesting. I'm wondering what ya'lls thoughts on "efficiency" is in these units. From talking to my buddy, you have certains tasks to do and limited time to do it. To me, that sounds like you are plenty busy and not too much time for superiors to make **** up and for your Soldiers to get in trouble (as opposed to Active Duty, which is a reason I got out...). I'm sure it exists to an extent, but is it the same? Worse? Better?

And I'll be completely freakin honest... we just bought season tickets this year and the thought of being stuck at drill instead of watching Bama or Auburn come to town pisses me off. We also are in the stage where all of our friends are getting married (more at the end, moving towards having kids... so maybe better) so I'd hate to miss big events due to drill. But I know that's part of it, so something I've kind of already counted into the equation.

Tango Mike, I've got some info for you, but I don't want to hijack this thread any further. Email me (in my first post above), and I'll share what I've got with you.

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Wow... Dallas to El paso, that's a haul. Luckily the unit here is about 5 minutes from my house. I talked to a MAJ in the Guard a few months ago and he suggested Guard over Reserve because he thought they had more money than the Feds but seems that could be cutting back. Appreciate the insight.

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Eh, I've gotten used to it. As an FA officer, if I want to be in an FA unit, I'm going to have to travel to either El Paso or Houston. The El Paso unit seems to get to fire more, since they're basically on Fort Bliss, so it's a no-brainer for me, really. I still come out ahead on pay, but not by much. The tax breaks help, though.

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And I'll be completely freakin honest... we just bought season tickets this year and the thought of being stuck at drill instead of watching Bama or Auburn come to town pisses me off. We also are in the stage where all of our friends are getting married (more at the end, moving towards having kids... so maybe better) so I'd hate to miss big events due to drill. But I know that's part of it, so something I've kind of already counted into the equation.

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Yeah, ask my wife about this part. Anytime we get invited to something fun, or to go somewhere, her automatic answer is that I probably have drill. And she's usually right, it seems. I got rid of my season tickets because we weren't able to go to games as much anymore (that, and the increased cost). We've adapted, though, and we're used to scheduling things around drill.

Kyle98 are yall MLRS or howitzer? I'm in a M119A2 battery out of houston. How ofren do yall fire? We seem like we live fire two-three times a year.

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Kyle98 are yall MLRS or howitzer? I'm in a M119A2 battery out of houston. How ofren do yall fire? We seem like we live fire two-three times a year.

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Howitzer. 2 M119A3 batteries and 1 M777A2 battery. We fire about the same, plus AT. A buddy of mine down there said he was lucky to fire at one drill weekend plus AT, guess that's not right, if you're firing 2-3 times a year.

I guess yall do fire more. I was counting AT in our times to shoot. Also this is my first year of NG (did 8 yrs active) and I know we shot in March, and I think one more time after AT but could be wrong. Do yall like the A3? I'm not real impressed with it, I like the A2 and shooting degraded. You can really tell who knows their stuff with it.

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I guess yall do fire more. I was counting AT in our times to shoot. Also this is my first year of NG (did 8 yrs active) and I know we shot in March, and I think one more time after AT but could be wrong. Do yall like the A3? I'm not real impressed with it, I like the A2 and shooting degraded. You can really tell who knows their stuff with it.

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I like the A3's. I wish I could get our crews more time on the guns, though. Feb drill was the first time they got to touch them (except for cleaning/maintenance) since we fielded them at AT. We're working on that, though.

I was FDO for AT when we fielded them, so I don't have much time on the gunline with the A3s yet. I'm XO/PL now, so hopefully when we fire in June, I can get a little more hands on with the digital stuff on that end. I love the new stuff from the FDC side, when it's working. We fired degraded in March because of digital comms issues.

It is what you make of it.

San Antonio is a great place for Guard service. You have a greater option of units to join - especially with Camp Bullis down the highway. If you don't stay in SA, Austin and Camp Mabry are an easy drive as well.

The "efficiency" of your service is dependent on your unit. I'm in a fairly mediocre group with a moderate workload. Units like the 143rd Airborne or the SF Sustainment group out of Bullis operate at a higher speed.

Are you at Bullis? That's where I'm looking.

What's a good POC? I'll pass it along.

http://www.txarng.com/find-unit/78023

If you have not already done this search, here are drilling TxARNG units within 50 miles of San Antonio. Retired Guardsman here, 4 years RA, 26 years RC.

There is a Divisional MI Bn here at the IH35 armory, with a company in New Braunfels. Upward mobility for MI officers overtime once you get to Field Grade can be tough in the TxARNG because you only have a couple of Field Grade slots in the MI Bn and then you have to travel to either one of the BDEs or catch a slot at G2 at Divisional HQ in Austin. Small pyramid. Signal is just as bad for similar reasons. Depending on your MIL education level you might want to consider switching over to a Combat Arms branch. Always more opportunities in that pile. I would counsel against joining up initially as a Bn S2 in a non MI unit. Good way to get forgot about and you wind up with all the sh_t duty. If you want to continue in MI, then go interview at the 636th at the IH35 armory over near SAMSC. Best chance for a new guy is with others like him so I would suggest you find a slot in the MI Bn. It is a WHOLE lot easier to get into the Guard as an O-3 than as an O-4. Good luck.

Thanks, WBBQ, will take note of that. I always drive by that Armory and wondered what was there.

Just got a call back from the recruiter and things seem sketch. He said it was a new unit at Bullis and had the BN XO's number and gave it to me. Said they had an OPFOR mission out in California, so I'm assuming Irwin (yay). Then I asked what a 35D would do with an OPFOR unit and he tap danced around it wonderfully. So we will see when I call the MAJ.

The old armory at Camp Bullis is across the street from the Clinic. I go there to get my Nexium once a quarter. For years that armory housed the 1-141 IN, HQ & HHC along with a couple of the line companies. Now it is housing parts of an SF Group. That might be sexy but long term career death for a 35D type. Go to the IH35 armory and set up a sit down with the Bn Cdr. He will probably be the best guy to give you reasonable 35D career counseling with respect to the TxARNG. Any 'recruiter' you speak with is very likely completely focused on the enlisted side of things and not up to speed on officer world.

If you are a pre-command O-3 you got a much better chance of getting on board. The Guard is about geography - where you are and where the jobs are. Assuming you take care of promotion qualifications - decent OERs, pass H/W and APFT, and have your MIL Ed dealt with - it comes down to someone thinking you are good enough to get the slot that goes with the higher rank. Means they move you into a MAJ slot and then you get State/Fed orders promoting you. Backwards from RA. In the RA you get promoted to MAJ and they put you in a MAJ's job. In the Guard, once you are promotable, you get put in a MAJ's job and you get promoted. Means folks have to 'know' you. Which means it would be better for you early on to get onboard with the MI Bn guys, i.e., critical mass. If you take some Bn S2 job you will likely be on an island. Folks starve on islands. Good luck.

Just spoke with the MAJ at the Reserve unit at Bullis. They do the OPFOR mission out at Camp HL in California. Looks like an 01A slot and could be the XO in company... let's just say I'm a little more than underwhelmed.

Think I'm going to take you up on the advice to contact the MI BN down off 35. I want to do Intel, not write OPORDS and CONOPs all day.

Wow, time flies by. I remember when you were discussing joining the military many years ago ( I think it was on the Ags Only forum).

Good luck in your search.

Yep. Was a long time ago.

Thank you sir!

No offense to the MI battalion but every MI officer I have known has not wanted to be there and would rather be in a BN S2 slot or at BDE S2.

Major difference in RA versus ARNG situation for 'special staff' officer slots. Assuming the OP is a senior 1LT or junior (pre-command) CPT 35D, entering the TxARNG would be MUCH better going thru the MI Bn to start with. The Div G2 and the MI Bn Cdr are the de facto 'branch managers' for all the MI officers in the TxARNG. Coming on board into the MI Bn will give the OP better chance to demonstrate competence to the guys who should know it when they see it. Plus the OP lives in San Antonio, where the MI Bn HQ is. Plus it gives him a chance at a company command. Trust me having been there over a couple of decades of service in the Guard. After a successful company command stint, usually 2 years, THEN an assignment to a CA Bn as an S2 makes sense. Perhaps a bounce afterwards up to Div G2 for a couple of years and then he is ready to be a CPT(P) and a shot at a BDE S2 (MAJ) slot. RA scenario is completely different, which I also understand. Just trying to point the OP in an easier, long term friendly, path. His choice, though.

Enlisted last September in the Reserves. Finishing up AIT next month and rejoining my unit at Bullis. I'm part of the 228th CSH.

My headache now is trying to find a full time job in less than a few weeks. Looking back now, I should have gone Active.

After speaking to the XO at the Reserve unit, I'm looking into the TX NG. WB, do you have contacts at the 636th? Or should I just contact a NG recruiter? I've been looking online but can't really find anything helpful.

Steer clear of recruiters, they are just about enlisted recruiting and will only waste your time. Trust me on this.

I have been retired 12 years so no one there will know me. There should be at least one officer at the MI Bn HQ, full time Guard type - that is his full time job. Probably a CPT, he might be the Bn S1 or some principal staff officer type. Drive by sometime during normal MF work hours and stick your head in the door. Have your 1 page, typo free, military resume with you. Talk with that CPT and ask about any open current 'M Day' officer manning slots in the Bn, i.e., where are there some openings you might fill? 'M Day' is Guard speak for normal part time soldiers, means 'Mobilization Day'. If there is an opening, then ask for an appointment to meet with the Bn Cdr during the next drill weekend. Don't be picky, be willing to take any open position they offer you. Show up and talk with the guy. Tell him why he should extend a slot to you. Be ready to answer the question about 'How do you see your next 5 years in the Guard?' Wear your ADUs (Is that what they call them now?) and have a haircut. Have a reasonable idea of what you want to do in the Guard over the next 5 years - you can't see farther out than that so don't ponder on it.

Let me know how it goes.

WBBQ74 -

They're currently called ACU (Army Combat Uniform)-UCP (Universal Camouflage Pattern), but soon to change this fall to ACU-OCP (Operational Camouflage).

http://www.army.mil/article/131259

And, you're pretty much spot on about getting in touch w/the BN OIC or 2IC - not much has changed in that area in the past 12 years......

Thanks for the ACU update, I had a brain fart and could not remember the acronym. Obviously I was an old BDU guy. Those uniforms were great and a tremendous improvement over starched fatigues back in ancient times. I still find it very odd that officers don't have a branch insignia on the ACU variant. Just old style thinking on my part. All the other merit badges made it but not the one which I would think most important right after your rank.

Forgot to add some suggested questions for the full time AO (Admin Officer) you find working MF, that CPT I spoke of.

1. What has been the deployment history of the Bn over the last 5 years? Lots of TxARNG Guard units have been sent to the sandbox since 2003. Are any known deployments on the horizon?
2. What does this year's Training Year (TY) cycle look like? Guard training years go from Oct to Oct, so right now (Apr15) he would have an idea of what is going to happen thru Sep15, along with ideas of what TY16 has in store.
3. Most normal/routine officer slot 'moves' happen after the normal summer AT period. What moves does he envision and how could that include you?
4. When/where is AT scheduled? Is the entire BN going at one time or is it split up, i.e., different locations/times?

If you have decent answers to the above you can formulate your thoughts better for your sit down interview with the Bn Cdr. Gives you a chance to speak intelligently about the Bn and how you could fit in. That LTC will appreciate your 'homework' and see you as a thoughtful and thorough officer. Helps to not be a dumb(_,_) at times. I was a Bn Cdr once upon a time, I get it. Good luck.

Represent check your e-mail. Sent you some contacts at Mabry.

A lot of talk about benefits...if you are only doing it for the benefits...don't! Do it to serve

out here

Represent, what outfit were ya in? I was c/o '08 as well.

Can't help much with information on the officer slots in the NG sadly, E-5 12B.

PA ARNG E-4 11B

Guard paid for my degree and when my contract is up, I will try to commission