Need opinion..

[jenny]

I am being told not to go Army Reserves, to go ARmy National Guard, that NG is better.

Not sure if I am eligible {ie: age,etc}.

Would love to hear opinions from prior or present military service.

[Armygirl4Ever]

I am being told not to go Army Reserves, to go ARmy National Guard, that NG is better.

Not sure if I am eligible {ie: age,etc}.

Would love to hear opinions from prior or present military service.

Who is telling you this. And why are they telling this? There are benefits to both.

I've served in both capacities, I started off in the National Guard, went Active Army and ended in the Army Reserves. National Guard and Army Reserves are being called upon more and more to deploy. Each offer different education benefits and bonuses. The National Guard being state funded also has the responsibility of taking care of their states in the case of natural distasters and things like that.

The age requirement is the same, you would qualify.

[jenny]

THank you for the insight! I feel like I am making the right decisions. The opinions have come from prior/and active Army, they didn't have great things to say about the Reserves, and recommend NG over Reserves. Made no sense to me, so I figured I would ask here, and Monday will call my Recruiter and attempt to get information/insight from him.

Jenny

[Armygirl4Ever]

THank you for the insight! I feel like I am making the right decisions. The opinions have come from prior/and active Army, they didn't have great things to say about the Reserves, and recommend NG over Reserves. Made no sense to me, so I figured I would ask here, and Monday will call my Recruiter and attempt to get information/insight from him.

Jenny

Honestly in my opinion I really think it depends on what type of unit you get assigned to. If I remember correctly you are going in as a nurse? So your job will pretty much be the same. You have to consider who is telling you their experiences and where they came from. I loved my National Guard unit but I was a fresh 17 year old who had no other experience to compare it to. I did have great leadership and they really helped prepare me for Basic Training and then supported me wholeheartedly with my decision to go Active Army. Before going Active Army, I had the opportunity to serve in the capacity of serving our state. We had to help with the wildfires and also some earthquake damage. I served in the Army Reserves after Active Duty and I had a hard time adjusting because the mentality was so different, there is a different perspective when you've served on active duty versus a reserve component and I had a hard time with that. I wasn't the only one though who was prior service so at least I wasn't alone in that thinking and after a while we all did grow and bond. I was in the Army Reserves when 9-11 happened and we were activated. We had to pull security for the installation we were living on. It was a great experience to see what role the Reserves played in the big scheme of the Army.

So really, I guess I'm saying you have to go by your own experience and you have to look at where the people advising you are coming from.

[MSG Glenn]

My son is transitioning to the Reserves from Active Duty in the 3rd Ranger Bn. to a Reception Bn., 1 (Rec) /334-98 Div (TNG)

He said it's light years different from what he was used to. A great bunch of guys but very laid back compared to his duty as a Ranger. His CO & the Bn. Commander both told him that they expect him to help get everyone in shape both mentally & physically to do things the Army way but to sort of lay back in the weeds for a while.

He's a bit disappointed in not getting the Instructor School he wanted. His unit is going to Ft. McCoy, WI in Sept. for their range fire, APFT & FTX & he was going to stay the rest of the week for that school.

This at least allows him to apply for courses in Police Science at our local tech institute. He was hesitant to begin as he would have had to miss the 2nd week of classes to go to Instructor School.

One of the NCOs in his platoon is the Veteran's Advisor in that very same school & he said he'd have no problem getting him in. We'll see.

So far he's happy with the unit even though it's different than what he's used to. He'll be particularly happy when the checks start arriving.

He's champing at the bit to start his job giving initial training to recruits!

[jenny]

THanks for the info MSG.

I am waiting to hear when my {new} recruiter and I are headed to Walter Reed for my physical.