National Guard?

H

hube1236

New member
Not the topic you thought probably, but...

I have thought it my civic duty to be military since the Gulf War, I was 20 then and finishing up my Nuclear Eng degree.

After college, I thought about Navy Nuke, but did not for some reason- the Navy recruiter gave me lots o' guff because I had a degree already. My mother is in the reserves and graduated War College when I was 24 finishing up my Master's in Energy Engineering. I tried getting a commission for active or reserves, the army recruiter told me that there was too much paper work involved with OCS and that I should just enlist. I did not want a private's $89 week paycheck and with two degrees would fit well into the Crops of Engineers or the like- none were accepting combat infantry privates.

I still would like to do something, is the National Guard hiring 30 year olds who want to be officers, and is it worth the commitment? I have nothing against enlistees and I hope I have not offended anyone with a perceived officer elitist attitude.
 
hube1236,
Take it from an old retired Army Sergeant (SFC/E7).......don't enlist!
Damn the paperwork.....go for Commissioned Status (read Officer).
I don't understand them telling you that getting you a commission is "too much trouble", tell them to get off their dead a$$ and get it done.....NOW.

Good luck. :)

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"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."
 
When I was at basic (a long time ago in a galaxy far away), I believe that the upper age limit for new recruits was 27. We actually had a 27-year-old Guardie in our flight, and called him Grandpa. ;)

If you're serious about going mil, I'd suggest waiting until the Commander In Heat is gone. Then, if you're not too ancient and decrepit, go CONG as an officer.

Another hint: officers who have been grunts get more respect from their troops.
 
Now I have a career and family and not wishing to go tot the transient life of active. What about the NAtional Guard?
 
Whatever you do, I can't possibly recommend going in as an enlisted. You can either dig the fox hole or show some enlisted guy where you want your hole dug. There are plenty of 19 year olds that have very little shovel time under their belts. Also remember that all branches of Army go through the same basic training. And that aint easy.

My biggest beef with doing the Nat'l Guard thing is that you have to go play Army once per month and then do a 2 week duty once per year. Most civilian employers will work with you but trust me, that 2 weeks is not as much fun as the commercials make it look. I was always active so this is not from experience,but I never saw them having ANY fun when they were near us. I guess it would depend on the MOS too though.
 
You join the Guard, assume you may be activated and sent somewhere. Recently, a Guard divisional headquarters unit was activated and sent to Kosovo.

If you do get activated, don't whimper on television like some reservists and guardsmen/women did during Desert Shield/Storm. It was pathetic.
 
Yeah, pathetic. Right.

The National Guard's mission is to defend US territory on a state-by-state basis. Last time I checked, Kosovo wasn't a state.

How about if we send the Coasties? Or the CAP? When they complain, shall we call them pathetic as well?
 
I won't whine. I grew up with the two year committment. Watched in fear as my mother packed her bags for the Iran invasion that never happened. The bags were packed two weeks before Grenada, two weeks before Libya bombing, and all through the GW. I have grown up in an atmosphere where one is gone on the whim of a President, Repub or Democrat or Socialist. I probably would not complain with that extra paycheck, and would not bitch and moan becasue I had to pay back the gravy train.

I think the original question is being lost, does the NG offer commissions to "grand daddies" like me?
 
I joke around a lot about officers, generally implying most can't find their butts with both hands and a flashlight - but that's only because most can't. ;) In all seriousness, any recruiter that tells you the "paperwork's too hard" is just plain lazy. Coinneach is right about prior enlisteds ("Mustangs") generally getting more respect, but your age would work for you.

As to you original question about age restrictions, I'm not sure. Air Force & Coast Guard upper limit is 28, and when I came in Navy, Marine, & Army was 35.

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"...and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."
Luke 22:36
"An armed society is a polite society."
Robert Heinlein
"Power corrupts. Absolute power - is kinda cool!"
Fred Reed

[This message has been edited by mk86fcc (edited July 11, 2000).]
 
Coineach, you are confusing the National Guard with the State Militia. They are two entirely different animals.

While the National Guard is nominally under the control of the respective governors, the reality of the situation is that the federal government underwrites app. 95% of the NG budget. Its primary mission has always been to support the Regular forces. State emergencies are secondary.

The militias OTOH, are actually boards made up of usually retired military officers who would implement each state's plan to activate able-bodied citizens in time of emergency.

I was in the NG during the time of Desert Storm, and happened to see one of those crybabies on TV - he was also formerly a member of my tank crew - talking about how he would not go if activated. The truth was that he was a chronic AWOL anyway, and was booted twice from the VT Guard before making his little TV speech. It was pathetic.

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Panzerführer

Die Wahrheit ist eine Perle. Werfen sie nicht vor die Säue.

Those that beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those that don't.
 
Hube,

I'm 31 and I just now passed the deadline for enrolling in NGOCS. It takes 2 years I believe and There is an age at which you must receive your commision by. As long as you are younger than me and hurry up and do it, go for it.

[This message has been edited by houndawg (edited July 11, 2000).]
 
Hube1236,

When I went in as a warrant officer the cut off was 29 for active duty. I went through flight school with a couple of guys who got waivers and were over that age. Recruiters don’t like to do officer packages because they are a lot more work and don't count for more credit on their quota's. If you are really interested just keep going up the recruiting food chain until you get the answers you need. Never take "no" for an answer from the recruiter types. The oldest trick in the book is the "you will have a better chance to do that if you enlist first" scam. Another thing to keep in mind is not to many people are inclined to bring someone into an organization at a higher point than they are themselves, E-5,E-6 vs 2lt etc.
 
Find a recruiter who specializes in officers. Most recruiters, 99% are only intrested in enlisted people, only get credit for enlisted recruitments, and any officers they bring in only yield paper work and no credit.

As a result, unless they are one of the few charged with finding officers they could careless.

The only place I have seen officer recruiters is at a college carrier day.
 
Gotta chime in.

You're nuts. Worthy aspiration, serving your country, but unfortunately the military/NG option isn't much of a service and doesn't even necessarily serve the vital interests of this nation anymore. With your education and background you should be able to find some other way to serve. Read once that the Army Corp of Engineers is mostly a civie organization now anyway. I would try that.
 
Okay, I have been in the Guard since 1989 (Army-> 1989-1991, Air-> 1991-1995). After getting my Bachelor's in 1993, I started kicking around the idea of getting my commission. In the Air Guard, it is difficult to find positions, so I looked to the Army. I was thirty when I started OCS and was 31 1/2, almost 32 when I got my commission.

I am a 1LT in the Indiana Army National Guard, Chemical Corps. Remember, you do not choose your branch. ROTC get to choose up to 8 or 10, OCS you pick 3 and you could still get put in a branch you didn't ask for--it happened to one of the guys in my class--he got branched infantry and it wasn't anywhere on his list. Chemical was my third choice (my BS is in Chemistry--the rest is history!!).

There is a lot of paperwork involved in going to OCS, but for the recruiter to talk you out of it.....then again, we are REALLY short officers here in IN, so a recruiter would probably have his head on a platter for talking someone out of OCS.

I agree with Coinneach--prior enlisteds who are now officers do get a lot more respect--I'm talking from personal experience (I was an E5/Sgt when I took my commission).

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Kim

NRA Millenium Life Member
 
Why not join the Air Force? With all the services, excluding Marines, falling behind in their quotas, you should be able to get a waiver (Remember, the Military has a waiver for everything :) As for the "too much paperwork" crap, tell them that you've done your stint in the trenches (college) and you want to get the bars to show all of your hard work. I don't know if you've thought about this, but if your eyesight is good and your hands are steady, become a pilot. Pilot's are still leaving the AF in droves. If you like speed, then this is it. The only bad thing, with all branches, don't expect to be home for at least four to six months a year. The military is spread pretty thin right now but hopefully, someone will be elected that will understand that we aren't (they, I'm ex) the World Police Force. As for the National Guard, you can have two careers going at the same time. You will get total pay and benefits while you're deployed and the hazardous duty pay isn't too bad. The only bad thing about the NG is that if you're in a job that may involve moving to another plant, area, you have to get thier permission to transfer to the other place (which if you do, they will pay for your moving costs). If not, then it may hinder your civilian career. Either that or resign your commission. From what I understand, if you're "too old" to get into active duty right now, you can go guard and then request a "transfer" into active duty full time. If you are really serious about this, there are ways to get the commission you want. As for the recruiter, ask for his Commanders name and number (you can do this by just getting the Unit name and where they are stationed). Go to the big dog for results if you have too. Also, Don't go Army, even Army Officers dig a bit in the dirt and who do you think leads the 25 mile marches? Yup, some young louie bucking for that next promotion. Oh, don't worry about wanting to be an ossifer instead of a grunt, you worked for it and I won't hold that against you :).

USP45usp
 
I went through this thread a little fast, but I don't think anyone except the original poster, hube1236, has mentioned the Reserves. It is distinctly different from the National Guard.

Hueb1236, I think you need to see another recruiter. Go straight to a resident recruiter at a local reserve unit.

[This message has been edited by sensop (edited July 11, 2000).]
 
My understanding is that the cutoff for a commission is 29 1/2 years old. There may be a dispensation for specialist (med etc.) officers.

The cutoff to enlist is 35.

TT
 
Hube, go for the commision. When I got out of the Army, I left as a Staff Sergeant (E-6). By the time you reach 1st Lt, you'll make as much as I did as a 6.

I don't regret going enlisted at all. However, if you want a career out of the service, commission is the way to go.

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Son
1911 Addiction
"No man is so poor as to have nothing worth giving."
 
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