NG or Active Duty?

[Merik]

With the recent news of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment going to be deployed to Iraq late this year, I have been thinking about signing the dotted line with them. Even my dad suggested doing it, going to Iraq for a year with them. But there are several reasons why this thought came up. 1) The 278th is based in Tennessee where I live. 2) I can go to college after coming back and still be in the Guard. 3) The money. 4) My uncle is in the 278th's Aviation Battalion, so that would be nice, but I want the ground cav.

Now the reasons why I would want to go Active Duty instead. 1) The money. 2) A lot more deployment locations to end going to, something Im really big on is going to Korea. 3) Its the real Army. 4) Im going to end up going Active anyway once out of college, and being in the NG I dont want to have to end up serving more than I want to with them, if that makes any sense?

Anyways what to you guys have to offer as advice? Especially you BTDT fellas, but I'd like to hear something from everyone.

[James]

Eh, these days the NG and Active components seem to be one and the same.

Ask Jack Mehoff. He's done both.

There is nothing wrong with going to college later in life. That works better for some people.

[wyrm_142]

If you do four + years on AD enlisted, then come back as an O, you get O-1E pay (its about 700$ more a month).

I did 4 years on AD, then joined the local guard unit while I went to school. I deployed more with the guard in the five years I've been with them, than I did on AD. Now that I'm done with school - I'm looking for a full time job, and either a new guard unit to go with it, or a IMA position.

Oh yeah, you get full up GI Bill if you do 2 or 3 (can't remember which) years on AD, it beats the guard verision (ch 106).

[Jack Mehoff]

Either option is good. It's what you really want is the only thing that matter.

[Maine Finn]

I'm going NG as soon as I get my licence. I think (but not sure) that elements of the MP detachment in-State has been deployed. I know that the engineer group is deployed. But I'd rather be an MP than an engineer.

For me, it's M.N.G. all the way. :D

[Salty Dog]

well merik, do you wanna be away for a few years (besides a year in iraq), or would you like to be close to home?

[Merik]

Either option is good. It's what you really want is the only thing that matter.

I want to join the Army cause I hear stories of what its like, what the people are like, and I just cant wait anymore around here. Its like I have an itchy trigger finger. On the other hand though I know that my time will come, especially after college and being commisioned.


well merik, do you wanna be away for a few years (besides a year in iraq), or would you like to be close to home?

I want to get the hech outta dodge but then I want to stay and go to the college just down the road from my house.

Damn this sucks.

[James]

Merik,

Do you want me to decide for you? Let me know.

[Maine Finn]

I had a similar problem, except for me it was stay around and dead-end jobs and be lazy because I'm scared of the world (which I was) or bail and either go to college or to AD. It took me a couple of years, but I made up my mind. Now I'm a first-year CJ major with my eye on NG duty and a future job as a game warden.

Of course, it only took one or two years of my life that should have been better spent, but can't win 'em all.

*shrug* Essentially, my college is "just down the road", being only two hours South of where I used to live.

All I can say is don't wait too long. But if you're going to get commissioned after college, it looks like maybe you'd be all set.

[FallenAngel]

Merik,

Do you want me to decide for you? Let me know.

Don't do it Merik. James would have you be regular infantry in the 7th Marines. ;)

[Salty Dog]

like me, i am set to go active duty marines, because i want to go places and do things. not to say i wouldn't in the reserves, but many reservists have said they regret going reserves, and not active. so i am going active to experience more. and to get out of here.

[James]

Merik,

Do you want me to decide for you? Let me know.

Don't do it Merik. James would have you be regular infantry in the 7th Marines. ;)

Actually, I'd suggest, well, no, not my place...

Merik, don't worry about setting up a game plan for the rest of your life right now. Do what you think is best.

[wyrm_142]

I've got NO regrets in waiting to go to school (helps that I wasn't ready at 18 anyways...).

Going AD, is something you'll always be able to look back on, good bad indifferent. I wouldn't change the way I've ran my life.

[Merik]

Merik,

Do you want me to decide for you? Let me know.

Don't do it Merik. James would have you be regular infantry in the 7th Marines. ;)

I did ask for just advice didnt I? Besides, I would rather have James decide than Ducimus, he would put me in the French Army :oops:

[Maine Finn]

Merik,

Do you want me to decide for you? Let me know.

Don't do it Merik. James would have you be regular infantry in the 7th Marines. ;)

I did ask for just advice didnt I? Besides, I would rather have James decide than Ducimus, he would put me in the French Army :oops:

This is probably true.

[USMarine3521]

you might as well go AD first because there are a lot of benefits like the GI bill for example and a chance to be a war veteran.

whatever your decision is make sure its what you want, not what someone else wants.

[el borracho]

a chance to be a war veteran.

Typical nug comment...if thats the only reason you want to join, you should seriously reconsider. I know plenty of Marines who are shipping out to Iraq in a couple weeks (we just finished a joint service training class) and they have been debating their decision, even though they had plenty of "ooh rah!" up until the end of the course. When you actually have the day marked on your calendar when you have to tell your wife and child "goodbye" for what could be the last time, you start to wonder.

I am not knocking you, or your decision to join...but remember, you are only a veteran if you survive.

[USMarine3521]

a chance to be a war veteran.

Typical nug comment...if thats the only reason you want to join, you should seriously reconsider. I know plenty of Marines who are shipping out to Iraq in a couple weeks (we just finished a joint service training class) and they have been debating their decision, even though they had plenty of "ooh rah!" up until the end of the course. When you actually have the day marked on your calendar when you have to tell your wife and child "goodbye" for what could be the last time, you start to wonder.

I am not knocking you, or your decision to join...but remember, you are only a veteran if you survive.

damn! i knew someone was going to say someting like this!!!! i knew it!!! :lol:

i only said that because it's true...there is a chance to be a veteran, plain and simple
and also i really didnt mean to put it with benefit, i really dont know if thats a benefit... I guess I didnt notice that i put benefit with war veteran...just tried to respond to what he said about the unit he wanted to go to is going to Iraq

anyway i really dont want to go to war but if i have to i wont go awol or anything :|

[WARPIG]

NG while going to college is a smart move. If you go AD now you won't likely get much chance for college. At least in the NG you can change your mind and go active later. You cannot do that in reverse. You also have the option of changing MOS while in the NG. If you don't like the unit or job your in... change it. Find a unit with an MOS you want and request to transfer there. They send you back to reclassify and poof.. you have a secondary MOS.

One thing to keep in mind. I have a buddy that is going active. He was a NG MI analyst.. reclassed as an MP and is going active as an MP. He is a E-5 and the recruiters told him that he could only keep his stripe if he became a tanker. Pfft. He took a temporary rank reduction and is going into active duty as a E-4. He will be promotable as soon as he gets to his unit so by the time they get to know him he will be wearing stripes again.

There is a big advantage to having the opportunity to test drive your military career in the NG.

[ReconNJ]

I spent my first three years active with the 7th Cav and joined the Guard later. If you go active, especially with a Cav unit, you WILL NOT have time for college. We were deployed or in the field at least 8 months out of the year. You just have to decide for yourself what is most important to you. Getting the degree first, or getting some active duty time in. If you have any questions about the Cav I will do my best to answer them for you.


Watch Your Six!!!

[NcDeuce]

With the recent news of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment going to be deployed to Iraq late this year, I have been thinking about signing the dotted line with them. Even my dad suggested doing it, going to Iraq for a year with them. But there are several reasons why this thought came up. 1) The 278th is based in Tennessee where I live. 2) I can go to college after coming back and still be in the Guard. 3) The money. 4) My uncle is in the 278th's Aviation Battalion, so that would be nice, but I want the ground cav.

Now the reasons why I would want to go Active Duty instead. 1) The money. 2) A lot more deployment locations to end going to, something Im really big on is going to Korea. 3) Its the real Army. 4) Im going to end up going Active anyway once out of college, and being in the NG I dont want to have to end up serving more than I want to with them, if that makes any sense?

Anyways what to you guys have to offer as advice? Especially you BTDT fellas, but I'd like to hear something from everyone.

Do some research on the SMP program...kinda like doing ROTC + Guard or Reserve, I would do it if I had the time.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

My experience with the guard, for what it's worth-

It's impossible to serve two masters. If you want to advance within your unit, it's a very political thing (much more so than active duty) - you have to be willing to pull a lot of deployments / put in a lot of time. Which is fine.

But, meanwhile at your civillian job (or school as appropriate) - things will suffer because you're not there. You can forget about big promotions/assignments, as they won't hand things over to somebody who's gone all the time.

I found that I had to pick one or the other - in my case I left the guard.

While there, I had a blast, and was deployed many more places than when I was active. Did more "real" work (i.e. not just relentless training or mundane junk).

Guard vs. Active - depends what your future plans are. If you plan to use your military training afterwards to get work, the more experience the better - that would mean active. Also, if you're wanting a federal job - you'll acrue more points from active service. If you just want some extra money, some "free" training, don't see a career in the military, but want lots of travel - the guard is ideal. So there...

[Merik]

I spent my first three years active with the 7th Cav and joined the Guard later. If you go active, especially with a Cav unit, you WILL NOT have time for college. We were deployed or in the field at least 8 months out of the year. You just have to decide for yourself what is most important to you. Getting the degree first, or getting some active duty time in. If you have any questions about the Cav I will do my best to answer them for you.


Watch Your Six!!!

What squadron were you with Recon?


My experience with the guard, for what it's worth-

It's impossible to serve two masters. If you want to advance within your unit, it's a very political thing (much more so than active duty) - you have to be willing to pull a lot of deployments / put in a lot of time. Which is fine.

But, meanwhile at your civillian job (or school as appropriate) - things will suffer because you're not there. You can forget about big promotions/assignments, as they won't hand things over to somebody who's gone all the time.

I found that I had to pick one or the other - in my case I left the guard.

While there, I had a blast, and was deployed many more places than when I was active. Did more "real" work (i.e. not just relentless training or mundane junk).

Guard vs. Active - depends what your future plans are. If you plan to use your military training afterwards to get work, the more experience the better - that would mean active. Also, if you're wanting a federal job - you'll acrue more points from active service. If you just want some extra money, some "free" training, don't see a career in the military, but want lots of travel - the guard is ideal. So there...

Yes I plan on going active but after going to college, especially if I do this NG thing. I want to get a college degree but most importantly I want to go through ROTC so I can be an officer and lead men.

I just talked to a guy I know from another forum and lives here locally who has a son a year older than me that is with the 278th. He said that his son thinks its a blast and enjoys it a lot, even though he is a freshman at MTSU. So Im going to go try and talk to a NG recruiter sometime next week, and hopefully Ill go through with this if everything go's ok.

[Dmitri]

Ok, here is a good plan for you, that's what I'm doing... And YES, you do need to plan your life right now.... Active duty sounds really good and all when you are young, but you still have to think about the rest of your life. I'm in college on my 2nd year now, and I got 2 years in the guard, I joined right afrer school. First, when you joing NG, you'll get taste of the Army in Basic and AIT, plus your drills and I usually spend at least 2 months each year in active through annual training, schools, missions etc.... The pay is real good, for one weekend you get paid as 4 days active duty, E-4 with 2 years I get 210 for that.... pocket money. Plus, you will get 480$ yeach month for college, plus some tuition assistance depending on the state, and if your college is already paid for, like through scholarship, you just get that money in your pocket.. Be smart about it. And after you finish college, if you like the Army, you can go OCS or ROTC during college and become officer in the Active duty. You would be 2nd LT. as 22-23 y.o.!! I have a buddy who just joined active, I was trying to tell him the same thing, but he was saying same junk about that he is young and should go Active. Now he tells me how he regrets he didn't listen to me.... :roll:
You need to enjoy life while you are young, college years are the best time in your life.... Just because of the NG and tax return from it I'm leaving tomorrow to Panama City Beach for 8 days :lol: So like I said, get education, experience military, if you like it, be an officer, if not, you won't waste 2-4 years in active duty, you can just get a good paying job.

Hope that helps

[Merik]

Thanks Dmitri for the gimme up. Ill sure as hell be seeing a recruiter next week. :D

[Dmitri]

Yeah, good luck. What state are you from?

[Merik]

Im not going to say that Im from Tennessee, I've only lived here for about 6-7 years.

[Dmitri]

I guess you are going to join the cavalry unit, but I was going to tell you anyway: join a combat arms unit. Much more fun, more playing with the guns and out doing something... You don't want to be a driver or mechanic or something like that ;)
Top 3: Infantry
Cavalry
Armor

[Merik]

I guess you are going to join the cavalry unit, but I was going to tell you anyway: join a combat arms unit. Much more fun, more playing with the guns and out doing something... You don't want to be a driver or mechanic or something like that ;)
Top 3: Infantry
Cavalry
Armor

Thats all I plan on doing for my entire military career, that or maybe a little Special Operations, never know. But I love the Cav, I mean it everything in one unit. How can you not love that? Armor, Infantry, and Aviation all rolled up into one bag. Hoo-ah!