A question for any past or present Army National Guard members

[GlockCop]

Firstly how was your experience? Secondly my son is thinking of joining and he dropped out of high school but has found a program through the guard called GED Plus. Supposed to be a 22 day program to get your GED. Ive looked at it and he meets the criteria but our question is anyone have any real world experience with this? This is the one thing( i think) keeping him from signing up.

 

[Fyrtwuck]

GED means Government Equivalency Diploma. It is the governments accepted substitute for a high school diploma.

What branch of the service is he wanting to join?

What job/career field does he want to pursue? Having troops active in a foreign country where they do not like Americans is a consideration too.

He would take an Aptitude test and a list of jobs would be provided from the results of the test. He would then make several choices and create a "wish list" and see where it goes from there.

They call it a wish list cause you don't always get your wish. Go with him to the recruiter and ask about guaranteed enlistment program. Pick out a career and have them agree to it in your military contract. If they run him through basic and then cannot give him that job, he can at his discretion either accept what they offer or be released with an Honorable discharge and be sent home.

I have been in the active duty USAF, the USAF Reserve and the Air National Guard. My time with the Air Guard was the most memorable.

Edit...I just looked back and saw where it said "Army". Everything should still apply with the Army as it does with the USAF.

 

[Surveyor1653]

I did the Army Triple Crown: Active, Reserve, and Guard. The Guard's not a bad life but, as with most things, it's mostly what you make it. He should know that unless he's deployed, preparing to deploy, or recovering from a deployment the Guard's going to be extremely boring in most cases. If he ends up in a garrison unit, it'll be especially so. In Oklahoma, tuition is waived for OK Guard members when they go to school. That's a really big deal. There will be things that he can do to further his military career, if he takes advantage of them. Ultimately, it's going to come down to how much he's willing to put into it. I would say that the biggest question he needs to ask himself is this: How long has it been since he dropped out and is that a dominant trait in his personality? If he's given to not following through on things, his Guard experience will not be a pleasant one. I truly wish him the best of luck and tell him thanks for considering miltary service. Citizen soldiers are twice the Citizen!

 

[dennishoddy]

I did the double crown, with Active duty in the Army, and Army reserve.
I've sure its different now from my day, but the best advice that has been given is to go with him to a recruiter, listen and learn to help him make a decision.
Look at the local units. Ponca had two army reserve units. One was an administrative unit, and the other was a Training Unit, that had Drill Sargents. Both used the same Armory.
The local NG unit was an infantry unit.
I know folks in the Air Force Reserve that live in OKC that travel to Witchita, so they can train in their MOS (Military occupational speciality) So, What I'm saying, when he takes his apptiude tests, and shows he is proficient in some training area, he may have to travel to get to a unit that specializes in that training.

I was a commo specialist in active duty, but when getting out and re-enlisting in the reserves, I ended up as a Drill Sargent. Didn't want to travel to OKC for the unit down there.

Since I've spent so much time on this intel.......DROP! AND GIVE ME 20!!!

 

[Poke78]

Firstly how was your experience? Secondly my son is thinking of joining and he dropped out of high school but has found a program through the guard called GED Plus. Supposed to be a 22 day program to get your GED. Ive looked at it and he meets the criteria but our question is anyone have any real world experience with this? This is the one thing( i think) keeping him from signing up.

Assuming the Guard program gets him up to speed to meet the educational requirement for enlistment, then it sounds like it could put him in a place that would change his path. Then he's got to perform on the ASVAB to qualify for his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training that occurs after Basic Combat Training (BCT). For some specialties, this is done as One Station Unit Training (OSUT) where both are accomplished while remaining with the same group of trainees. What's been his experience with adapting to strong discipline? This will be key to his success with the initial training process.

GED means Government Equivalency Diploma.

General Educational Diploma

 

[Phildo64]

It's all how you make it. If he's an A type personality I'd stress Active Duty because in my mileage it's about WHO you know not WHAT you know. I was having some serious growing pains and I'm glad I'm out. But I'm also training to get on to some more "Varsity" level stuff, so who knows. I'd have him look into the Air Guard TACP program if he wants a legit job kick ass job that you get treated as a king doing. PM if you need some info.

 

[dennishoddy]

It's all how you make it. If he's an A type personality I'd stress Active Duty because in my mileage it's about WHO you know not WHAT you know. I was having some serious growing pains and I'm glad I'm out. But I'm also training to get on to some more "Varsity" level stuff, so who knows. I'd have him look into the Air Guard TACP program if he wants a legit job kick ass job that you get treated as a king doing. PM if you need some info.

I have to agree with this. I got drafted, and knew it was going to be infantry, so elected to add a year to the enlistment to get a school. Electronics was my top grade in the tests.
Went that way and have made my living to this day 43 years later.

Encourage him to use the Guard, or Reserve as an avenue for advancement, not a "cool job" like a machine gunner on a tank.

For the record, my commo education got me into an infantry unit as a radio man, so you never know how its going to go.

 

[Phildo64]

I have to agree with this. I got drafted, and knew it was going to be infantry, so elected to add a year to the enlistment to get a school. Electronics was my top grade in the tests.
Went that way and have made my living to this day 43 years later.

Encourage him to use the Guard, or Reserve as an avenue for advancement, not a "cool job" like a machine gunner on a tank.

For the record, my commo education got me into an infantry unit as a radio man, so you never know how its going to go.

Agreed! If he want to be "Hooah" and crap they're not much in the civilian world other than being a cop that transfers at all. When I got back I had a real problem with finding a job that I felt "suits" me. I still miss it, but to each their own. Make sure he looks past his enlistment contract and utilizes the Military to help him actually get there and not be a speed bump.

 

[Zombie]

lots of cool stuff and option - with GED he can enlist given no other issues

definitely pick the MOS carefully - something useful later is a good idea. Push for an enlistment bonus, and MOS should be guaranteed. ASVAB and GT scores dictate what he can do. I would look carefully at regular army vs guard or reserve. compare the pros and cons.

 

[Brandi]

Best advice, cover your own butt because they will screw you over if you let them. Obviously that's geared towards "management" and not fellow soldiers. Since he dropped out of school life isn't going to hand out any favors so getting his GED and learning a skill while learning dedication and discipline is a very good idea. Good, bad or indifferent you will learn some very valuable lessons through military service. Today's Guard is far different than the Guard I knew so I don't have much to add that's relevant other than what I already said.