- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
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- 59
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Hi guys. Any docs on here join guard or reserve w/o prior service? I was hoping to hear your experience.
Can’t complain about my reserve experience at all. Made some great friends and wouldn’t trade my deployment experience for anything. Depending on the unit of course, but it would be hard to come in off the streets to the reserves IMO, but I know guys that have done it successfully.
I think the reserves are the best fit for guys that want to finish their time to get 20. And even better for the subset of folks that want the military to be their hobby. That group IME tend to be some of both the best and worst commanders as well.
Good luck.
If you want to do CCAT, you're looking at Air Force Reserve or Guard. The Guard has stateside missions and some people like serving their local community as well as national needs. Additionally, there are state specific benefits available to the Guard. The Reserve is better integrated into the federal system, protected from stateside deployment, and seems to be a little easier to just cruise by in. CCAT is a great mission but be aware that (at least right now), it's more about training than actual missions. Most of your military time will be bureaucratic admin work on drill weekends and training during annual training or when you go to schools. Also expect the process to take a few months in uniform but spread over several years between joining, getting credentialed, and getting through the training.
The Reserve and Guard are terrible financial decisions and will add extra stressors to your professional and personal life. They are a nice way to diversify your career a bit and provide unique experiences and opportunities to serve. The specific unit you join can make a big difference in how much you enjoy the experience.
Interestingly, I have had the opposite experience to other posters here. My observation is that prior active duty people sometimes have a hard time in the Reserve or Guard because 1) they've already checked the military box and can mentally move on, and 2) they have a hard time transitioning their expectations from active duty to working with people who do this 2 days out of a month.
Could you explain the first part more? What makes the mission so different?A lot depends on medical specialty... National Guard and Air National Guard have very different missions.
Your unit factors significantly into your happiness... And even the best unit can change with leadership changes though guard is significantly more stable.
I'm prior USAF AD, prior USAFR, current USAR... Lmk if you have any specific questions
Could you explain the first part more? What makes the mission so different?
I got through Meps recently. The doc was cool but it could be very easy to get jammed up.
I am guessing they meant the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard have very different missions. Title 10 vs. title 32 orders.
Air National Guard belongs to the state and is primarily focused on state missions (title 32), but can be activated for federal missions with the permission of the governor of the state (title 10), but the ANG belongs to the state.
Air Force Reserves belongs to the federal government and has it's own unique missions.
There is some overlap, but in most ANG units be prepared to mobilize more for state level needs plus also do the normal trainings you need to do to keep up with the federal requirements.