Best career paths ARNG?

[chris54321]

Hey guys,

I just posted about AROTC, and I have a new question. If I do rotc and am lucky enough to get Infantry Officer, I’d go National Guard. Are there any units that are ‘better’ than others - I.e airborne etc? I don’t know the different between different types of units, but hopefully some people here do! I just want to know what to aim for. Which types of infantry units are the most rigorous or have unique mission capabilities? Again, I am fairly ignorant so I’m not sure if I know what I’m asking... I just want to push myself to be the best, given that I will be in the guard, so I will already be less trained than AD officers.


Also, what kinds of extra opportunities (such as RASP) are available to guard officers?

Thanks!

 

[kinnem]

From the Army National Guard Infantry Officer career pages

Infantry officers can also volunteer for airborne and ranger school or for specific developmental assignments in airborne and ranger units.

Took me all of three minutes to find this. A little research never hurts. What's the best career option? The one that's right for you.

 

[QA1517]

First you need to check out what units are available in the state you live. NG infantry units are very competitive and the state you are in may not have very many. You will also find a lot of prior service enlisted that have gone on to become reserve infantry officers.
When you commission you will have to contact your states resource officer to find out what slots are available. If there are no infantry slots then you will become an officer in a different type of unit.

Keep in mind to that as an NG jr officer you will probably only be with your unit for about 1 1/2 years +/- typically, then you will be shipped off to battalion for staff duty.
The option of doing extra schools (airborne etc.) will depend on your states funding as the NG has to pay for these slots.

The state we are in is heavy into engineering units and I believe only has 1 infantry unit. They do have some smaller infantry detachments associated with other units.

Google your states National Guard and they probably have a list of the units and detachments.

 

[Tbpxece]

Fwiw, you will receive the same training as Active Duty officers. Over time your proficiency may fall off (if you let it), but the training will be the same.

Don't dog the Guard. Total Force was implemented in the late 70s and is in full swing today. The RC transitioned from strategic to operational reserve over 20 years ago and there is no sign of that changing.

 

[chris54321]

Fwiw, you will receive the same training as Active Duty officers. Over time your proficiency may fall off (if you let it), but the training will be the same.

Don't dog the Guard. Total Force was implemented in the late 70s and is in full swing today. The RC transitioned from strategic to operational reserve over 20 years ago and there is no sign of that changing.

Thanks for the reply - what do you mean by that? What is the different between strategic and operational in this context?

 

[chris54321]

From the Army National Guard Infantry Officer career pages

Infantry officers can also volunteer for airborne and ranger school or for specific developmental assignments in airborne and ranger units.

Took me all of three minutes to find this. A little research never hurts. What's the best career option? The one that's right for you.

I did research actually - I just have no conception of what these things are like or how they practically differ in a deployment, so I was hoping for firsthand experience. For example, how would an airborne/air assault/light infantry unit functionally (in terms of what they do on a day-to-day basis) differ from a Stryker unit, when both are deployed to the same place?

 

[chris54321]

First you need to check out what units are available in the state you live. NG infantry units are very competitive and the state you are in may not have very many. You will also find a lot of prior service enlisted that have gone on to become reserve infantry officers.
When you commission you will have to contact your states resource officer to find out what slots are available. If there are no infantry slots then you will become an officer in a different type of unit.

Keep in mind to that as an NG jr officer you will probably only be with your unit for about 1 1/2 years +/- typically, then you will be shipped off to battalion for staff duty.
The option of doing extra schools (airborne etc.) will depend on your states funding as the NG has to pay for these slots.

The state we are in is heavy into engineering units and I believe only has 1 infantry unit. They do have some smaller infantry detachments associated with other units.

Google your states National Guard and they probably have a list of the units and detachments.

Thanks for the reply. I live in the Midwest and I know there are many units nearby. I’m hoping to apply for SFSAS after 2 years or however long I have to wait after commissioning.

 

[Tbpxece]

Fwiw, you will receive the same training as Active Duty officers. Over time your proficiency may fall off (if you let it), but the training will be the same.

Don't dog the Guard. Total Force was implemented in the late 70s and is in full swing today. The RC transitioned from strategic to operational reserve over 20 years ago and there is no sign of that changing.

Thanks for the reply - what do you mean by that? What is the different between strategic and operational in this context?

Strategic = USSR deterrence. Sit back, man the armories, prepare for North American land war. This translated into low readiness across the RC (both Army and Air) and contributed to a lot of the negative stereotypes associated with Guardsmen and Reservists.

Operational = RC operates as 2/3 of the Total Force, meaning regular deployments and taskings. This is the post-Desert Storm stance. Guardsmen and Reservists deployed alongside their AD counterparts. Much higher ops tempo. On the Air side, there were a few years where the RC had a higher percentage of deployments than the AC. RC is held to the same training and readiness standards as their AC counterparts.

AC is active component, i.e. Active Duty, DoD Civilians
RC is reserve component, i.e. Reserves, National Guard

The RC is between 25-50 percent prior-AD members now, depending on branch and location. Pretty remarkable transition.

 

[emwvmi01]

From the Army National Guard Infantry Officer career pages

Infantry officers can also volunteer for airborne and ranger school or for specific developmental assignments in airborne and ranger units.

Took me all of three minutes to find this. A little research never hurts. What's the best career option? The one that's right for you.

I did research actually - I just have no conception of what these things are like or how they practically differ in a deployment, so I was hoping for firsthand experience. For example, how would an airborne/air assault/light infantry unit functionally (in terms of what they do on a day-to-day basis) differ from a Stryker unit, when both are deployed to the same place?

To answer your question National Guard maneuver units include infantry units on airborne status but they are very limited to RI, TX and AK. Additionally, there is a Long Range Surveillance units in TX and IN that I know of. Assignment to those units would allow you the opportunity to attend Airborne and Ranger training. The National Guard runs a very well regarded prep program on Fort Benning for Ranger School. There are no Ranger units in the guard as the only Ranger units are assigned to the Ranger Regiment which is an active duty organization. For SF opportunities there are opportunities with 19th and 20th Group. Keep in mind that means if you don't live in those states you would travel to drill with said units. If you're looking for that type of experience Airborne or Ranger units why not go active and seek assignment to 82d, 173rd or 4/25 in Alaska. Your training pipeline is 1 of your four years active commitment as it is and then you can start your civilian career at about 26 with that experience.