Questions about Army Reserves / National Guard Post Assignments

[RMeGuy]

Hi, my DD is a 1st year Army cadet at a Northern California university. She was leaning towards Reserves or NG, but may want the option of Active Duty upon graduation. If by her senior year she does prefer Reserves or NG and requests this, does anyone know how do unit/post assignments work? I suppose she would not be guaranteed a Northern California unit to join (and might possibly have to join the Reserves/NG in a different state)? If based on OML, is it tough to get Northern California Reserve/NG units? Are certain branches more likely to get Northern California?

Thank you!

 

[Montana State Army ROTC]

Has she talked to her cadre? The NG recruiter embedded with the ROTC program? They will give her better info then we can on the internet.

 

[RMeGuy]

Has she talked to her cadre? The NG recruiter embedded with the ROTC program? They will give her better info then we can on the internet.

Thanks. We did ask about this before she joined the program, and her cadre mentioned looking into the SMP/GFRD programs. I didn't know that there is a NG recruiter embedded with the program - I'll have her check this out. I think she wants the flexibility to go AD, but make this decision her Junior year. But, for future planning purposes, we wonder if staying in Northern California via the Reserves/NG is a fairly sure thing.

 

[Montana State Army ROTC]

Thanks. We did ask about this before she joined the program, and her cadre mentioned looking into the SMP/GFRD programs. I didn't know that there is a NG recruiter embedded with the program - I'll have her check this out. I think she wants the flexibility to go AD, but make this decision her Junior year. But, for future planning purposes, we wonder if staying in Northern California via the Reserves/NG is a fairly sure thing.

If she does well im sure CA would want to keep her. The decision doesnt have to be made until Sep of your Sr year. But folks knowing they want NG can start requesting slots earlier than that. How it works- she contacts the Officer Strength Manager and requests a branch and/or general location. The OSM will review her file and see if CA wants her (Montana takes everyone bc of low demand for slots- I assume CA is the opposite). She can live in one location and commute to her guard job in another. As she settles into her civilian career her guard jobs will move as she progresses up the ranks. She it is inevitable she will have to commute for the guard. Also the commitment for guard is 8 full years vs 4 active and 4 inactive if she goes AD.

 

[RMeGuy]

If she does well im sure CA would want to keep her. The decision doesnt have to be made until Sep of your Sr year. But folks knowing they want NG can start requesting slots earlier than that. How it works- she contacts the Officer Strength Manager and requests a branch and/or general location. The OSM will review her file and see if CA wants her (Montana takes everyone bc of low demand for slots- I assume CA is the opposite). She can live in one location and commute to her guard job in another. As she settles into her civilian career her guard jobs will move as she progresses up the ranks. She it is inevitable she will have to commute for the guard. Also the commitment for guard is 8 full years vs 4 active and 4 inactive if she goes AD.

Thank you for your response and information! I appreciate it!

 

[DSmom_in_IL]

If she does well im sure CA would want to keep her. The decision doesnt have to be made until Sep of your Sr year. But folks knowing they want NG can start requesting slots earlier than that. How it works- she contacts the Officer Strength Manager and requests a branch and/or general location. The OSM will review her file and see if CA wants her (Montana takes everyone bc of low demand for slots- I assume CA is the opposite). She can live in one location and commute to her guard job in another. As she settles into her civilian career her guard jobs will move as she progresses up the ranks. She it is inevitable she will have to commute for the guard. Also the commitment for guard is 8 full years vs 4 active and 4 inactive if she goes AD.

Is it 8 years regardless of whether they were on scholarship or not? Is SMP/non-scholarship 8 yrs?

 

[Montana State Army ROTC]

Is it 8 years regardless of whether they were on scholarship or not? Is SMP/non-scholarship 8 yrs?

Yes. All reserve components are 8 years.