ROTC to National Guard Officer

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airbornedaddy

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Question...What is the process from going through ROTC and commissioning to becoming an officer in a National Guard unit?
 
I'm going to relay how this actually worked for a former student of mine.

He received an AROTC scholarship and went off to the big state university. And he excelled!

LONG story short, when it came time to select his branch (we use to call it filling out your dream sheet) he put ANG as his first branch of choice. I didn't even know that was an option. However, it is...and that's what he put down: ANG, then Infantry, then Armor, etc...

He honored me by asking me to commission him into the AZ ANG.

So...his short explanation to me was: "We are allowed to put ANG as a branch of choice."

So he went to the ANG and put his engineering degree to work right away in the civilian sector.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
My daughter-in-law, who was ranked #1 in her program's AROTC program and was a 4-year scholarship winner, selected Army National Guard as her first choice, selected her branch and found a unit who had the MP 2LT slot and was granted it.
 
The understanding our son had when he was investigating college and Army options, was you can put in for the ANG or Army Reserves after graduation, BUT that getting that choice was dependent on the Army's need. And in recent years ANG, in fact any National Guard or Reserve Unit likely have been doing more AD deployments that AD Units, so keep that in mind. Be careful, just because you are in the NG or Reserves does not mean you will not serve periods of extended AD and have Grad School screwed up..:) Plus the Army generally will not pay for grad school if you are in the Guard or Reserves.
 
Basically you can enter the Simultaneous Membership Program: https://www.nationalguard.com/simultaneous-membership-program
You attend Army ROTC classes, drill one weekend a month. If you know what you want to branch in, find a unit of that type, but you can't find any unit if the choice is based on geography. Will go to basic camp, advanced camp, then OBC after graduation. Obligated for 6 year guard tour or if active duty slots are available, go active duty for 3 years. Commissioned with a Reserve Commission as a 2LT. The GWOT really created a mess for guard though and may look at Army Reserves as an option.

Unless you're a "warrior at heart," avoid Infantry, Armor, and Artillery branch. The Signal Corps has more transferable skills as a civilian: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-...ons-stats-frequencies/25a-signal-officer.html

If you are "gung ho" then Airborne, Ranger, Air Assault, Special Forces, Path Finder, and all the fun stuff is still an option and you can apply for an Infantry RA Commission: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-...firearms-ammunition/11a-infantry-officer.html
 
Last edited:
airbornedaddy said:
Question...What is the process from going through ROTC and commissioning to becoming an officer in a National Guard unit?
Click to expand...
Its quite easy. In Aug/Sept of your senior year you go through accessions. You pick your component first: active duty, national guard or reserves.
if you put NG or Reserves there is a 99% chance you’ll get it. There are always more people who want active duty than slots.
Then you contact the state officer strength manager (OSM) to get your branch and unit. Straight forward.
And if you find a civilian job in a different state you contact the OSM in that state for a new job.
 
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