I'm currently in AIT at Ft. Lee, VA for 92A!!! Oh yeah oh yeah =) Anyways I'm really liking the type of environment I'm in (PT every morning and free food at the DFAC). With the national guard i had a 20,000 bonus coming, but the area in which i live doesn't have very good jobs...so yeah. What steps should take to make the move to Active Army? And also will I be able to somewhat pick my duty station?

Thanks,
PFC Boe

First off, finish AIT and then return to your Guard unit. Once there talk to the recruiter at that Armory he wuld have all the scoop on how to change over to active duty. 1st step is to get a letter of intent typed up and submit it to your commander, they inturn would do a letter of release, and then you can go to a recruiter and hand him this letter and he would do the rest. it will take some time to clear the hurdles, but if its all approved then you will receive orders to active duty. Hope this will give you a clear picture as to what will occur.

GOOD LUCK HOOAH

You're going to have to wait 6 months after you finish AIT to request a Conditional Release from the Guard. And when you go see the Active Duty Recruiter, the ball is in YOUR court. You can pretty much tell them where you want to go. You will then sign a new contract with the Active Army.

"tell them where you want to go"??? LMAO!! You don't 'tell' anyone where you're going to go--they tell YOU where they have a need and you WILL go there. Doesn't matter how long you been in, what your MOS is---you go where the Army needs you to go--not the other way around.

Ok...don't really feel like reading your profile to find out who you are. I am a National Guard recruiter and pretty much know how it works. Once this young soldier completes bct/ait, and serves the 6 months in their unit, they are considered prior service. When you walk into the Active Army office to enlist, you tell them where you want to go. If they don't get you the duty station that you want, you don't enlist. All recruiters have a mission and these days we are bending over backwards to get them what they want. Next time know what you are talking about before you run your mouth.

Just adding a little more to what fuelpig said -

You can either keep your MOS and pick your duty station or you can choose another MOS (if you're qualified) and let the army pick your duty station.

Of course, like the others have said - you still have to return to home station, wait 6 months, get a dd 368 signed (which can take 6 months or more... or could be as little as 2 weeks), etc.

You have to remember, the ARNG has a mission as well. Units (ie Unit Commanders) are graded on Unit Strength, Unit Readiness among other factors. If you are in an understrength unit, critical MOS, your commander may really want you to stick around.

quote:

Originally posted by FuelPig:
Ok...don't really feel like reading your profile to find out who you are. I am a National Guard recruiter and pretty much know how it works. Once this young soldier completes bct/ait, and serves the 6 months in their unit, they are considered prior service. When you walk into the Active Army office to enlist, you tell them where you want to go. If they don't get you the duty station that you want, you don't enlist. All recruiters have a mission and these days we are bending over backwards to get them what they want. Next time know what you are talking about before you run your mouth.

Excuse you?? WTH are you referring to on this Pig?? I'm pretty certain that you're not talking to me like that. Perhaps you SHOULD know who you're talking to before you run YOUR mouth Newbie.

Get a freakin' sense of humor Newbie because it appears that you missed the "LMAO" in the post---that's IF you were referring to me. Do a little reading next time.

oh_guard_tanker said: "You have to remember, the ARNG has a mission as well. Units (ie Unit Commanders) are graded on Unit Strength, Unit Readiness among other factors. If you are in an understrength unit, critical MOS, your commander may really want you to stick around."

Nicely said Tanker.

Once again.....running your mouth too much. I am far from a newbie there sweetheart. And I do know what I am talking about and that is why I commented on the nonsense that spewed forth from your mouth to that young soldier.
And from looking at your CIVILIAN profile, I would suggest that you let soldiers answer the questions around here.

quote:

Originally posted by FuelPig:
Once again.....running your mouth too much. I am far from a newbie there sweetheart. And I do know what I am talking about and that is why I commented on the nonsense that spewed forth from your mouth to that young soldier.
And from looking at your CIVILIAN profile, I would suggest that you let soldiers answer the questions around here.

As far as I'm concerned you ARE the Newbie, newbie. I don't care if you are a Recruiter or not. The simple fact is: YOU don't tell the military where you will be stationed. They will tell you where they have a need and an opening for your MOS and Rank. Period.
It doesn't take a freaking rocket scientist to figure that one out. I understand your job is to get these kids to sign the line and do whatever it takes (legally of course), but it's also irresponsible to suggest "oh sure son, you can go wherever you want". It doesn't work that way.
Quit blowing sunshine up someone's azz when you know the correct answer to the question.

And PS: I'm not your 'sweetheart'. I'm my husband's sweetheart.

Wow....you just really don't get it do you?
Go talk to an Active Duty Army Recruiter prior to saying anything else on this subject. And when that recuiter tells you the same thing that i've said on here, I hope that you are a good enough person to come back here and apologize for your lack of knowledge on the subject.

quote:

Originally posted by FuelPig:
Wow....you just really don't get it do you?
Go talk to an Active Duty Army Recruiter prior to saying anything else on this subject. And when that recuiter tells you the same thing that i've said on here, I hope that you are a good enough person to come back here and apologize for your lack of knowledge on the subject.

I've not only spoken to an AD Recruiter on this subject, but also his CO, and HRC. And then confirmed with my husband last night. So what now?
Why is it so hard for YOU to concede that perhaps YOU are the one not giving complete and total answers? That's the problem with some of the Recruiters: some give partial answers and not the complete and total story.

I must apologize for their ignorance. I just had a soldier released from my NG unit to go active duty. Because he kept his previous MOS, he was allowed to choose where he got to go.

To continue my last thought.......that is what this young soldier is wanting to do. She wants to do her current MOS on Active Duty. I felt maybe my information wasn't any good, so I too called the local station commander for the Active Army and he reconfirmed what I had already said. If you keep your present MOS, you can choose your duty station. If you want to change your MOS, you go wherever the Army needs you.
Further....please don't question my Army Values. I live them every day. Being a Recruiter doesn't change that. I have done 4 combat deployments and have shed blood, sweat and tears for my country.
So please, DO NOT, sit on your civilian a** and question who I am or what I have done.

Pig, I don't question your values. It's your "I'm a National Guard Recruiter and a Service Member, therefore I'm better than you and know more than you, you lowly civilian" attitude that I question and find rather distasteful. If you knew half of what you THINK you know, you'd be a little more respectful to those around you.
Because you've been deployed and such doesn't make you any better than me or anyone else on these Boards. You giving me your 'accomplishments' means nothing to me at this point. I'm supposed to be impressed or in awe of you? Respect you?? You don't command respect, you earn it. And it's your disdainful attitude that will separate you from those of us who are truly committed to others.
I'm finished with you and your disdainful attitude, although I'm pretty certain that another person is still trying to get their internet to work so they may have a word with you...

FuelPig,

For starters, thank you for your service.

However, bobbysangelwife is the spouse of a Soldier who has deployed, so she deserves a little more respect than you are giving her. I am not saying she is right or wrong, but I find it very disheartening that as an NCO you would address a person in that manner. Very unprofessional.

fuelpig,
as for your comments to BAW you really need to stand down. she is speaking from experience. we (she is my wife) just went through this whole process and not only were not able to pick a duty station had to reclass. it all depends on the mos and i believe that mos in question is currently not on the critical list. you need to stop making the troops you enlist believe that the military "owes" them something. they volunteered and need to suck it up and fullfill their contract. you also need to address that if the soldier goes to AD they may lose the bonus they received and have to pay it back. going off halfc0cked shows that you are unprofessional and need to show some respect to the people who have earned it on these boards.
as for the "lowly civilian" comment, totally uncalled for, completely disrespectful and completely in disregard of the nco creed. remember the first line" NO ONE IS MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN I" i believe an apology is in order for your attitude and comments.

Teenfire, I would go with those who have actually done what you are trying to do and get the information from them who are experienced in the situation.

And if that doesn't satisfy you, you can probably counsel up to find out what is true or not.

Fuel Pig...

Regardless of the topic, the information and the debate, you are in total disrepect for this woman, Bobbyangelwife. Sir, you have NO right to tell her "she is runnng her mouth". There are many more professional ways to deal with any issue. Maybe if you took a second and read the profile, you would understand her devotion to our country and your employer as well as her basic rights you fight for. I have worked with Generals down from a civilian aspect...never, ever have I heard any soldier address a wife, spouse or family member as you did and get away with it. Because we are civilian, we have a little more freedom of speech than you do publically. Right or wrong is really a personal judgement call from the civilian side (who are free to express opinons more vocally) and also is irrelevant when you address ANY fellow soldiers family member. Right or wrong is not a judgement call for you...it is an oath, made to be upheld always, regardless.
I agree you do owe an apology for your matter of response and disrespect.
This particular person has probably given as much volunteer time to her community, her husbands unit, these boards, and the United States Army as you have in the field, Sir. She is due just as much respect.
Wyldheart,you are correct. We have all recently been through many, many recruitment experiences and almost none of them have accured as promised. I would advise anyone also to seek many answers from several different sources.

An apology is not going to happen. I deal with this "recruiting stuff" on a daily basis and I know how things are done in my area. If you have had different experiences in your area so be it. Sorry things didn't go your way.
The original topic of this thread was "How do I switch from the NG to AD?". I gave my .02 as it applied everytime I have sent someone in that direction.
I really didn't need my comment attacked by a civilian, irregardless of who it might be. I am also not a firm believer in the touchy-feely new Army attitude. If you're offended by me, tough, suck it up, I didn't ask anyone to like it.
I only mentioned some of my accomplishments because a comment was made insinuating that Recruiters are shady people. 9 times out of 10 that is not the case. It is hard enough to try to overcome that stereotype without someone adding fuel to the fire.
And technically, no one is trying to get out of their contract. This young lady is trying to go Active Duty from the Guard. Something many of us have done ourselves. And sometimes, the military does "owe" us one. If you can get the duty station of your choice by being a little stubborn......why not be stubborn?? If I need to make mission, i'll bend over backwards to get that soldier exactly what they want. It's a new tactic in Recruiting......it's called caring about the soldier.

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