Hello everyone. I have a question/problem that I need assistance with.
I joined the National Guard in February. I'm prior service and work overseas as a contractor.
The SGM said just to make up the drills but a MSG from my shop told him that I had to drop to the ING (Individual National Guard). He seemed to take his word for fact and had me on ING status while I am away.
I usually do 9 months overseas but can cut back to 4, broken up into 2 trips since the Guard really has some training I want. I have worked with guys who were in the Guard and I know they didn't have to go ING. I don't have those points of contact now.
Does anyone know the regs on this one? I know other people are contracting and remaining in the Guard, not on ING status. Any help would greatly be appreciated.
RTD

I am not sure if I can answer all your questions but I do know you can only be carried in the (Inactive Nationa Guard) ING for one year after that you would be placed in the IRR. If you are in ING status you are far less likely to be pulled and deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan than in the IRR. If you have completed your 8 year commitment then you could opt to be discharged instead of going IRR after your year in the ING.

It is my understanding if you were gone for 9 months and placed in the ING and came home and completed the rest of the year in drill status and make your drills and attend Annual Training then the following year you could go back in the ING for no more than a year. I am not sure how long you would have to return to drill status after a year in the ING before you could go back on ING status. I do understand bing in the ING is better than being in the IRR.

Thanks for the reply.
The funny thing is, this MSG suggested only putting me in the ING while I am gone. This time, for instance, will only be for 3 months. It seems like a waste of time for them, since I am only going to come back on full Guard status and make up my drills when I get back.

If its just for 3 months and you make the drills up why would they go to the added paperwork of putting you in the ING? If you are in the ING I don't think you cam make those drills up.