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22193149
New Member
Posted
Newbie here.

I've been talking to a local ANG recruiter and wanted to get some third party input.

I'm 38 with no prior service, a BA and a Masters degree. Wife and 2 kids.

I've been looking hard at the ANG because of the one weekend per month OCS option. That would be a nice option with a family at home.

I'm hoping to join the ANG as an officer. I've been told by my recruiter that I can join as enlisted and get a better student loan repayment package than as an officer.

After completing BCT and AIT, I could then apply for OCS. According to what he's telling me, I would keep the entire student loan repayment bonus and then get any applicable bonuses for officers.

Does the strategy outlined above seem realistic or am I getting snowed?

If it could be done, I'd be worried about getting deployed between AIT and OCS. That would not be a favorable outcome as I would be getting a much lower salary while deployed. The recruiter said that could be avoided by assigning me to a unit currently deployed or just returned from deployment.

Is that realistic?

Thanks in advance for any advice. Thanks also to those of you on this board already serving. I and my family appreciate all you do.
 
Posts: 2 | Registered: Thu 03 September 2009Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
22381726
New Member
Posted Hide Post
I recently ran into the same issue.

I recently joined the National Guard, and I am leaving for basic training on Sep 23rd. I originally wanted to go to OCS after BCT but was told that if I wanted my Student Loans repayed, I would have to go enlisted first.

As I understand it, you have to be enlisted for a year after your initial active duty training to keep your SLRP while going through OCS.

For example my AIT should be completed in April 2010, if I understand correctly, April 2011 I will be eligble for OCS while keeping my SLRP.

So that is my intended goal as of now, but who knows if that will change lol.

As far as how easy it is to acheive this, I dont know. From what it seems our recruiters have basically told us the same deal. So I wouldnt worry too much about them giving you false information.
 
Posts: 1 | Registered: Fri 18 September 2009Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
22193149
New Member
Posted Hide Post
Thanks for the response. Good luck in Basic.

Are you doing Basic and AIT consecutively? Meaning you will be training from September through April?
 
Posts: 2 | Registered: Thu 03 September 2009Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
742101
New Member
Posted Hide Post
Make sure you get your promises in writing.If you are 38 years of age with no prior service, you may be too old for OCS. I went to OCS at the age of 33 and had to get a waiver, luckily I had 6 years of prior active service behind me that afforded me the waiver. Good Luck!



quote:
Originally posted by 22193149:
Newbie here.

I've been talking to a local ANG recruiter and wanted to get some third party input.

I'm 38 with no prior service, a BA and a Masters degree. Wife and 2 kids.

I've been looking hard at the ANG because of the one weekend per month OCS option. That would be a nice option with a family at home.

I'm hoping to join the ANG as an officer. I've been told by my recruiter that I can join as enlisted and get a better student loan repayment package than as an officer.

After completing BCT and AIT, I could then apply for OCS. According to what he's telling me, I would keep the entire student loan repayment bonus and then get any applicable bonuses for officers.

Does the strategy outlined above seem realistic or am I getting snowed?

If it could be done, I'd be worried about getting deployed between AIT and OCS. That would not be a favorable outcome as I would be getting a much lower salary while deployed. The recruiter said that could be avoided by assigning me to a unit currently deployed or just returned from deployment.

Is that realistic?

Thanks in advance for any advice. Thanks also to those of you on this board already serving. I and my family appreciate all you do.
 
Posts: 8 | Registered: Wed 25 June 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete Message
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