For those that have been apart of 19th and/or 20th, do you have personal opinions based on each group. As far as, how they are run, differently/same, training, OPTEMPO? I realize there are Army standards, and each group has a different location they are "in charge" of but I know each unit has a different way of running their men. If differences lay all the way down to battlion/company level, please specify that as well. Thank you for the time.

Adam

My info is probably a bit dated (3/20th from 1990 to 1995 and 1/19th from 1998 to 2001) but I'm probably the only one here who served with both. Remember that there is effectively no dofference anymore in optempo. Both Groups get the same funding and are mobilized regularly (in bits and pieces) and are always looking for bodies to deploy.

FWIW, my recomendation would be given the choice to be a member of the largest "slice" nearest the flagpole. I say this because there are many legacy Companys (and even BNs) spread out in different states than their parent Group HQ. As a NG unit, this affects support. For example, 3/20th is more or less the entire state of Florida but also has a couple companys up north. The Florida companys are going to get better support from the Florida 20th HQ than the far off companys outside of the Florida NG. Likewise, 19th has a split company in California (LA/SF). 19th HQ is in Utah and the 19th companys in the Utah NG get direct support and 19th is a big deal in Utah. The company of guys in the California have to depend on the California NG for support and 72 guys is a drop in the bucket to the Cal Guard.

quote:

Originally posted by red0devil:
For those that have been apart of 19th and/or 20th, do you have personal opinions based on each group. As far as, how they are run, differently/same, training, OPTEMPO? I realize there are Army standards, and each group has a different location they are "in charge" of but I know each unit has a different way of running their men. If differences lay all the way down to battlion/company level, please specify that as well. Thank you for the time.

Adam

Since your profile says you live in Washington State I will tell you that the guys of A/1/19th SFG(A) in Buckley are a pretty good bunch. The optempo is up there and a lot of guys do contracting on the side. Many are current LEOs as well. You will not be able to join the unit directly and go SFAS. You must join another unit in the WA Guard then drill with us while getting ready for SFAS. Best if you went and interviewed with the CO and the MSG before deciding what you want to do. I hope that you have the right mindset and play well with others.

Go here: A Co.

We have a SF tabbed recruiter who's office is in the building. He can answer your questions about the process to join.

I have heard good things about 19th. I'm currently interviewing with A/1/19th tomorrow. I'm sure they can answer a lot of my questions, but I am looking for a more all around compare of the two units.

Adam

quote:

Originally posted by red0devil:
I am looking for a more all around compare of the two units.

Every unit has its plusses and minusses. It's hard to give a blanket evaluation of the entire Group and things change, one year "B Company" might be the greatest place on earth and then next year it could stink (usually following a change of command).

By me, I'd give more weight to the languages and MOS offered by the Groups and where I wanted to go to college.

FWIW, the National Guard site has a map with NGSF units. When you scroll over it there will be an SF recruiters name that pops up. I don't know if its exhaustive and all that it tells you is unit and recruiter name, no phone number info as far as I can tell...

http://www.1800goguard.com/specialforces/index.php

quote:

Originally posted by jgl1974:
FWIW, the National Guard site has a map with NGSF units.

Hats off to you for finding it, that's a great tool for 90% of the newbies questions here. Maybe an administrator should make that link a sticky?

quote:

Originally posted by jgl1974:
FWIW, the National Guard site has a map with NGSF units. When you scroll over it there will be an SF recruiters name that pops up. I don't know if its exhaustive and all that it tells you is unit and recruiter name, no phone number info as far as I can tell...

http://www.1800goguard.com/specialforces/index.php

I have been to that website and tried to contact a recruiter and all I got was the website's "request info" page for new recruits.