Reserve/national vs Active

heritagevirginia

heritagevirginia

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Apr 19, 2014
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Hello

I just wanted to get your honest opinions. Want to does active military memebers think of reserve and national guard? My dad always told me there was a big pecking order but I didnt know how below they were.

Which guy earns more respect an infantry guy in the national guard or reserve vs active?

Also is there a big difference in the way national guard or reserve carry them selves versus active?
 
It has absolutely nothing to do with the branch or component of service, and everything to do with the individual service member. This is coming from a national guard infantry soldier who ran circles around most active duty soldiers I ended up working with.
 
heritagevirginia said:
Hello

I just wanted to get your honest opinions. Want to does active military memebers think of reserve and national guard? My dad always told me there was a big pecking order but I didnt know how below they were.

Which guy earns more respect an infantry guy in the national guard or reserve vs active?

Also is there a big difference in the way national guard or reserve carry them selves versus active?
Click to expand...

What is the intent behind your question? Are you just curious or are you considering joining one or the other? This would help us answer your question. There are stereotypes and over generalizations for both organizations. The National Guard, from my limited experience, varies greatly in quality and capability from unit to unit. So does the Army for the matter. Or the Marine Corps. A lot of Army guys on Active Duty will tell you that the Guard sucks. A lot of Marines will tell you that the Army sucks. A lot of Navy guys will tell you that the Marine Corps sucks. A lot of Air Force guys will tell you that the Navy sucks. Everyone says that the Air Force has the best chow halls and MWR facilities. My point is that my experience is based on the interaction that I've had with a few units under certain commanders. Two years later those units could be totally different. Except for the Air Force. Their chow halls and MWR facilities will always be the best. Asking an internet forum what people think of a certain unit or organization is a fruitless exercise that will spark rivalries and inevitably offend members.
 
JAB said:
It has absolutely nothing to do with the branch or component of service, and everything to do with the individual service member. This is coming from a national guard infantry soldier who ran circles around most active duty soldiers I ended up working with.
Click to expand...

I mean take this forum and our National Guard members for example, on one hand we have @JAB and @surgicalcric .... and on the other hand we have @pardus... I'll let you all draw your own conclusions.
 
Oh damn, someones ganna get some hate...

I'll agree that generalization are rampant and are normally partially true and partially bullshit.

I would say the most consistent and respected unit in the Army (for me looking from the outside in) would be 75th Ranger Regiment. Not taking away from the many outstanding units in the Army, but as far as consistency and general professionalism, having my respect, it would be the Rangers.

The old LRSU in the TX NG was shit hot once upon a time. Don't know where or what they are doing now. The SF companies in the TX NG have been getting nothing but good words spoken about them. But all that matters little, as I posted before, it all about you and how you decide to serve, you can be in a shit hot unit but if you suck, its inevitable that the unit will begin to suck...
 
Teufel said:
What is the intent behind your question? Are you just curious or are you considering joining one or the other? This would help us answer your question. There are stereotypes and over generalizations for both organizations. The National Guard, from my limited experience, varies greatly in quality and capability from unit to unit. So does the Army for the matter. Or the Marine Corps. A lot of Army guys on Active Duty will tell you that the Guard sucks. A lot of Marines will tell you that the Army sucks. A lot of Navy guys will tell you that the Marine Corps sucks. A lot of Air Force guys will tell you that the Navy sucks. Everyone says that the Air Force has the best chow halls and MWR facilities. My point is that my experience is based on the interaction that I've had with a few units under certain commanders. Two years later those units could be totally different. Except for the Air Force. Their chow halls and MWR facilities will always be the best. Asking an internet forum what people think of a certain unit or organization is a fruitless exercise that will spark rivalries and inevitably offend members.
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter the branch but I was most curious about Army. I ask this because all my friends are going national guard and I am going active. I wanted to see if there was a difference in opinions and how they carry themselves
 
heritagevirginia said:
It doesn't matter the branch but I was most curious about Army. I ask this because all my friends are going national guard and I am going active. I wanted to see if there was a difference in opinions and how they carry themselves
Click to expand...

Most NG units are a bit out of shape and lacking in proper discipline in comparison to most AD units. But this is not always the case and each unit will be dependent upon the people in it and the quality of leadership.

My advice would be not to develop any preconceived notions or judgements on any branch or component, and give respect and credit where it is do.
 
Generally speaking it all rises and falls on leadership. AD, NG, and the Reserves have all kinds. Find a job you want to do and then see who has it.

I will say that one overlooked aspect about the Guard is balancing the Guard vs. your employer/ college. It isn't the cakewalk recruiters would have you believe. One piece of advice, don't go NG thinking "I'll go Active if I like this." The NG frowns upon such behavior and force drawdowns will restrict your options.
 
Freefalling said:
Generally speaking it all rises and falls on leadership. AD, NG, and the Reserves have all kinds. Find a job you want to do and then see who has it.

I will say that one overlooked aspect about the Guard is balancing the Guard vs. your employer/ college. It isn't the cakewalk recruiters would have you believe. One piece of advice, don't go NG thinking "I'll go Active if I like this." The NG frowns upon such behavior and force drawdowns will restrict your options.
Click to expand...


I am not interested in joining a NG unit but I know it's a good route for CWO who want to fly and also have a family. I felt to be the best I can be is to give my full time focused on being a solider.
 
Just remember, everyone goes to the same BCT/AIT/OSUT. It's what you do there and after that sets your self apart from your peers, leaders, and subordinates (both in active duty and reserve component).
 
Ranger Psych said:
All my buddies who are Chiefs have great family lives plus fly, and are active duty. Yeah, they'd have more family time on the NG side.... but I want someone with a bunch of stick time driving me thank you very much...
Click to expand...

The vast majority of NG rotary wing pilots fly in their civilian jobs as well. ;-)
 
And the trash talking has begun. To the OP, yes, reputation-wise, the active duty has a better precieved reputation then the Guard or Reserve. When I was active, I thought all Guard guys were fat wanna-be's. A lot of NG guys that joined after 2009 wish they had gone active first. Actual quality varies greatly from unit to unit, both Active and Guard. I have met guys in the NG that never served Active and were very squared away and quite happy with the deployment and training opportunities (they all joined pre 2009). I have met Active guys that have never deployed and were bitter about all the BS wasted time and cleaning details.

That being said, right now if you want to be a warrior and not just get educational benefits, the Active duty is the place to be. There are some high speed training and still deploying units in the Guard and Reserve, but most of your Guard combat brigades and Reserve support brigades are back on pre-war training tempo and will not be deploying very soon if at all.
Reed
 

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