California State Guard - formerly the CSMR

[theunpunisher]

I'd try contacting them one more time. If you don't hear back within a week or two then try reapplying. Do you have your recruiter's contact number?

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Shasta - thanks for your service and for jumping out of perfectly good aircraft some of us worked our butts off on to get airborne (aloft). Snicker...

While the MO's will make those final evaluations - many times individuals with disabilities, medications or even missing limbs are brought aboard.

The simplest answer I give to people is the State Guard is looking for talent and devotion to duty assisting fellow Californians or US citizens if something bad happens. Can this be done from the Command Center or supporting division of an EOC by individuals with limitations on what they can physically do? Certainly! There are few hard and fast rules about denial (felonies, communist, etc.) but more room for accommodations to be considered in the medical side. So don't get discouraged.

I do know that with the recent Covid developments, vaccinations and processing all the associated stuff - it has impacted some teams which Recruiting relies on.

[CheapBloke]

Does one need to be vaccinated in order to sign up?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[ShastaCola]

Originally Posted by theunpunisher

I'd try contacting them one more time. If you don't hear back within a week or two then try reapplying. Do you have your recruiter's contact number?

Thank you for your advice. This is exactly what I did and got a phone call 3 days later. Of course I asked what happened to my last application. He tells me that basically the whole recruitment process was screwed up really bad for the last year and a half. The biggest reason with the transition from paper to electronic. So they lost my application and have to start the whole process over. He replied that it took him two years to come on board but now with the whole revamped recruitment system, it should me more streamlined. At least I wasn't a DQ

Originally Posted by S.O.A.R.

Does one need to be vaccinated in order to sign up?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

That was the very first question the recruiter asked me. The answer to one need to be vaccinated in order to sign up is yes. At least the first jab and a scheduled second appointment before you can show up to process. What perturbs me is I applied before the mandatory jab so at least I could have been sworn in before this mess. But maybe them losing my application package was a blessing in disguise since I would be unfit for duty by not being vaxed and AWOL for not showing up.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

After many years, and more than a few earnest efforts.... we have a solid State Guard website, with some initial good content, especially for Team Shield, Blaze and Maritime.

https://stateguard.cmd.ca.gov/public/

[ShastaCola]

Originally Posted by CrazyCobraManTim

After many years, and more than a few earnest efforts.... we have a solid State Guard website, with some initial good content, especially for Team Shield, Blaze and Maritime.

https://stateguard.cmd.ca.gov/public/

My recruiter gleefully contacted me and said they found my original application. I cleared medical and all that is left is fingerprinting and background check. It seems like you are in the know. Before I recontact the recruiter or spring the $25 for fingerprinting, what is the current status on the vax? Do I have to be fully vaxxed before reporting for duty?

[CrazyCobraManTim]

In the know. Well - some may debate that.

The policy is to have either the vaccine - or an approved medical or religious exemption to taking the shot.

To say it's been an EVER fluid situation is an understatement, but if you want to serve - put in for service, and apply for the exemption.

Tim

[Nacho_Eater]

Just out of curiosity, what is the CSG MEPS physical like?

[CrazyCobraManTim]

It's not as involved as Armed Forces stuff. Typically (or in the past) it was that you upload or otherwise supply the necessary information (education, DL, DD214, etc.) and attend an orientation which describes the various units, and they will perform height / weight / blood pressure measurements.

If you have a condition or circumstance which requires some form of review (medical, legal, COVID, etc.) then there would be additional messages between you and the team considering your accession request.

That's about the extent of it.

[Nacho_Eater]

Originally Posted by CrazyCobraManTim

It's not as involved as Armed Forces stuff. Typically (or in the past) it was that you upload or otherwise supply the necessary information (education, DL, DD214, etc.) and attend an orientation which describes the various units, and they will perform height / weight / blood pressure measurements.

If you have a condition or circumstance which requires some form of review (medical, legal, COVID, etc.) then there would be additional messages between you and the team considering your accession request.

That's about the extent of it.

Thank you, Sir!

I'll have to dig up my college transcripts.

[ShastaCola]

does anyone here have an actual contact number for a recruiter?

Update: Finally!!! after 2 1/2 yeas, I swear in next Monday. The process is one giant mess and I was told that my wait is the average time. My friend that I talked into joining was faster because he bugged our recruiter regularly. So the lesson is that the squeaky wheel gets the grease versus my philosophy of no news is good news. It is when I started making a very few phone calls on my status is when my file was dusted off and was made aware by somebody in Sacramento.

[Nacho_Eater]

Are things going OK for the CSG? I recently saw a post on social media that there were some changes being made on behest of the National Guard and some members weren't happy.

[Supersapper]

Originally Posted by Nacho_Eater

Are things going OK for the CSG? I recently saw a post on social media that there were some changes being made on behest of the National Guard and some members weren't happy.

Guard is like the Reserves. Instead of remaining neutral to the policy shenanigans of the politicians, they've swallowed the blue pill.

Now they're having huge, huge recruiting issues, both of their own making and because the newer generation is being told by their own military parents about the horrors of service. Plus in the media, politicians are not helping the cause either, by making "wokeness" a part of service.

Leading up to your question: there are many in leadership who are trying to boost numbers by making the army far more lenient on things just to make numbers.

That's what's gotten brought into the mix and has resulted in even worse recruiting numbers.

"...some people are not happy" has the same level as saying the Titanic had a flooding problem and people got hurt. It's far worse and now. Calculations say we need 1.3 million in the armed services to meet our worldwide commitments. For the first time in decades, we are in danger of not meeting those numbers.

[nevets]

Originally Posted by Nacho_Eater

Are things going OK for the CSG? I recently saw a post on social media that there were some changes being made on behest of the National Guard and some members weren't happy.

To answer your question the best that I can, in general, things within the CSG are going well. There are, however, changes that have been made, and changes that likely will be made although we're not totally clear on what that will look like yet. What has some CSG members upset is that the ERC, or Emergency Response Command, which was comprised of Team Blaze (wildland firefighting detachment), and Team Shield (security forces detachment) is being disbanded with Blaze members being absorbed into Task Force Rattlesnake (National Guard wildland firefighting detachment) and Shield members going to the installation support command (security forces and other installation support roles) and various other units around the state. Additionally, the new adjutant general and his staff are looking at potentially changing the CSG uniform in an effort to make it "distinct from the National Guard" although we're not really sure what those changes would be or if any changes at all will ever take place. Some are okay with it, others not so much.

We all heard the rumors when the former TAG, MG Baldwin, and former commander of the CSG, MG Coggan retired. Then the new TAG confirmed what a lot of the speculation was about during an all hands meeting when he made the statement of "I do not want the CSG competing with the National Guard" or a statement to that effect. New boss, new vision, new direction. Love it or hate it, it is what it is and I'll just leave it at that.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Wonder what will become of the naval maritime component….

Hmmmm

[nevets]

Originally Posted by CrazyCobraManTim

Wonder what will become of the naval maritime component?.

Hmmmm

Me too. I heard rumors that they already had or were going to disband the maritime unit but who knows. And if they do, what are they going to do with the ship and other boats?

[Nacho_Eater]

Thanks for the replies to my question.

I'm a former Army National Guardsman and I'm not surprised one bit at politics entering into the equation here. The National Guard has always been a political animal (not a good thing, IMHO).

I guess we'll have to see how things turn out.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

TAG's guidance is effectively on point to what their mission is (to be fair). Provide support for the Army and Air NG units. And all states are awaiting solid updates (revised or updated directions) from HQ NGB.

Those units who previously stood alone (so to speak) will get rolled under a CAARNG or CARNG unit who's mission includes METL of Blaze, Shield and Maritime.

Would like to think time, donations, training and mutual aid efforts spent on our small fleet is squandered. Lots of people working on it. Time will tell.

Was even a joke about making sure people (everyone) knows the difference between NG and CSG. BDU's could be making a come back.... wink.

[nevets]

Originally Posted by CrazyCobraManTim

TAG's guidance is effectively on point to what their mission is (to be fair). Provide support for the Army and Air NG units. And all states are awaiting solid updates (revised or updated directions) from HQ NGB.

Those units who previously stood alone (so to speak) will get rolled under a CAARNG or CARNG unit who's mission includes METL of Blaze, Shield and Maritime.

Would like to think time, donations, training and mutual aid efforts spent on our small fleet is squandered. Lots of people working on it. Time will tell.

Was even a joke about making sure people (everyone) knows the difference between NG and CSG. BDU's could be making a come back.... wink.

Change is inevitable but I really do hope they hold off on the BDUs although I suppose that would qualify as being distinct from the National Guard. Like you said, time will tell. If they did switch the uniform to that, I wonder how that might affect recruiting and retention?

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Honestly brother - I am unsure.

My sincerer hope is that the NGB, other national agencies and Title 10, 14 and 32 individuals will do what their Oaths require of them in the days and weeks to come.

Otherwise - God's will be Done....

[E Pluribus Unum]

Originally Posted by CrazyCobraManTim

Honestly brother - I am unsure.

My sincerer hope is that the NGB, other national austerities and Title 10, 14 and 32 individuals will do what their Oaths require of them in the days and weeks to come.

Otherwise - God's will be Done....

The CSG has always bitten off it's nose to spite it's face. We can't have the volunteers out performing the paid crew... making everyone look bad... they just want people to show up and carry the water....

BG Sandman has been clear that Maritime's days are numbered... I hope he changes his mind.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Hmmm... BG Sandman and his staff / subordinate commanders seemed to have stuck to a different story.

SOOO much scuttlebutt ...it's like turning over a porta potty (or 3) next to the swim qual pool. Turds everywhere....

[E Pluribus Unum]

Originally Posted by CrazyCobraManTim

Hmmm... BG Sandman and his staff / subordinate commanders seemed to have stuck to a different story.

SOOO much scuttlebutt ...it's like turning over a porta potty (or 3) next to the swim qual pool. Turds everywhere....

Yes sir. Scuttlebutt is worthless... until it happens. As I say, I hope it's wrong. The state guard portion doesn't have the manpower that the ANG side has... they can't afford the politics. With a company of 12... how can they afford to let good people go and not have recruiting to replace them?

Put aside the politics and put mission first... if everyone had that mentality, it would grow exponentially. It saddens me because the potential is there if they would just endorse it... I digress.

[Usmc0844spare]

Originally Posted by Supersapper

Now they're having huge, huge recruiting issues, both of their own making and because the newer generation is being told by their own military parents about the horrors of service.

I didn't have any horrors in the service. I was a "never did s**t" reservist after all.

However, yeah, given our country's track record, since, basically after Korea, of sending our kids off to die for either no good reason, ill-planned /considered reasons, or just shear d**k-wagging, I told my kid he should not join the military, unless it's the USCG.

There has been literally no war since WW2 (except MAYBE Korea) that I would consider worth the life/limb/mental health of my kid.

I mean, I am sure no WW2 Gold Star parent was thinking "yup, proud my son is dead", but I am sure there is a huge difference between them and someone who lost a son or daughter in Afghanistan only to see the crap-show that devolved into at the end.

[Nacho_Eater]

Originally Posted by nevets

Me too. I heard rumors that they already had or were going to disband the maritime unit but who knows. And if they do, what are they going to do with the ship and other boats?

The USCG Auxiliary would love to have its own boats! Or more of them.

[E Pluribus Unum]

Originally Posted by Nacho_Eater

The USCG Auxiliary would love to have its own boats! Or more of them.

Unfortunately, that's not a sworn service. Technically speaking, they are civilians.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

EPU has it right. USCG-Aux are civilian volunteers under DHS. They may get to sometimes do cool stuff (go floating)....but I'm not even sure where they fall under USC Title 14.

The State Guard is one of 3 Title 32 reserve forces available to California, with all it can carry or otherwise imply.

But - if Maritime was stripped of their equipment and mission - there are more than a few entities in California which would / could benefit from the inflatables, John Boats (Rescue One's) and the USCG Motor Life Boat SN #2 - which is fairly well refurbished at this point.

I need to check in and see what's going on.....been SOOO busy at day work for weeks, months and 2 years now. Have 10 days "off" right now - and I've worked 2 of the 3 day @ about 6-10 hours each day. Beat being in Gaza I suppose....