California State Guard - formerly the CSMR

[E Pluribus Unum]

Looks like the CSG is getting some uniform changes including black name tape and "California" tape with white or silver lettering. Left sleeve will have the CSG or newer bear patch (no federal patches). OCPs will still be used.

US Flag on right sleeve to be replaced with the California state flag <-- this is what disappoints me the most. I was always proud to where any uniform with the US flag on it.

As an aside, the new Coast Guard Auxilary work uniform will now have the US flag on it, just like the new Coast Guard work uniforms.

I agree... but out of all the uniform changes, the flag makes the most sense. Traditionally, the state soldiers flew the flags of their respective states. Each state is sovereign and State Guard soldiers are literally the state's Army. Technically speaking, national guard soldiers on Title 32 orders should also wear their respective state flags. I say if they are going to make the state guard take off the American flag, so too should the rest of the National Guard.

[Nacho_Eater]

Technically speaking, national guard soldiers on Title 32 orders should also wear their respective state flags. I say if they are going to make the state guard take off the American flag, so too should the rest of the National Guard.

I'm a former Army National Guardsman and that's a really good point.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

When I was in Texas - I considered joining their naval branch (which used to be the 2nd biggest - except for New York's Title 10/32 Naval Militia).

I still rock a Texas flag on my plate carrier.

Ditching everything but OCP has been in Congress's sights for a loooong time. I feel really bad for my sailors who spent 100's (thousands) of dollars on working, service and dress uniforms - only to be told they are worthless now.

Maybe....begrudgingly - the CMD *might* provide a single set of OCP's to Maritime sailors. Sounds like a big shiiite sandwich and they'll all have to take a bite.

Also to Nacho - that Title 10 vs. 32 thing. I used to *hate* going into Los Alamitos PX and being told I couldn't buy virtually anything. I'd whip out my VA card and they were like oh...sure I guess you can but gum, but they'd rather I bought everything online.

90% of the Nasty's at JTFB are on Title 32 - just like many of us CSG'ers were. Not quite equitable or parity by any means. But if I (or others) went to Pendleton or 32nd street SDG naval PX..... it was no problem.

Sigh.... I'm retired now - but this topic still pains me.

[E Pluribus Unum]

Sigh.... I'm retired now - but this topic still pains me.

From CSG?? When did this happen?

Was the scuttlebutt correct?

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Retired in....(had to look) August 2023.

Got my 10+ year recognition in Dec 2022 - but I hit the 10-year mark 12-16 months before that.

As for the Scuttlebutt - effectively what the new TAG stated is what's being rolled out (surprise). Everyone in OCP. Everyone supports a CAARNG or CANG unit or mission. Maritime was unique (as it was in it's previous two Naval Militia Title 10 /32 iterations) - so a state navy is a square peg in a round hole to some critical thinkers in SAC.

It's not like California doesn't have between 800 to 3,000+ miles of coastline (depending on which measurement A vs. B is used). And some 3,000 lakes, reserviors, etc. (yeah - some of them are seasonal). Not like many of these man-made dams are not close to 100 years old.... Not like an Oreville event could not have occurred.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lakes_of_California

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_coastline

But I disgress - am sure the Army Bridge Erection (snicker) units are adept at search and rescue when SHTF. Their boats are pretty freaking sturdy (abet quite fugly)...but they can carry a LOT of people or supplies if / when necessary. It is simply not a METL mission they remotely train for.

With Maritime effectively idled since....hmmm... Feb 2023, it seemed the writing was on the stall wall in the head. Shrug.

Could be a good omen though. Recall the other two times California stood up their Naval Militia - it preceded WW1 and WW2. All those fit to serve were absorbed into the USN, USMC, USCG and Merchant Mariners.

Not that WW3 aint knocking our hatch right now anyway....

[E Pluribus Unum]

Retired in....(had to look) August 2023.

Got my 10+ year recognition in Dec 2022 - but I hit the 10-year mark 12-16 months before that.

As for the Scuttlebutt - effectively what the new TAG stated is what's being rolled out (surprise). Everyone in OCP. Everyone supports a CAARNG or CANG unit or mission. Maritime was unique (as it was in it's previous two Naval Militia Title 10 /32 iterations) - so a state navy is a square peg in a round hole to some critical thinkers in SAC.

It's not like California doesn't have between 800 to 3,000+ miles of coastline (depending on which measurement A vs. B is used). And some 3,000 lakes, reserviors, etc. (yeah - some of them are seasonal). Not like many of these man-made dams are not close to 100 years old.... Not like an Oreville event could not have occurred.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lakes_of_California

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_coastline

But I disgress - am sure the Army Bridge Erection (snicker) units are adept at search and rescue when SHTF. Their boats are pretty freaking sturdy (abet quite fugly)...but they can carry a LOT of people or supplies if / when necessary. It is simply not a METL mission they remotely train for.

With Maritime effectively idled since....hmmm... Feb 2023, it seemed the writing was on the stall wall in the head. Shrug.

Could be a good omen though. Recall the other two times California stood up their Naval Militia - it preceded WW1 and WW2. All those fit to serve were absorbed into the USN, USMC, USCG and Merchant Mariners.

Not that WW3 aint knocking our hatch right now anyway....

I hate it when scuttlebutt turns out to be right. That's too bad. As a plankholder in the service, I would have liked to see it grow.

To be quite frank... CSG doesn't have the numbers to be so diverse... and they don't have the numbers because recruiting isn't given the resources. In a natural disaster it'll be county SAR they call... even at the state level.

You know... Arizona has a state guard authorized by statute... but has not implemented it... you and your buddies could always do round 2 over here... you can count me in too.

I'm glad you made your retirement. It was always a pleasure serving with you. Thank you for your long 10 years. Some of us do appreciate it. Rah!

[Multicam Stan]

Hey y'all!

I recently passed MEPS on the 16th of December, and submitted my Live Scan the 22nd of December. I haven't heard anything from my recruiting rep other than if I'm ascension orders I'm good to go. However, I haven't received any communication since my submitting my Live Scan.

What form of communication will I receive my orders? Would this be via email, phone or mail? What's the timeframe after passing MEPS and my Live Scan should I expect?

Going Team Blaze for wildland firefighting!

Thanks y'all.

[Nacho_Eater]

Hey y'all!

I recently passed MEPS on the 16th of December, and submitted my Live Scan the 22nd of December. I haven't heard anything from my recruiting rep other than if I'm ascension orders I'm good to go. However, I haven't received any communication since my submitting my Live Scan.

What form of communication will I receive my orders? Would this be via email, phone or mail? What's the timeframe after passing MEPS and my Live Scan should I expect?

Going Team Blaze for wildland firefighting!

Thanks y'all.

Congrats!

What is checked in the MEPS physical?

[E Pluribus Unum]

Hey y'all!

I recently passed MEPS on the 16th of December, and submitted my Live Scan the 22nd of December. I haven't heard anything from my recruiting rep other than if I'm ascension orders I'm good to go. However, I haven't received any communication since my submitting my Live Scan.

What form of communication will I receive my orders? Would this be via email, phone or mail? What's the timeframe after passing MEPS and my Live Scan should I expect?

Going Team Blaze for wildland firefighting!

Thanks y'all.

Time for ascension orders is highly dynamic. Some people take 6 months; I've heard stories as high as 1.5 years.

It's just like once you're in: Hurry up and wait.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Multicam - check your spam and junk email.

It will / should come from a @CMD.CA.GOV email account, informing you of orders and what next steps are.

Once orders are cut - your Unit Senior Enlisted or Commanding Officer / XO or S1 Officer should be reaching out to you before you get ahold of them.

Go Team Blaze!

[CrazyCobraManTim]

As I was...

I hate it when scuttlebutt turns out to be right. That's too bad. As a plankholder in the service, I would have liked to see it grow.

<<snipped>>

I'm glad you made your retirement. It was always a pleasure serving with you. Thank you for your long 10 years. Some of us do appreciate it. Rah!

Actually it sounds like Maritime will be working with CAL Maritime Academy (at least up north). Not sure what that means for the folks down south, but means the uniforms shouldn't change, and MARCOM will eek by - still within the CA Military Dept., but perhaps now under the Youth Academy side.

They actually just got a $60M ship to train on!

https://www.csum.edu/campus-news/2022/nsmv-2022.html

Waaay better than our $1M donation and refurbished USCG 47' MLB, hull #2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/47-foot_Motor_Lifeboat

[Multicam Stan]

Congrats!

What is checked in the MEPS physical?

Thanks!

Honestly its pretty light. Just had to take my hoodie off for blood pressure, got my height and weight measured, talked to the captain and received his recommendation for service; in and out in about two hours.

Just make sure you don't fill out any of the paperwork with blue ink.. We use it in the finance/banking industry to easily distinguish originals from photocopies, but I guess that's not the case for the military.

Time for ascension orders is highly dynamic. Some people take 6 months; I've heard stories as high as 1.5 years.

It's just like once you're in: Hurry up and wait.

Thanks for the heads up. Sounds like I'll have plenty of time to prep for and crush the PFT.

It will / should come from a @CMD.CA.GOV email account, informing you of orders and what next steps are.

Once orders are cut - your Unit Senior Enlisted or Commanding Officer / XO or S1 Officer should be reaching out to you before you get ahold of them.

Alright cool. Sounds like the above waiting time will be the key factor here, but I haven't received anything in the junk folder either. Good to know they'll reach out beforehand! Would totally hate to have my career start off with an AWOL training weekend.

Thanks again y'all. Go Team Blaze!

[theunpunisher]

Thanks!

Honestly its pretty light. Just had to take my hoodie off for blood pressure, got my height and weight measured, talked to the captain and received his recommendation for service; in and out in about two hours.

Just make sure you don't fill out any of the paperwork with blue ink.. We use it in the finance/banking industry to easily distinguish originals from photocopies, but I guess that's not the case for the military.



Thanks for the heads up. Sounds like I'll have plenty of time to prep for and crush the PFT.



Alright cool. Sounds like the above waiting time will be the key factor here, but I haven't received anything in the junk folder either. Good to know they'll reach out beforehand! Would totally hate to have my career start off with an AWOL training weekend.

Thanks again y'all. Go Team Blaze!

Wait, there's a PFT now? There wasn't really one when I was in. Unless it was unit based?

[nevets]

So I'm sure most of you on this forum we're in on the all hands meeting last week with the new incoming commander of the CSG, COL Bender.

Thoughts on the uniform change?

I forgot when they said it was supposed to roll out, I believe sometime in the spring or summer right? Either way, I do feel this is going to negatively impact our recruiting and retention. Possibly in a very dramatic way.

[Nacho_Eater]

So I'm sure most of you on this forum we're in on the all hands meeting last week with the new incoming commander of the CSG, COL Bender.

Thoughts on the uniform change?

I forgot when they said it was supposed to roll out, I believe sometime in the spring or summer right? Either way, I do feel this is going to negatively impact our recruiting and retention. Possibly in a very dramatic way.

I find it odd that the previous CSG commander was replaced immediately before this new uniform change was approved. Maybe he spoke out against it and either resigned or was replaced?

In any case, I think the new uniform is pretty lame.