Some opinions please.

[ChrisO]

I'll be joining the Army National Guard by the end of this up coming semester. I'm currently only interested in 2 different MOS's 19D and 31B. I am going to school for a degree in criminal justice but I have heard most MP's that pull duty on bases are getting replaced by civilian police. I know MP's are highly deployable and thats fine but I would also like to get in some actual Police work while on base or something. If not it seems like I might as well just go cav scout. Any input? Is this true? Also how rare is it for a MP to get to do all that high speed stuff like SRT and what not? I know in 19d I will be able to do all those high speed schools and what not just wondering if the juice is even worth the squeeze as a 31b. The unit closest to me is the 49 MP brigade in fairfield.

[CavTrooper]

In the National Guard you will have very little opportunity for any "high speed" schools, MP or Cav Scout.

[ChrisO]

Ahhh. Well I hope to trasnfer to active duty after im done with my associates so maybe I'll just have to wait till then :/ .

[CavTrooper]

Allrighty Chris, Im gonna help you. Ive seen a bunch of your "should I", "could I" threads and it seems like you dont have anyone giving you any solid info one way or the other. Lets hash this out right here and now.

First of all, how old are you? Are you currently in college or are you in high school?

I understand you want to attend college for an AA prior to going active duty, why?

Why not get your AA while on active duty?

Why not go through ROTC and get your BA and a comission?

Why are you looking at the National Guard over the Reserves?

What makes you think you will:
a) have time to complete your AA while in the NG
b) be able to switch to AD once you have completed your AA?

If you are going for a degree in CJ, are you planning to be a plain ol police officer or do you have higher aspirations?

If you are in high school, have you applied to any colleges or are you planning a JC?

If JC, have you checked out the enrollment at your local school to see if you will even be able to get classes?

These are just a few questions you need to be asking yourself right now before making a decision. I will throw out some more once I get the answers to these.

[ChrisO]

Allrighty Chris, Im gonna help you. Ive seen a bunch of your "should I", "could I" threads and it seems like you dont have anyone giving you any solid info one way or the other. Lets hash this out right here and now.

First of all, how old are you? Are you currently in college or are you in high school? I'm 19 and currently enrolled in community college.

I understand you want to attend college for an AA prior to going active duty, why? The only 2 careers I am really interested in are LE/MIL. I am going to school for criminal justice. I figured I could get it out of the way if I went active duty and if I did not like it as much as I thought have a AA to atleast help a little with getting hired on to a Sheriff Dept.

Why not get your AA while on active duty? I figured it would be damn near impossible.

Why not go through ROTC and get your BA and a comission? If I went active I would like to do all the fun highspeed schools that from what I thought I knew officers could not attend.

Why are you looking at the National Guard over the Reserves? I am looking into both I am talking to a guard recruiter and my buddy a E5 31B recruiter in yuba city also a OIF vet. He is telling me the army reserves is a better choice but I keep hearing both sides.

What makes you think you will:
a) have time to complete your AA while in the NG. I figure since it will be part time unless I deploy "wich I understand is going to happen"
b) be able to switch to AD once you have completed your AA? I thought that in the guard or reserves you could transfer to AD.

If you are going for a degree in CJ, are you planning to be a plain ol police officer or do you have higher aspirations? My ideal job would to be on in the Calaveras county SD and get back up to a nice cozy up in Calaveras county and get on the narcotics task force/S.W.A.T.

If you are in high school, have you applied to any colleges or are you planning a JC? In college.

If JC, have you checked out the enrollment at your local school to see if you will even be able to get classes? In school

These are just a few questions you need to be asking yourself right now before making a decision. I will throw out some more once I get the answers to these.

I am trying to get as much info as I can before pulling the trigger. To me it seems like a very solid Idea. The whole getting deployed thing is of course something to worry about but it comes with the job. I also think if I like it maybe I could make a career out of it.

[ChrisO]

Sorry I don't know how to put the stuff in bold but I replied to your questions in the quoted area.

[CavTrooper]

I'm 19 and currently enrolled in community college.

The only 2 careers I am really interested in are LE/MIL. I am going to school for criminal justice. I figured I could get it out of the way if I went active duty and if I did not like it as much as I thought have a AA to atleast help a little with getting hired on to a Sheriff Dept.

Ok excellent, so you want to settle for being police officer instead of FBI, CIA, DEA, etc. Ok, good.

I figured it would be damn near impossible.

Getting your civilian education is not only encouraged in the Army, its damned near required if you want to progress. The Army has programs set up for Soldiers to get a college education no matter where and when you are. If you have access to the internet, you have the ability to take college classes.

If I went active I would like to do all the fun highspeed schools that from what I thought I knew officers could not attend.

Officers attend the same schools as everyone else, us enlisted Soldiers cant have all the fun. Almost every Officer is either Airborne or Air Assault qualified, Infantry Officers must go through Ranger if they expect to get any respect, Infantry and Armor Officers can attend Sniper School, and so on and so on.

I am looking into both I am talking to a guard recruiter and my buddy a E5 31B recruiter in yuba city also a OIF vet. He is telling me the army reserves is a better choice but I keep hearing both sides.

Guard is State funded unless they are federalized, Reserves are federal. When you are talking about schools, college money, or anything "extra" you want to do, think about who has the $$$ to pay for it... it aint the State. On the other side, the Reserves do not have any combat arms MOS, they do have MPs and they have have Engineers and they have one Infantry unit back east somewhere, but no straight combat arms units.

I figure since it will be part time unless I deploy "wich I understand is going to happen"

The Guard does deploy, often. Between Iraq, Afganistan, Kosovo, wildfires, earthquakes and whatever other craziness the Governor wants to send the Guard to, they deploy. The Reserves deploy overseas as well, but their mission is different from the Guard in that generally, they move into an installation to take over operations for a unit going overseas. If the 3rd ACR or 1st Cav deploys, Reserve units from around the country move into Ft Hood to help run the hospitals, security, maintenance, etc. Thats their primary mission.

I thought that in the guard or reserves you could transfer to AD.

The Guard and Reserves can transfer the AD. You must get a conditional release from your unit in order to do this. Each has their "time in the unit" requirements and if the unit is on orders to deploy or activate, you will not be released. The difference between the two is that, once again, the Reserves being federal, Active Duty takes priority. that means, if a Soldier wants to change from AR to RA, there are very few things that can hold them back. The Guard has alot more flexibility in this, they can deny your request for a release all they want , for any reason they want. I have seen this happen with most of the NG transfers I have done (8 total).

My ideal job would to be on in the Calaveras county SD and get back up to a nice cozy up in Calaveras county and get on the narcotics task force/S.W.A.T.

Youve got some more thinking and research to do, but there are many opportunities out there and many paths to reach them. Find the one thats right for you and make it happen.

[ChrisO]

So if one decides to go the officer route would it be wise to go active duty first? I hear that no one likes Regular ole officers and AD prefers Mustang officers? I am fully content with being a regular Sheriff Dept deputy in a nice rural county like calaveras county. So chances are higher of being deployed to one of the stans in national guard than in Army reserve? My buddy also told me the same thing you said about CA not having any money and the reserves is a better option right now.

[CavTrooper]

I dont understand where all this stuff about "mustangs" came from, its stupid, either you want to be an Officer or you dont. Im pretty sure no one goes into the Military as an enlisted person with the goal of becoming an Officer, its one of those things that just happen. Im pretty sure that most of the Officers who were prior enlisted were between E-5s and E-7s before they switched, thats quite a few years in the Army just to be working towards something you can do a whole lot sooner. If you want to be an Officer, just get into an ROTC program now and work towards your degree and a comission, if you want to be enlisted, just go for it.

[ChrisO]

I looked for a ROTC program a while back but I'm only in community college right now and if I'm not mistaken I would have to wait till I I transfer to a 4 year? As far as the mustang officer thing It's just something I have heard. When your a officer you are not technically enlisted correct but you can join different MOS fields to be a officer in that MOS branch? Like MP or infantry?

[Swatguy10_15]

In the National Guard you will have very little opportunity for any "high speed" schools, MP or Cav Scout.

Sorry but I have to disagree with this. If you put forth the effort you can go to "high speed schools" in the guard. Theyre integrating Cav scout into 11b so thats out but theres not much else that you cant do in the guard. if youre attached to an MP unit you have just as many school options as anywhere else.
California may be "broke" but NO ONE is being denied any schools or options for further education etc. Theyre trimming the fat where they can but forward progress is still being made.
In reagrds to money for schools, last time I checked money for collegee i.e. the gi bill all comes from the same pot. Whether youre guard,army,marine,navy chair force etc.. Gi bill is a federally funded program. Also noting the guard DOES still have extra opportunities for money for college, tuition assistance and another program they just started to help those wanting to go back to school with initial expenses.
Also noting that having AD time under my belt the schooling while serving thing is 50/50. You MAY be able to attend college while serving or you MAY not. Theres alot of variables involved. The perks of joining the guard when it comes to education. One weekend a month. AIT in the summer and the rest of the time can be spent as a full time college student. Also noting that the Guard Offers "college first" for those who want it. 2 years of contracted guaranteed non deployable status so as to allow a soldier to go to school un-interrupted. I know AD doesnt offer that. They value education and allow the opportunity for soldiers to take advantage of the gi bill.
There are perks to both and the end decision really depends on which perks the OP wants more. If its AD,reserve or Guard or such..

[docsmileyface]

only cav units for 19D are down south, but in NorCal around Fairfield you can be an 11B with 1-184th INF, PM me any questions I'm in B Co.

[thebloodsonthewall]

Just go active I just got done with all my training and I am now stationed in Hawaii and is great. Most of the guys that didn't go active regretted their decision for one reason or another.

[gordyboard02]

Depending on whether or not you're a ****bag there are a lot of opportunities in the national guard for "high speed" schools. The national guard even has an air-assault program of its own now. Chances of getting a language are also much better in the national guard which you want to think about if you want to go officer or become a LEO. Just make sure you ask people before you sign if you're getting all that you should for bonuses cause some get screwed.

[Sgt5811]

No matter what, you are at the direction of the Dept of the Army. They will put you where they want to. Same as every other branch. As an officer, you don't get to choose wha tyou want to do. At least not at the beginning. If you are already enrolled in school, might I suggest based on my experience (12 year Marine Corps) and the voice of pretty much every other military member who has common sense, If you are already in school, finish it first. You will be a leg up on everyone else if you still decide to join and if you decide to go in commisioned, you will at least have some maturity behind you. This is one of those cases where it is best to wait. Remember, almost everyone that I have ever met, wishes that they would have finished school before they went into the military. Oh yeah, and unless you grew up with your recruiter buddy and he ate pb&j sandwiches with you on the playground, don't trust him (especially if you have a hot sister) Recruiters are not your friends.