Air National Guard?

[usmc858]

Hello,

Anyone currently in the Air National Guard? Or was in recently?

I'm considering it and just wanted some people's opinions if possible.

Especially if you were prior service.

I'd have to lose a few pounds first

thanks a lot

[nickyrr]

I am not in the ANG... but I recently talked to a girl at the gym and she seemed to like it. I am also a prior marine and we talked about the BS and the goods. From what she said it seems like there are less BS to deal with. She was an electrician and was only there for 2 years. She was talking about making a career in the ANG.

Hello,

Anyone currently in the Air National Guard? Or was in recently?

I'm considering it and just wanted some people's opinions if possible.

Especially if you were prior service.

I'd have to lose a few pounds first

thanks a lot

[Tom Slick]

I was in the Air National Guard for 6 years after 4 years active USAF. It's got some good and bad points. Where are you located?

[usmc858]

I am in San Diego. Thanks for the replies.

[Tom Slick]

Your nearest ANG station is Channel Islands in Oxnard. That commute will get old, at least it did for me when I lived 3 hours north of CIANGS. They do have C-130J aircraft which are great.

Any specific questions? It's mostly prior service from all branches. My shop had at least 2 Marines, 4 former ARMY, 4 former Navy and only a few non-prior service.

[usmc858]

Your nearest ANG station is Channel Islands in Oxnard. That commute will get old, at least it did for me when I lived 3 hours north of CIANGS. They do have C-130J aircraft which are great.

Any specific questions? It's mostly prior service from all branches. My shop had at least 2 Marines, 4 former ARMY, 4 former Navy and only a few non-prior service.

Thanks a lot for the info. I was curious about deployments. Are they mostly volunteer or does a whole unit/section go if needed?

I would be going into an I.T. related field.

I wouldn't mind going on deployments, but if they are frequent and pretty much mandatory, I might not be able to do it from making less money. The kids got to eat .

Also how long are normal deployments?

Along those lines though, I know there would always be a risk of needing to go where they need you.

Sorry, a couple more questions.

What are the drill days like? I was on I&I duty (Active on a reserve base) the last 3 years I was in the Marines, and the reservists spent most of the weekend doing different kind of certifications (health checks, PT tests etc) and cleaning gear. Then whatever time was left over spending it in their duty section doing on the job training. Just wondering if it pretty similar.

Did you guys stay at your base for your 2 weeks a year or did you go somewhere else?

Did you use the education benefits at all? How was that if you did?

Sorry for all the questions . I would probably be considered an old guy. I'm 40 and was in the Marines for 9 years. But I miss being in the military and need a hobby anyways. One of my uncle's just retired from the Air Force reserves and he is about 64, he loved it.

Thanks again.

[applevalleyjoe]

The 163d Recon Wing at March Air Reserve Base (the old March Air Force Base) at Moreno Valley is considerably closer. Your choice of units/location will depend on availability of slots and MOS. Good luck!

[Comcam]

Yup the 163rd is closer than channel islands. I did 4 years active Marine Corps, 1 year with the 163rd and didn't like the job I was in so I changed over to the reserves and haven't looked back.

The 163rd is a good group of people and the guard was not that bad.

[Tom Slick]

Deployments are sort of "individual" and sort of "volunteer". I don't know what current deployment lengths are but when I was in it was a 90 day rotation, then 1 year "off".

The way it works with the Air NG is Base XYZ is tasked with supplying and supporting a certain number of aircraft. So If that base supplies 3 aircraft to Al Udeid, AB, Qatar it sends enough support for those aircraft (mechanics, pilots, etc)

I don't know the way deployments work in non-aircraft support troops.

March Field would be closer for sure, but it is Air Reserves if that makes any difference to you. Sometimes that makes a difference in available career fields. Both are Civil Service if you think you want to "go full time" or "technician".

[Tom Slick]

Deployments are sort of "individual" and sort of "volunteer". I don't know what current deployment lengths are but when I was in it was a 90 day rotation, then 1 year "off" unless you want to deploy again. When I deployed it was "Everyone's going, just pick the rotation you want to be on".

The way it works with the Air NG is Base XYZ is tasked with supplying and supporting a certain number of aircraft. So If that base supplies 3 aircraft to Al Udeid, AB, Qatar it sends enough support for those aircraft (mechanics, pilots, etc)

I don't know the way deployments work in non-aircraft support troops.

March Field would be closer for sure, but it is Air Reserves if that makes any difference to you. Sometimes that makes a difference in available career fields. Both are Civil Service if you think you want to "go full time" or "technician".