Ca NG

[SoCal_Sapper]

Hey guys, I saw the other post about the national guard but didn't want to piggy back off of the other guys thread. I'm seriously thinking of joining the ca ng after a 6 year break. I was medically discharged but am able to go back in with a waiver. I got out of the Army as a e-4, 21b mos.

What are the chances of me being able to go in the guard as something besides 21b? What about going in as a warrant officer? I get my bachelors degree in May and I would like to see if I could go back in as a helicopter pilot, apache, Blackhawk, chinook it really doesn't matter at this point, I just need to find out my options at this point some could pitch the idea to my wife.

I really don't want to go back in as a 21b.

Any helpful information is very much appreciated.

[Snoopy47]

[jmsenk]

yeah, nothing says you have to keep the same job, but I tried to help a buddy of mine get into the WO program (he's got an MBA, was a college track star, and has a civilian pilots liscence - basically a recruiter's wet dream) and the recruiter said that there was essentially no way he could put him in as a pilot - too many applicants, no slots, etc. You might have a better chance being prior service though.

[tanksoldier]

The pilot training program for the Guard is kinda messed up anyway.

Won't go into details but the way the Army does things doesn't really fit the way the Guard is set up. It's worth putting up with if you can get a slot, but still less than perfect.

It's also often hard for Guard pilots to maintain their flight hours.

If I were you I'd look at the OCS enlistment option, either for the state military academy or federal OCS at Benning.

If you really want to fly I'd try the active army's WOFT program.

[SoCal_Sapper]

Thanks for the information guys. Does anyone know of a dependable Ca NG recruiter that I could talk to to find out what is available to me?

[jmsenk]

Thanks for the information guys. Does anyone know of a dependable Ca NG recruiter that I could talk to to find out what is available to me?

That all depends on where you are in Cali. I know it took me months of actively searching in order to get a recruiter to talk to me. That 1800 Go Guard phone number is ****, and thier website is bull**** too. What I finally did is just googled NG drill locations in my area, and just drove to one. Knocked on the door and asked him "Hey, what's a prior service paratrooper gotta do to get a job here?" he gave me a guy's card and I was in a recruiter's office an hour later.

If you're anywhere in SoCal (I'm in Orange County) Contact this guy: SSG Miguel DeLaRosa 714-288-8257 He's always done right by me, but he may hand you off to another guy who is a WO recruiter. Also, don't let them get away with not giving you swag cause you're prior service. I didn't get **** but a contract before I went to MEPS, and everyone there had assault packs, laptop bags, cool Tshirts, sunglasses, folders (like really high quality professional portfolios) and stuff like that. I got done at MEPS and was like "WTF dude? Where's my gear?"

[SoCal_Sapper]

Thanks jmsenk. I'm in the San Fernando valley. I will definitely contact that guy. I also noticed that CA has an EOD company, maybe I can look into that too.