US Army Reserve Or Army National Guard?

[Paladin D]

Though I'm still praying on it, I just want your opinions just for the heck of it. [b]Note: If I do join the military, it will probally be for only a few years. Yet again, being in the Reserve, you're pretty flexibile and can live pretty much anywhere you want.[/b]

The US National Guard [b]also[/b] gets deployed overseas if needed, and works side-by-side with the US Army (it's practically a branch of the Army). The US National Guard is [b]all[/b] Reserve. Both Army and Army National Guard are pretty flexible, the major difference is...

The Army National Guard is controlled both by the [b]Federal[/b] and [b]State[/b] Government, while the Army is controlled only by the [b]Federal[/b]. The National Guard also responds (if needed) to natural disasters at home, or internal attacks (like 9/11).

I'm pretty much stuck, but I'm leaning towards the Army National Guard. Also, to make this a little more complicated to choose, I'm stuck between an [b]Infrantryman[/b] or a [b]MP[/b] (Military Police).

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

Just go active, and you'll get less time with more benefits.

[Paladin D]

Another neat tidbit. If I were to become a [b]MP[/b], it would be easier for me to transfer to the Police force. Those who retired from being MP's, sometimes joined the Police force with ease.

[Paladin D]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Jun 23 2004, 02:24 PM'] Just go active, and you'll get less time with more benefits. [/quote]
I don't want active though. Plus, if I'm reserve... I can be in the reserve pretty much my entire life (without having to live near a base).

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

You should do ROTC and go to school. I know people who have done that and it seems to be rewarding. School gets paid for and you're a commissioned officer coming out of college. If you leave after you pay back your time, you not only have an education but also the experience of being an army officer.

[IcePrincessKRS]

I'd go reserves. You can have the benefit of being in the military and still have your "dream job" (whatever else you think you'd like to do for a living.) But thats just me.

[Paladin D]

I'm kind of worried to be an [b]officer[/b], considering that takes a lot more responsibility. I don't plan to make the military life a career.

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

I'd go active cause you'd have a better opportunity of getting more money, more bonuses, and then when you complete your four years, you can go into reserves if you still want to be in the military. But honestly, from someone who was in the reserves, you'd get more out of being active, than reserve.

But you don't have to take my word for it.

[Paladin D]

[quote name='IcePrincessKRS' date='Jun 23 2004, 02:27 PM'] I'd go reserves. You can have the benefit of being in the military and still have your "dream job" (whatever else you think you'd like to do for a living.) But thats just me. [/quote]
Thats the way I was thinking. I don't want the military to be a career, but if I'm in the reserves (or Army National Guard, which is all reserve), I can be in there all my life without spending a lot of time on base and such.

[Paladin D]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Jun 23 2004, 02:28 PM'] I'd go active cause you'd have a better opportunity of getting more money, more bonuses, and then when you complete your four years, you can go into reserves if you still want to be in the military. But honestly, from someone who was in the reserves, you'd get more out of being active, than reserve.

But you don't have to take my word for it. [/quote]
Again, this is still a maybe. That is why I put [b]other[/b] in there for a reason. Active is a [b]larger[/b] step, considering I don't know what the future holds for me. Spending 4 years of active duty living near base (or on base) is still a lot of years.

But I'm still open to that idea.

[IcePrincessKRS]

My dad was active before he was reserves.... he has been reserves basically all my life, and I don't think he'd give it up unless he had to. In the general scheme of things 4 years is pretty short when you think about it. You would spend 2-4 years in college, etc. This would be like getting paid for college.

[thicke]

I have been told that being an MP does not necessarily mean you can get a job as a police officer. Some departments actually would rather you were not an MP. Some feel the MP training and experience is a benefit, while others feel you have to "unlearn" certain military attitudes to be an effective police officer. If you have a goal of becoming a police officer, check with you local law enforcement departments and see what military experience (both military occupation and reserves/guard/active) can benefit the most you when applying to the academy.

[master_alterserver]

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

[Iacobus]

Being the wimp I am I would say don't join. LOL! Just than I thought about it. If I were to join I would join the guard. When I was little I dreamt of being a fireman or someone building walls of sand bags and stuff, and they are the ones who do that when the more civil authorities are overwhelmed. I say National Guard MP. I have heard too many bad stories about Resverests, esp those awaiting medical discharge at Fort Knox (Most have been in holding for over a year and are required to be on base. But heck, it counts as active duty (lower tax and more pesion points).

[Paladin D]

The National Guard are [b]all[/b] reservists. The National Guard do get deployed overseas (though not all of them), there is a decent amount of them (not sure what the numbers are) in Iraq with the US Army right now.