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Posted: 10/22/2006 2:03:41 AM EST
Alright, I've been thinking about this a lot lately and need some info if possible.

I am currently in the Army National Guard, in an ADA unit, as a SSG with nine years in.  I have never been Active Army, but I have over five years of active Guard time due to staying on full-time stateside orders whenever possible.  I have a one year stateside deployment next year, and I am looking forward to it since it should be a good mission.  When all is said and done I will have eleven years in total.  After that mission I think that I want to go Active Army.

The reason for this is, I like my full time service, I'm ready to move on now and do something more high-speed and worthwile.  So far it has been all humanitarian missions after hurricanes and such, no overseas deployments, high speed schools, anything like that.  Also, even staying full time Guard I won't recieve any retirement benefits until age 60, whereas if I go ahead and bite the bullet and go Active Army, I can start recieving a pension around age 40, if I get out with twenty years in.  

The thing is, ADA is kind of dying out in the Active Army.  Most ADA units have transitioned into something else because of the change in mission the past five years.  Additionally, I am not particularly fulfilled by my branch.  I think I want to switch to either Infantry, Combat Engineers, or Cavalry Scouts.  I spoke with an Active recruiter about three years ago after my first six-year enlistment, and even with wanting to go infantry, he was not very helpful at all, and seemed uninterested in helping with the transition, so I really don't know much about how to make the switch over.

Will I have to repeat Basic, or OSUT?  How difficult is it to switch mid-career?  Any info would be appreciated.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 2:58:04 AM EST
[#1]
as i understand it you will just go to AIT for whatever you switch to. when i was at the school house half the class was non-iet guys that were switching over from something else. in my section i have one E5 that switched over from radar repair in the reserve and we got a spec4 13M that will be going to school later this week to cross over to the dark side and become one of us. maybe its different for NG but they don't have to do basic again.
someone here will probably know for sure what you must go through to make the switch, but i'll be back on the clock tuesday and i'll ask. might be something on ako about it.

right now 13F is hurting for good NCOs so you might consider that one. i know i like it.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 3:14:59 AM EST
[#2]

Quoted:
as i understand it you will just go to AIT for whatever you switch to. when i was at the school house half the class was non-iet guys that were switching over from something else. in my section i have one E5 that switched over from radar repair in the reserve and we got a spec4 13M that will be going to school later this week to cross over to the dark side and become one of us. maybe its different for NG but they don't have to do basic again.
someone here will probably know for sure what you must go through to make the switch, but i'll be back on the clock tuesday and i'll ask. might be something on ako about it.

right now 13F is hurting for good NCOs so you might consider that one. i know i like it.


I loved being a 13F when I was in.  Especially in the COLT team.  But when it comes down to it you have to figure out what it is that you want to do.

A buddy of mine that was a 13F in the Guard or Reserve (I never know the difference) switched over to the USAF and is now  in Pararescue.  He loves being a PJ.

Link Posted: 10/22/2006 5:59:05 AM EST
[#3]
Went from a 13B to a 15T in the guard but the switch was sort of necessary for the guard to retain me as I moved and there we're no FA units within a 100 miles of my house. 15 series definitely is better living. I know if your already over E-5 though you need a waiver to get in a school if you have no prior aviation branch job.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 12:38:12 PM EST
[#4]

Anyone else care to add anything?

Link Posted: 10/22/2006 12:43:33 PM EST
[#5]
What MOS are you thinking of?  Some of them have rank restrictions and such. As an E-6 you may be somewhat limited.  Are you in a shortage MOS or did you get a bonus the last time you re-enlisted?

Just a note, Guard time does not equal active duty retirement time.  Depending on how much they credit you that 20 year retirement may be stretched a little.  
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 12:50:43 PM EST
[#6]
I would suggest going into an MOS that will help you with a career as a civilian after you retire.

40 years old is YOUNG and you have a whole other life to live once you separate.  Go into some medical technician role and work towards your Paramedic license (nationally registered) while you are still in.  Once you attain that, you can get your RN degree (ADN) from Excelsior College ( Excelsior Nursing distance program ).  You should be able to complete all of the above in the next 3-4 years, in the evenings and be ready to hit the ground running once you get out.

Good luck.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 12:53:45 PM EST
[#7]
a couple of things:
use GKO, openings in units, deployments, etc. are listed there- it's a great resource.

You state that you want to go active so that you can get your retirement. An understandable goal.
But the active army is not the only choice. Consider being an AGR, or possibly a long term "title 10"
tour.
Changing MOS is not too traumatic. But you need to narrow the field down. Admin (42A?) and Supply (92Y) are good ones to have- every unit in the army has at least one, and those are the MOSs of two of the most common AGR positions.
What do you want? Comfort? High speed, low drag bullet chewing stuff? A position with training for a future civillian career? Again, narrow it down.
Anyway, gotta go change the COMSEC, later.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 1:34:24 PM EST
[#8]
Going from Reserves/Guard to active might cost you a paygrade or two, depending on whatever. If you're deployed though when you transfer over, you keep your rank. A friend of mine did that and kept her E6. Once that's taken care of, go see reenlistement and see what's available. Might find something you want with a bonus.
Link Posted: 10/23/2006 6:33:45 AM EST
[#9]

I want to transfer over to a more high-speed MOS, like Infantry, Combat Engineer, or Cav Scout.  

I don't have a problem taking an administrative reduction in rank to E-5 if I can get in the field I want.  I'd have so much to learn switching jobs anyway that it probably wouldn't be wise for me to be in a squadleader position initially, anyway.

Johninaustin, I understand what you are saying about the Guard and Active having different retiremtents, but I'm currently at about 1915 retirement points with the guard, which comes out to a little over five years active time.  I know the Active component counts points differently, so I need to learn more before I sign on the dotted line, but I hope to go in with at least five years active service on paper.  

My second enlistment is up in exactly 80 days, I'm kind of thinking about transferring over then, instead of waiting an additional two years.  I guess we will see.
Link Posted: 10/23/2006 6:37:20 AM EST
[#10]
4187 for SFAS
Link Posted: 10/23/2006 6:40:32 AM EST
[#11]
I'm suprised you cannot find a overseas deployement, every month all of the new guys get plucked for OIF.

as soon as we get them they get stuck on a deployement roster.
Link Posted: 10/23/2006 3:14:03 PM EST
[#12]

Quoted:
I'm suprised you cannot find a overseas deployement, every month all of the new guys get plucked for OIF.

as soon as we get them they get stuck on a deployement roster.


I've volunteered for five since September 2002, been denied by my Battalion Commander every time because our unit is already understrength and they don't want to lose another NCO who is MOSQ'd and has a valid security clearance.  Understandable, from their point of view, but that does me no good.

As for trying for SFAS, I don't think I am prepared for that at this point.

Link Posted: 10/23/2006 3:14:54 PM EST
[#13]
if you were air force I'd tell you to try for SGC
Link Posted: 10/23/2006 3:27:00 PM EST
[#14]
Im active duty and put in reclass paperwork last January and still dont have a school date. Im 25Q right now and am going 19D. Ive been plagued with a stop loss and two in/out calls not in my favor in a row. You can check the in/out calls at the perscom website. It should be listed as a milper message. The problem for me is my mos wont release me yet. I fucking hate signal and want to do something better suited for me. There are new in/out calls in dec so Im hoping they finally have a yes for "out" in my mos/grade.

I know its extremely difficult getting info. No one in my orderly room wants to keep track of the paperwork or do anything. Ive had to find out info myself by emailing everyone I could find through ako/army sites that could have something to do with it. Usually they dont say much either.

Good luck
Link Posted: 10/23/2006 3:51:53 PM EST
[#15]

Quoted:
Anyone else care to add anything?



Stay ADA.  Become a Romeo.
Link Posted: 10/25/2006 3:25:31 AM EST
[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Anyone else care to add anything?



Stay ADA.  Become a Romeo.


Linebacker, correct?  I'd consider it, but I really want to get into a foot-soldier kind of MOS.  I'm tired of being in a combat-support role.  We never get good missions.  Even during hurricane relief the NG infantry units get the security patrol missions, and we get the hand-out-food-for-twelve-hours missions.



Link Posted: 10/25/2006 4:13:41 AM EST
[#17]
89D It's useful civilian training and you get to do some ninja stuff also. There will always be an every day realworld mission no matter where you go and we are always taking volunteers.
Link Posted: 10/25/2006 4:42:28 AM EST
[#18]

What's 89D?  I'm not familiar with it.

Link Posted: 10/25/2006 4:43:51 AM EST
[#19]
EOD



Sheep
Link Posted: 10/25/2006 4:59:00 AM EST
[#20]
89D is an EOD specialist  

Link Posted: 10/26/2006 7:25:23 AM EST
[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Anyone else care to add anything?



Stay ADA.  Become a Romeo.


Linebacker, correct?  I'd consider it, but I really want to get into a foot-soldier kind of MOS.  I'm tired of being in a combat-support role.  We never get good missions.  Even during hurricane relief the NG infantry units get the security patrol missions, and we get the hand-out-food-for-twelve-hours missions.


Then go infantry.  You might be shocked, though.

My unit was certainly never used in  combat support role.  The tanks were so close we could smell their exhaust on the battlefield.
Link Posted: 10/28/2006 2:12:50 PM EST
[#22]

Quoted:
What's 89D?  I'm not familiar with it.



Best part is, you sure wouldn't have to travel far for training.
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