Serious Question. Anyone in the National Guard?

[edingeek]

Yeah... Airforce is not bad... But in general advancing is significantly lower, and, as it stands now, getting into the Airforce is pretty hard because they are overmanned and such to their projected numbers (they are reducing forces).

As for being given a house... All branches of the military are the same, some bases you can live rent free ON BASE if you have a family, usually though, you get BaH (basic allowance for housing) which is calculated based on various variables (you can google the 2011 bah table for rates in various zip codes), and BaS (food allowance), as well as a yearly uniform allowance.

Airforce bases are typically nicer than the other branches... As for being in tip top shape for the Airforce... Lol... They are about equal to the Navy for physical standards (not very high) and lower than Army & Marines. I believe they do their physical readiness tests on a treadmill/exercise bike.

Food in Iraq/Afghan is the same for everyone on a LARGE base... If you are on a forward operating base, it blows... I know, I did 1 year in Iraq POST military (Oct 2008-Oct 2009) as a civilian contractor (electronics & IT) for the Army... I ate with all the various military branches and the food in general was damn good on the big bases (Baghdad, Balad, etc), and generally shitty or MREs on the smaller forward bases).

Really... All branches have their pluses and minuses... AF tended to have hotter chicks though! Lol.

Don't go to a branch based on the branch, go based on WHAT U WANT TO DO :) If you want to be in Information Technology (computer shit), Navy has an IT rate that's pretty awesome, and AF has something somewhat similar... From my AF buddies say, though, Navy you are GUARANTEED to get the rate you select before you show up to bootcamp, AF, there are no guarantees, so you could want one thing, go to bootcamp, and then get selected for something else and it's pretty much tough luck... Though I'm sure you can preference to what you want!

Overall, if you are looking for something reliable, enjoy traveling, want some good training/skills, military is the way to go imo. I did 6 years in the Navy like I said before, got a Secret clearance, and used it plus my degree (paid for by the GI Bill) to net a $200k ($90k tax free) contract job in Iraq that was overall pretty chill... (3/4 of the other contracts on the contract were ex-navy, a couple of them were ex-AF, and 1 or 2 were ex-Army/marine)... Now I am stateside and work in advanced Linux/Unix systems and making GOOD MONEY and half of us are... Ex-Navy :D Including my manager ;)

Good luck!

Originally Posted by hellokittycrunkk

I have never heard one Air Force member, active duty/reserves/national guard, complain about anything. My boyfriend flies around in a plane and is in the national guard. Now he normally flies for 10+ hours at a time and I'm sure that gets boring but he has the chance to go to so many places. He's been to Germany, Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Puerto Rico to name a few. And with the National Guard, his maximum deployment is 3 months...But maybe it's just the unit he's in. He's been in seven years and is a Staff Sergeant. Oh, and when he was in Afghanistan, it was steak and lobster on Friday's. And most of the time when he deploys, he gets his own room. I can honestly say I have never heard anyone complain about their experience in his unit. But, you basically have to be in tip top shape to be an airmen. Not sure if that would be an issue.

(I know nothing about the military outside of National Guard.)

Active Duty has it's perks like giving you a house when you get married but National Guard pays you a basic housing allowance when you're on active duty. I'm sure finding a job outside of the military is difficult but in my boyfriend's situation, he's going to end up working full time on a military installation anyway.

[EPIC_NG]

National Guard sometimes gets a bad wrap with some people thinking you won't get a chance to do anything if you join up but that's not necessarily true. There are different missions you can be a part of if you decide to sign up. Keep researching your options and just find the one that you think would be the best fit for you and try it out. It may be a good idea for you since you feel stuck.

If you wanted to learn more about the National Guard your best options are to keep talking to people who are currently and previously served. Also, there is a new application NG created to give you a better idea of what kind of options you have once you join. I do some work with them so I was able to play around on the application and it definitely gave me a different perspective about what they do.

I'd say you are defini

[mikebontoft]

not sure if it's been mentioned or not but it may or may not interest you in trying to get into one of the branches for aircraft mechanics... most of the basic knowledge applies and maybe more, I'm not sure. I mean you have a good amount of ASEs too. and degrees.

I've always found that to be an interesting idea anyway if my auto career doesn't work out. sounds fun.

[MR.BLUESTANG]

Originally Posted by mikebontoft

not sure if it's been mentioned or not but it may or may not interest you in trying to get into one of the branches for aircraft mechanics... most of the basic knowledge applies and maybe more, I'm not sure. I mean you have a good amount of ASEs too. and degrees.

I've always found that to be an interesting idea anyway if my auto career doesn't work out. sounds fun.

I've thought about that. I have friends and family out in Utah and i wouldn't mind working out at Hill Air Force Base.

[mikebontoft]

HAFB ftw :)

[blackcervini]

Ultimately the choice is yours. I am a firm believer in the phrase 'all in'. Going active duty in the service you chose puts you into a direction without having to juggle a civilian career as well. You get the education and the formal discipline that will make life in the future more focused. This is the up side. There are downsides but so limited they are hardly worth mentioning. I served 10 years as an Air Force Combat Controller and cut clean and started working on cars. People thought I was out of my mind until they realized I loved what I did. Make sure you pick something going in that you love or will love and can bring to the real world when you are done. Give me some ideas and I can help guide you. I do this for many young people around this area and they have all been happy with thier choices so far.

[Fucus-minded]

Hey Guys,

I'm in the New York Army national Guard and I love it. I have done everything from unit administrator to military Police and now I am working as a JNN operator/maintainer (well I am in charge of the section but I got the MOS, lol). Are you gonna get deployed???count on it I am prepping for my 3rd deployment. Are you gonna be put in a situation where you have to protect yourself or another soldier? Maybe. during the initial invasions it was more common due to the fact that the damn Marines dont secure areas after the "take" them so we have to resecure an area that was supposed to be cleared (MPs). Nowadays you pretty much fly to the closest base and you get escorted by MPs or infantry to where you gotta go, the roads are constantly patrolled and the intelligence is pretty good...most likely you wont have to take anyones life. you dont strike me as the kick ass and take names type of guy so i suggest you go for a job as admin or computer job because anything else will require you to leave the wire at least a few times and I personally dont want anyone out the wire that doesnt have my back. you probably should look into the airforce but stay away from their security forces as well. good luck.

[Rudel]

Originally Posted by Fucus-minded

in a situation where you have to protect yourself or another soldier? Maybe. during the initial invasions it was more common due to the fact that the damn Marines dont secure areas after the "take" them so we have to resecure an area that was supposed to be cleared (MPs).

The Marines are only so big. Use state funded military for security while we brake through the lines.

BTW, Im a Satcom tech myself. JNNs to GSCs to TSCs

[awhiteguy81]

I'm in Air National Guard and my job is chill. My job is RF Transmissions and I don't get issues a gun over seas. My job is a maintenance job so once we get something up and running in the field we basically wait till something brakes. I have not been tricked into anything that I did not want to do. The Guard has given me some much experience to excel. They give training and experience that you can't just come upon in the civilian world.