I have a question about the policy of transfering to another state after basic training or maybe before.please

Question

help me. I was living in Florida where I joined the Army National Guard. I am sworn in and all. I wound up coming back to New Jersey because Of peronal and family reasons. Now I want to stay here until Basic in March of 09. Here is my problem I dont want to live in Florida ever again and I want to move to washington state shortly after I finish basic. No one seems to know what to do or point me in the right direction. I dont want to transfer up here and wait longer( I am ready to go now!) I dont want to be stuck in Florida and I dont want to start all over again in Washington. Nor do i want to lose my enlisment bonus b/c that would be my saftey net 3,000 miles away. If anyone has any input please help me out. Thanks a bunch.

Answer 1

Alright....You are contracted with the Florida National Guard. You cannot transfer to another unit until you have completed all you're training.  If you have to do drills - you will need to fly back for them you can't do them there.  I know you want to go now and not wait, however you commited to something in Florida and now you have to follow through at the governments pace, not yours.  And you can only transfer if your unit agrees to let you go and there is an open slot in Washington for you to go to.  Once you transefer you may loose your enlistment bonus because Washington might be different.  The people you need to talk to will be you recruiter for the bonus information and you first sergeant for the transfer stuff.  But once again you won't get this until after your training.  If they require you to go to drill up until basic, your kinda screwed because you're stuck in Florida.  This is what happens when you make decisions without fully thinking them through.  

Answer 2

You going to have to transfer when all your training is complete. The problem is I would bet your going to have issues since you will eventually get orders to your unit in Florida. They will transfer you if you move but it would be better to take care of all this before enlisting in my opinion. It shouldn't be a big deal for your recruiter to find you another unit. That's what I would do.

Answer 3

First thing, I believe even National Guard members have to go to the same basic training depos as active, so you really dont have a choice on that.

Second, I cant imagine why you couldnt transfer to Washingtons National Guard units.   There is a guard in every state if Im correct.   I doubt you would have to start over.

I would say the best place to start with this question is a recruiter, preferrably the one you signed up with.