Question about the Army National Guard?

Question

currently 25 college grad, interesting in becoming an Officer. Doing some research right now and I see alot of different responses about the guard thats good and bad. First question is whats the first step in the process, of course fill out paper work blah blah blah but how does it work when do you start working?

Second how difficult is it to get into the OCS?

Lastly how to specialize in a particular branch in the National Guard?

Also people with stupid answers keep it pushin.

Answer 1

well the best advice i can give is talk to a recruiter. but yes you will to meps. a place where they proces you. physical background all that bs. then you get a ship date for basic you go come home and meet with your unit 1 weekend a month 2 weeks a yeaar and all that

Answer 2

You can enlist for OCS option if you qualify. On your ASVAB you will need a GT of 110 or higher.

The guard has 3 OCS options.

The State OCS which is about a year long and you do your weekend drills and an Anual Training that is 2 weeks and conducted where they have ROTC Advanced Camp at Ft. Lewis Washington.  (Get paid E-6 pay)

The second one is called accelerated or 501 and is held every fall and summer in Alabam and South Dakota (last 2 weeks at Ft. Lewis). You probably would not go threw this because it is 8 weeks long and typically only offered to prior service.

The other Option is Federal OCS which is a 14 week course in Ft. Benning Georgia. Get paid E-5 or E-6 pay pending on your state

Steps: talk to recruiter, get scheduled to go to MEPS, if you have not already, you can take the ASVAB there (Get 110GT or higher), Get basic training slot, after basic training you will be put into a OCS platoon, do some of the initial paperwork, and go through whatever OCS program your state sends you to.

Depending on the unit that you join and what type of unit they are is what branch you would be. IE if you join a Infantry Battalion, your would likely be a 11A (Infantry Officer), but they also have a MI slot, Chemical Officer, Quartermaster Officer (Sometimes, but usually the S4 is a infantry officer).

If you join a Armor unit / Armor, FA, ect. If you want to be a helicoptor pilot, join a aviation unit.

Unlike the active duty, you can choose what branch you want to be in the guard.

As far as how difficult it is to get in. You will have an interview with someone, they will have a checklist, and if your ASVAB GT is over 110, you have your 4 year degree, pass your chapter 2 physical, pass a PT Test, you should be good to go. Also you would need to qualify for a Secret clearance so you should have good credit and no criminal record. Tickets under 250 dollar fine do not count IE most speeding tickets. They can give you a waiver for certain things as well.