Thoughts on the National Guard?

**GroundZero3** · October 12th, 2011, 06:46 AM

Not sure Tony about the home front deployment. I know our C130s were involved with delivering aid to Haiti when the quake happened and the Hurricane we just had recently. Our base was looking to see if we could use our C-5s (we retired our C-130s for the newer smaller C-5) to deploy aid to states around us. Your mission pretty much all depends on what your job function is, the NG gets called up more than us for state emergencies from what ive seen at MD.

We also have A-10 Warthogs on our base that have done several overseas tours (along with the old C-130s).

You also get to participate in stuff like this:

Maryland Guard Vigilant in Homeland Defense Exercise | Article | The United States Army

**NGBS** · October 15th, 2011, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by tony_j15

I'm considering enlisting with the National Guard. Anyone had any experience dealing with them? I'm sure some of you ol' army boys got stories about how brain-dead they are.

Hey I just wanted to chime in. I think it's great you're considering the Guard. I work with the National Guard and I think the "My Life" application might be a cool way to see how the guard can help you plan your future financially. The application is part of the My National Guard Experience and a pretty cool app. Here's the link to the site and I hope this helps!

My National Guard Experience: My Life

**GroundZero3** · October 15th, 2011, 11:55 AM

Are you actively serving with the guard or just marketing it?

One thing I always love about the guard commercials is the selling of "WE GIVE YOU THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS"

But forget to mention the small print of the back to back tours you most likely have to do. With the Army slimming up, the guard will most likely pick up the slack (which they are are doing) with the operations over in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tony if you go and talk to a recruiter, treat them like car salesmen. They will promise you the moon and the stars to get you to sign on the dotted line. Just make sure if you ever get to a point where you are signing you life to the guard you get everything you were promised in writing. That is probably the most important tip anyone can give anyone about to join any military branch.

**sharder8** · October 15th, 2011, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

Are you actively serving with the guard or just marketing it?

One thing I always love about the guard commercials is the selling of "WE GIVE YOU THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS"

But forget to mention the small print of the back to back tours you most likely have to do. With the Army slimming up, the guard will most likely pick up the slack (which they are are doing) with the operations over in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tony if you go and talk to a recruit, treat them like car salesmen. They will promise you the moon and the stars to get you to sign on the dotted line. Just make sure if you ever get to a point where you are signing you life to the guard you get everything you were promised in writing. That is probably the most important tip anyone can give anyone about to join any military branch.

Good advice!

I got everything they promised me . . . whether I wanted it, liked it, or not!