I’m currently 27, a mom, a teacher, have my masters, and need to get in shape. I have gone back and forth about the air national guard since graduating college. My dad was active duty Air Force for 22 years, so I grew up in a military family. He passed in September, and I have started thinking about joining again. Would my age, being a parent, and my career field make this something I shouldn’t do?
Hi! You could absolutely join. There would be a bit of time away for Basic Training and your initial tech school (possibly a future deployment), but otherwise we have lots of parents/teachers in the Guard :)
ted101975 we have a perfect saluting method worked out. It's always fun when we see each other outdoors. It's also great because I get to go enlist his new recruits!
I do put in more time, but also because I transitioned over and became fulltime in the guard after commissioning. Being a part time guardsman and fulltime civilian is definitely manageable and what 2/3 of our wing is able to do!
I’ve watched 50 something videos trying to get ready for enlisting into the Air Guard, and this video just encompasses all the information I needed to know - sheesh! Thank you so much, this has really motivated me for going into the Air Guard
It sucked but when you get to your duty station and make new friends that’s the best!! I’m considering going back in. 9 years after getting out (served 6 years).
I had fun in basic (Army). I kept out of the spotlight and did what I was told. They ended up making me a platoon leader for almost 5 weeks when everyone else was only 3. It was a great experience.
@@Auniesauce I'm 29 and working on my master's degree (MPA). I want to do the air force reserves or national guard (Utah, or Idaho). I live in Utah but went to BYUI and would relocate if I had to. Any advice on how to get into OTS? Any idea on the selection rate?
@@leehart440 As a retired member 1972 to 1997. If you are a prior service or enlisted, it depends on your years of service. I commissioned from E-7 to officer.
Kyle Gott sent me here. My son is active duty stationed in AK. He's an A1C in Security Forces. Been in 1.5 years. Just like to hear about every and any aspect of the Air Force. Subscribed.
Thanks so much, Christina! Wonderful - your son is on a great career path. We love our SF troops. And if he keeps a good head on his shoulders and demonstrates good work ethic, he'll move up super quick. Good for him!
If you're employed by a civilian job while you're in the guard, they're required to support and honor your commitment and allow you to leave. They're required, if you get deployed for instance, to give you up to five years away and still guarantee a job of your same pay when you return. Most civilian employers are very understanding - mine loved it because of all the cool skills I brought back with me each time!
Ha! That was a long time ago... Would you believe my time was about 10 seconds faster at SF school? Not sure I can get back down to that now! Babies change everything!
@@Auniesauce Hey Aunie! Good to hear from you. My RU-vid career has taken off and I'm separating to do RU-vid full time. You ever thought about making more videos?
As a female who wants to serve in the Air Force, and as one who may want to go the officer route, I REALLY appreciate this video and can't wait to see more! P.S. Kyle Gott sent me :)
Thank you for all the great information! I'm prior service Navy and my medical file has sat on someone's desk at MEPS for over a year. It's finally under review and if approved, I'll be joining the ANG. I am 3 classes shy of my degree and your officer information was very helpful. Stay safe out there!
Hey I just turned 25 years old and Im a college graduate. I have a BS in National Security Studies. I would like to come in as an officer, but they say I cant and I would have to take some test.
There is a test you'd have to take to get in, it's called the AFOQT. Most folks have to pursue the same route I did, which was enlist and THEN commission. The reason is that officer jobs are typically only open to those who are already enlisted. The exceptions are doctors, lawyers, and highly-skilled nurses.
That was very helpful. I've been thinking about joining. I feel like my life is at a dead end place in time. And have a friend who is in the air national guard and he loves it. I have to set up a time with him to go to his recruiting center. It just feels like the right thing to do in this part of my life. I have nothing right now except a skydiving and BASE jumping back round. Which really hasn't gotten me anywhere,as a citizen. So I think I know which path I would take in the air national guard. Maybe like paramedic or a main rigger. Or both.
Hey, I just wanted to say thank you! I joined the Ohio Air National Guard last month and your videos were a great tool in solidifying my knowledge. I'm excited for my future, 9 months of student flight here I come!
As someone has already mentioned, active duty has both guaranteed jobs and open contracts. I went in as an open mechanic which basically meant I'm guaranteed a job from the mechanical field. Week 4 of boot camp (it's been 15yrs so my memory is probably a bit off) those with non guaranteed jobs go to choose a job. You pick 8 jobs, putting them from your favorite to your least favorite. Week 7 of boot camp is when you find out what job you got. I got my #1 choice. Most ppl got one of their top 3 choices
Alfred Tineo I thought it was difficult. But here I am! It was worth the process. The biggest thing to remember is that it's just like a job interview. It's hard to get picked, but if you do--you're in!
Sometimes that's the only way you'll be able to join. Just depends on how your career path looks, what your education is like, and what the hiring unit by you needs. If they NEED officers, maybe you could transition to that pretty easily. If they are full, might be better to go enlisted first to get the time in before commissioning.
I want to thank you Aunie for your upbeat and very positive video about your experiences with the ID ANG. You reminded me of what it was that I had loved about my time in the ANG, I accessed memories I hadn't thought of in far too long. I enlisted in 1983, retired in 2005. In those 22 years I was privileged to travel throughout the U.S. and Europe with my Air Guard units to places I would otherwise never been. Despite all of that, however, my greatest joy came on 16 Dec 2016 when then Pres. Barack Obama signed into law the "Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016" which granted veteran status for National Guard soldiers and airman and reservists from all branches of service. That had been an open and painful wound for so very long, to now join the ranks of our countries veterans was beyond words for me.Once again I thank you for a well prepared and presented video. I wish both you and your husband very successful careers and happiness in all your endeavors.Laura
Hi there Laura! Thanks so much for this comment! Wow -- 22 years, thanks so much for doing that. I can totally see myself in your shoes and reflecting positively back on my time in. You definitely got to see some cool things, especially in Europe! I'm jealous! Thank you again so much for your comment, for your dedication to our country, and for your uplifting spirit. I appreciate you and am happy to be a veteran alongside you!
Hello hope you and your family are doing great So tomorrow im going to se the recuter I have been trying to look for information about the enlistment bonus but i haven't found a site that will let me Know and if the aerospace medical service have a bonus That info is only provide by the recruter i got a 54 afqt
Thanks for the videos the stgo told me that i hace a chance to be a aerospace medical service I need to be at 163 lbs so that he can send me to meps im on my way im in 175lbs thanks for all the info wish the best for you and your family
hello Kyle Gott sent me, I am in the process of signing up for Air force. I would like to go for officers but I heard that I am overqualified due to my age. I am currently 35 years old and I also have two degrees. It is true? I also was told I can get a waiver. I am wanting to join the air force.
Hey there! You still may have a chance of commissioning down the road, and yes, you'd have to waiver it. But you can still join as enlisted up to 39. Good on you for wanting to serve!
when you say that basic and tech school were awesome, are you being totally honest? that's just not what you usually hear, and it sounds like you're trying really hard to be overly positive. I'm just looking for honest info because I'm considering the guard
I guess I'm an overly optimistic person. Yes, I loved it. If you go in thinking you're going to hate it and that it will be the worst 8-weeks of your life, you probably will hate it. If you go in with an open mind and a kick-butt attitude, ready to take it on, you'll probably do well. The 2nd week in BMT was hard for me. Everything else was just a play in the game. You have to be mentally prepared to go down there. I was.
I went through basic training and it is not awesome, it's stressful and restrictive...but it is a tremendous experience that will make you a better person and you will never forget.
3:47 I actually enlisted in summer, then waited a few months till I got a call from my recruiter with my AFSC and shipping date. Got picked up for 1N131 and I'm leaving for basic training next week!
Im a teacher, 31 years old with a masters and interested in Air National Guard( parttime). Do you recommend me to enter as enlisted or officer? I would like to be an officer but dont know what is the best way to start.
It’s very hard to join as an officer, even if you have a masters unless you’re a doctor, lawyer, nurse or pastor. Most start as enlisted no matter what. Joining as an officer is like going straight into the company Amazon with no prior experience and taking on a high level director or manager role. Your best option is to speak to a recruiter and see what the options are in your local area.
Is there a waiting period like active duty from enlisted to officer? Do I have to fullfill my entire contract until I can become an officer or can I get selected as an officer like half way through my enlistment contract?
You can get selected at anytime. I was 2.5 years into my initial enlistment when I was selected. The big difference if you're in the Air Guard is that if you enlisted into a field with a bonus and then leave midway through your contract, you may have to pay some of that back. All up to you.
Thanks for the video. From my understanding the initial commitment for the Air National Guard is 6 years. How is this commitment effected by training and officer candidate school? Did waiting for Basic Training and OCS, or any other type of training, count as time served? Did anything add additional time to your commitment? I would like to join the Air National Guard to learn Arabic and serve as a cryptologist/linguist.
Hi there Colton. Yep, you guessed it. From the moment you join and any time awaiting training or in schools, that counts toward your time commitment. So I had three years already fulfilled when I graduated OTS :) yay! Best of luck to you on your journey!
Since you have been in the system for a while now, do you know if I can transfer from the California ANG to Texas ANG? Also if you dont mind answering another question, do you know if when you pick an AFSC does the recruiter accommodate the base for your job or do you get transferred?
Hello. Yep, you can transfer. You just need to work with your retention office and the Texas recruiters. Typically if you join in California, for instance, you have to pick a job that they have there. You cannot join a job for the state of your choosing if that state doesn't have the job.
Hi hi loving the advice! I was wondering if you know any channel or someone that joined the Air Force, went active duty, BMT, tech, and then joined the ANG SIMULTANEOUSLY going to college and AFROTC to commission? That’s my plan as of now (because I dread going to OTS and I’ve grown up in a JROTC program that I know might be similar to ROTC) =) I’ve been doing big researches so if anyone is reading my comment and has knowledge of some sort please let me know thanks!
Hi there. Not aware on anyone on RU-vid who shares that content. I asked my husband, an air guard recruiter, and he said you can be in ROTC while in the guard but you cannot commit to them bc you’ve already committed to the ANG.
Hi, im considering active vs gaurd. So im understanding that you 100% know your job before you swear in with active duty? She confused me a bit with this video.
Kyle Gott said to check you out and show you some love. just noticed you live in Idaho. i'm USAF officer living in Boise metro too! nice video and well spoken
No, not yet. I would like to join the IDANG but am looking for a full time position as well. I came off active duty Dec 2016 and moved to Meridian but still serve in the Reserve as an IMA out of Buckley AFB, CO. We don't really know anyone in there area so it's been more difficult getting things going.
I totally understand.. My husband is a recruiter and would definitely be able to help you out. Would you want to give him a call? His duty phone is 208-422-5900. His name is TSgt Daniel Rowe :)
Hello. Am i able to come to air national guard as a navy reserve officer? I have a bachelor's degree, but the air guard recruiter will not even discuss me joining as an officer. Navy reserve will. I was thinking of joining guard after 4 yrs in navy reserve
Hey there. For the reasons I discussed in the video, it's super, super challenging to come in as an officer when you don't have a prior service background. Typically ANG only hires folks into officer jobs who are already in the ANG because they have to apply for the job and the qualifying factor is that they're already an ANG enlisted member. SO--if you want to be an ANG officer, my best suggestion is to enlist first (the recruiters are right) and pursue commissioning after you're in. If you want to join as a navy officer, more power to you. Transferring services can be challenging.
Samantha, in general, USAF get assigned to bases, deploy regularly, and rotate bases every two years. Other than that, it's the same. ANG members can work for their unit fulltime or they can work as a civilian and be in the military "part time" on drill weekends (one weekend a month). ANG members choose which unit they want to be a part of, normally the one in their home state. They also (often) deploy less frequently.
Hi I’m currently looking to join and my recruiter told me all deployments are voluntary unless no one volunteers I just want to fact check this is that true? Don’t mind deploying but I heard the guard deploys the most rn so if they are voluntary I wouldn’t want to do more than 1 in a 6 year contract lol
It depends on the job you pick. Sometimes you get picked for deployment and you can opt out. Other times they ask for volunteers. Other career fields don't have a choice, but I have rarely seen that happen. Most people are gunning to go on deployments!
Great video! I've watched it a couple times throughout my commissioning process... I was selected back in September 2017 and after a lot of waiting my package is just now getting sent to NGB. I was wondering how long it was after submitting your package until you heard back from NGB and got a school date?
Hi Kayla! Thanks so much for the email. I was selected in September of 2015 and went to OTS in April 2016... I think I had my date in December or so. It can be a long process! Sorry yours is taking so darn long.
I have a question. My son graduated with an Engineering degree and wants to join the NY Air National Guard or the Army National Guard. He will be selecting one of the technical rates due to his degree. Which is bette ? The AIR OR Army and what brach should he select ? In your experience. Thank you
He’s got a very promising future. I’m in the Air Guard. Clearly, that’s my choice. I’d never consider Army myself, I’m happy on the Air side and have no plans to change, and wouldn’t have joined the Army in the first place because my Husband is also in the Air Guard. Hard to give an unbiased opinion when it’s all I’ve ever known from my time in service. I have heard (personally) better things about AF culture, morale, and individual care placed on Airmen than Army soldiers, but again, I’m biased.
Thank you for making this video. Very informative and useful! I'm talking with the Air National Guard recruiter at the moment. I have a bachelor's, so I see myself possibly moving along the same path (but hopefully in MI). Thank you.
Thank you for such an inspiring and motivating video for joining the Guard. I had no idea that the Guard could present so many opportunities, I always thought you had to be active to get anywhere in the military
do you have any advice for me? I want to serve in disaster aid, and serve others. I'm 21, have my Associates, and am fit. I took the ASVAB already as well, but it's expired because it was back during high school and I never wanted to do the military back then. I want to join the Air National Guard now, I have a base nearby. I want to join to help with disaster aid, resume help, education benefits I want to get my Bachelors, and I want to be part time so I can stay home and finish my pilot training. I'm on my second pilot license. would I be able to complete it if I was in ANG? I hear you have much more time than even AF Reserves?(:
Hi there Veni. Yep, you'd have plenty of time. And depending on how long you served, you could get your bachelors paid for, too. I totally think it would be a good thing to look into! Call a recruiter in your area. Visit goang.org to find one!
I’m one of the ones who didn’t have it there. You don’t really have an option except to push through. If you’re working fulltime and need a sick day, that’s one thing. But you don’t get that luxury in training.
I would like to join after my degree in Biology at my junction of undergraduate and Medical School. Does ANG help pay for schooling and how does doctorate specific fields work?
Nice, that sounds like a good plan! They do pay for schooling. You have to put in a certain amount of time before everything is fully paid for OR deploy. You'd have to talk with a recruiter how to work out a doctorate program. Most units have flexible requirements for when you can/cannot be there.
is it me, or I don't feel like I'm.part of the Air Force because I'm with the Air Guard, like I can't say I'm Air Force because I'm Air Guard, makes sense?
Alfred Tineo interesting perspective! You went to Air Force BMT, right? You went to AF tech school, right? I guess the way I see it is that I'm a trained Airman and I get the honor of being able to serve my state mission with the ANG and the national one with the AF. but if you're a traditional member, I can see why it feels a little more separate :)
Thank you for answering both my questions. I figure I try going officer after I complete my degree. Your perspective is an awesome one and well put. I haven't got gone to BMT nor tech school. Currently in student flight. That's why I went guard, dual mission then reserve. Yeah my CAC says Air Force then I have to explain myself lol, I guess the traditions. But I'm happy with my decision.
Hi Devan. A lot of people join organizations in neighboring states, which is hard bc you have to travel for drills, but it's one way to get the job you want.
Fallon ForYou Good question! So I've been out of the career field for a year or so and was in it so briefly, I don't think I'd be able to do it justice. About.com has some really good resources and info about it, as well as a Facebook group dedicated to the career field. Also, I loved that the tech school for it was less than 6-weeks! Major bonus. I do know that I loved it while I was in it! :)
Aunie Sauce would you happen to know the specific name of the facebook page? I have also been looking into security forces with the air guard, especially being a female its hard to find people to tell about their experiences ! Your videos are so helpful and thank you so much for responding I truly appreciate it!!
Allison Rose Also check another officer on RU-vid, he had that specific job you are asking about, check: My Military Money. He is very down to earth and answers your question very fast.
I am in the guard and will be commissioning through AFROTC. Will I have to go through MEPS and security clearance processes again considering I will be commissioning before my ETS date?
Adjusting back to civilian life isn’t so bad. Take your time and see how you can blend your new military life with your civilian life. Yes, you can go active guard. We call it AGR. Just depends on what openings your base has.