u/Embracethetough

I’m a newer officer in the 1 year probationary period. I’m doing good and seem to have the approval of the higher ups. I like the job and plan on making it a career, but I have also decided I want to serve in the national guard. I want to complete my degree, gain TRICARE for my wife and kids, and be able to qualify for the Va home loan down the line. I know it’s a state job and there are people who are in the guard there already, but do I need to worry about my position being probationary status? Any advice or input on this is much appreciated. Thanks guys.

I’m in my 30s with a wife and three kids. Looking to scratch the itch of serving while bettering my life for us. Found out about Air Guard being more relaxed with shorter deployments and better quality of life. The air guard recruiter told me my situation has a good shot of making it through. Told Army guard recruiter I’m focusing on air guard side and no longer want to do army. Did I make the right call? I feel like I did but looking for advice from people who have actually served that know more than me. Thanks everyone.

I’m currently going through the medical waiver process with Massachusetts army guard. I passed physical at MEPS and scored a 64 on asvab with good mechanical and general line scores. I passed psych consult for past anxiety issues through MEPS and got signed off by a civilian therapist stating my mental health is good with no issues. I also had GERD that I use to be on prescription omeprazole for. My last refill was March of this year, and I was able to get rid of heartburn symptoms through diet change and more exercise. I got a doctor to write a letter stating I no longer need medication that lifestyle changes was able to correct it. My recruiter for army guard said the waiver got kicked back because the wait time for the GERD needs to be until September without a refill to be sure. I’ve had a couple people tell me that because I’m 34 married with three kids I should do air guard instead as the lifestyle is better overall. I have a unit that is within an hour of me which is similar proximity as army guard to my location. I’m interested in mechanical jobs or military police. I messaged my local air guard recruiter and explained to him I have interest in switching over and stopping process with army guard if I can go air guard. He told me Monday he will reach out and look into things to check for me. Do you think I should go air guard if that recruiter is willing to help me and I can get in? Thanks for advice everyone.

Hi guys, I’m in the re3 JFW entry level separation medical waiver process with the Massachusetts Army Guard. I’ve came across info from people telling me Air Guard is way better for guys a little older with families. I’m 34 married with three kids. I was separated in infantry basic back in 2016. Decided to quit in basic I made a suicidal statement because I wanted out. I was young and dumb then. I had past anxiety symptoms on medical records which is how I got the re3 JFW ELS. I just went to MEPS in June of this year and passed my physical/drug test and got a 64 on the asvab with good mechanical line scores. I passed a psych consult through MEPS and also got a letter from a therapist stating I don’t have anxiety or any mental health issues. I’ve worked as a correctional officer and have three character statements from officers and former military backing me on joining that I’m stable and a good fit. My waiver with the Army guard got kicked back not because of the mental health stuff, but because I had GERD and was on prescription omeprazole for it. Last refill was March of this year. Recruiter said by September he can resubmit waiver. Since I changed my diet and increased exercise, I haven’t had to take any medication for the GERD and got a letter from my primary care doctor stating I no longer need medication that lifestyle changes were all that was needed to remove heartburn symptoms. I just messaged my local Massachusetts air guard recruiter, and he told me Tuesday when he’s back to the office he will check into things and we will discuss further. I’m looking to go security forces or maintenance/ mechanical positions. I have no criminal record, no tattoos and my ged with 27 college credits. Do you guys think I should have a good shot to get into Air Guard? I just think for me being 34 married with kids this path seems a lot more family friendly than army guard. Thanks everyone.

Hey everyone, I worked 2 years at my local sheriffs department as a Correctional Officer. Due to politics and mandated OT, I thought the grass would be greener doing something else. I’ve been in corporate manufacturing as a supervisor for two years now and crazy to say I actually regret leaving the jail and want to go back as a correctional officer. Anyone else ever get back into corrections after leaving? I left in a good way and completed my two week notice.One of the primary captains gave me his contact info and told me to reach out if I ever have a change of heart. It just feels a little awkward and embarrassing because I gave up on it and now I want to go back. I miss the pay and benefits and being part of a brotherhood. Corporate management sucks I work a lot of OT but on salary so I lose money and the benefits kinda stink. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks everyone!

I’m waiting for medical waivers to come back so I can enlist. I’m planning on enlisting as a 91b wheeled vehicle mechanic. I’m in my 30s working in manufacturing and am looking to get into a trade that I enjoy which is why I want to be a 91b. My recruiter said my asvab score qualified me for the GI bill kicker to go along with the Montgomery gi bill so I plan on going to trade school for automotive as well after AIT. Is this mos a good one in the guard and have you enjoyed being a mechanic in the guard? What are the pros and cons and how is the overall quality of life in the guard with this mos? I’m looking for as much info from people as possible before I sign just to be sure this path is worth it in the long run. I have a family so I wanted to pick something that could help me gain more skills to better my civilian career prospects moving forward.

I’m in Massachusetts and my father is 67 years old and has stage 4 cancer. He is still fairly independent, but doesn’t have much energy and is always fatigued. He took in a woman into his house who has a criminal past and is a drug user. She has been stealing from him and taking advantage of him financially and refuses to leave after saying she only needed to stay temporary at his house. My father has expressed being stressed about this, but then gets defensive and tries to downplay it saying he will deal with it when he’s ready that he isn’t worried. She is also starting to bring other drug users into his house they are sneaking in and trying to stay there. He tells me he kicks them out and they just leave, but in another breath he’s expressing being tired of always having strange groups of people in his house. He also told me she has a warrant for her arrest from another state over, but he doesn’t know for what. I am concerned for his well being and want something done about this because I feel he doesn’t have the energy to deal with this but he is being stubborn. I reported all of this to elder services in my city today. Will they help do something about that? I reported everything to them and they said they will investigate. What else can I do in the mean time? Any advice is much appreciated. FYI he also told me he has called the cops before any they mentioned him having to take her to court and her having the right to have friends over but I think that cop was incorrect.

We are in Massachusetts and my wife and kids were staying back and forth from her mothers and my apartment over the last few years but predominantly at her moms.Her mom has medical issues and after her dad died her mom needed her physical help. My wife can’t work due to medical conditions I am the only one that works. I financially support her and my children. I make 63k annually which for a family of 5 I thought qualified according to their numbers. My wife lost the food stamps and when she called they told her they have proof she never stayed with her mom and just with me full time. He was saying she will be in trouble and that she will get a letter about some zoom hearing. I file taxes and claim my kids and her because she don’t work. Her mail also comes at my address because she used to just stay here full time and she is always over with the kids so she never changed her mail to her moms. I don’t want to see her get arrested or in serious legal trouble. She has never been in trouble with the law and I’m hoping they will just allow us to set up a repayment plan to pay back or something. She said the guy scared her a bit on the phone. I hope someone can help us understand the process or feel a little better about this. Times have been tough financially and with her medical not being able to work things have been real hard. I just hope they are willing to allow us to pay back or something I don’t want to see her arrested or anything like that. Thanks everyone.

Went to MEPS got a 64 on the asvab, but working on a medical waiver for a couple past issues. I’ve always liked turning wrenches on my own vehicles, and my recruiter spoke to me about a unit close to me. Seems like it offers a lot of opportunity he was saying fed tech jobs are a possibility along with agr in the future being attainable as a 91b. I’m also looking to become a civilian cop, but this seems like a good option to learn another skill so I have a couple career options to choose from. What’s it like as a 91b is it really worth it and what’s it like serving in the Guard as one? Thanks everyone.

I’m going to MEPS next week for the Mass National Guard looking to go 11B. I’ve been doing some reading about OSUT and people have mentioned sometimes at the end someone reaching out to you about going through Ranger School. Is it worth considering if that situation were to take place? What exactly is there to gain in your military career and civilian life in going through that training? I understand you would have to graduate for it to mean anything but just want to understand it better and why it would be worth it. I’m in my 30s with a family so my main goal is to serve part time and get in law enforcement after training. I just am curious if that were to happen is it at least worth considering? I don’t want to be that guy that doesn’t do homework and just aimlessly turns something down. I don’t foresee being in the situation, but it never hurts to consider all possibilities. Thanks everyone.

I am looking to go Mass Guard and my goal is to work on becoming a civilian police officer. I’m 34 healthy and in good shape. I stretch daily, run 3 to 4 times a week and do push ups, pull ups planks flutter kicks deadlifts 3 times a week. How is it being 11b in the Guard? I do have a wife and children how is balancing 11b with family life? I’m looking to grow and challenge myself physically and mentally and feel infantry can help me become a better version of myself to succeed as a cop. I’m planning to finish my degree in CJ with the tuition and fee waiver. Also, how tough is 11b osut and what can I do to better prepare myself to succeed?

So I’m working with a Reserve recruiter but I’m now leaning more towards Guard. I’m in Massachusetts which I know has better education benefits but I was looking for more predictable flexible service. My question is, if you get involuntarily attached to another unit you have to mobilize with, if you have to drill with them before hand, is travel 100 percent covered? I’ve heard from some people that you can be put in a unit 100s of miles away and sometimes get ripped off with the travel pay coverage and get stuck out of pocket. I’m looking for more local service in my state. Is that true the reserve can just do that to you like that? I have friends in the guard who said they only deploy typically with their unit in the state and the guard usually goes as a unit and it’s all covered by the guard. Any clarification would be great.

I’m planning on going MP in Mass I got a unit within an hour drive. I’m looking to stay part time as often as possible. I’m ok with deploying and serving when I’m called but I’m not looking to volunteer and I’m more tied into family and civilian career goals. What’s it like as an MP in the Army Reserve? Will I mostly be close to home in my unit unless deployed? I didn’t want Guard because I want more predictable service and didn’t want to add in state and political interruptions constantly. The federal TA appears that it will cover finishing my degree at my local community college. My recruiter said I’ll also get the Montgomery GI bill and possibly even a bonus he said the unit I’d be in is a big unit and MPs are in demand.

When joining the Army Reserve I know you do the one weekend a month two weeks in the summer. My recruiter said there’s a lot of options for jobs within a 50 mile drive of me which works perfect. My question is, does the reserve pay for your travel to annual training if it’s far from your unit? I’ve heard people say you gotta pay and then they reimburse you. Problem with that for me is I live paycheck to paycheck so I wouldn’t be able to afford that with my bills. Also, if another unit is deploying and you’re forced to join them, if it’s far does the reserve cover those travel expenses? My recruiter said yes but I want to make sure from others that’s on point. Lastly, does your unit help coordinate travel? I’m not used to traveling like that and want to know your set up for success.