r/nationalguard

We Are The Mighty profiles retired Sgt. Maj. Mike Vining through the smaller personal details behind a much larger military résumé: Vietnam EOD work, Delta Force, Operation Eagle Claw, and later life outside uniform. The article uses the “sardines he never ate” story to humanize someone usually presented as a meme or legend.

Vining served as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist in Vietnam, where he recalled multiple near-death moments, including being left behind at an abandoned Special Forces camp and helping destroy the massive “Rock Island East” enemy weapons cache in Cambodia.

The profile also connects Vining to Delta Force’s early history. A related We Are The Mighty piece says he joined Delta in 1978 as an EOD specialist under Col. Charlie Beckwith, making him one of the unit’s original members.

The article’s strategic value is not just biography. It shows how specialized technical skills, especially EOD, became central to elite special operations as missions grew more complex and politically sensitive.

Vining’s post-service life, including mountaineering, historical writing, veteran community work, and distance from his internet fame, adds a useful contrast to modern military celebrity culture. The profile suggests that some of the most consequential operators may be least interested in mythmaking.

Do stories like Vining’s help preserve serious military history, or do meme-driven portrayals risk flattening complex service into legend?

I know it’s a silly question but I’ve heard yes and no to this question so I just want to know which one is right.

Swearing in as an 11A (infantry) 01 this morning. ROTC. 41 years young. I’m excited yet I’ve been around the block enough times to know that it’s best to seek guidance from those who’ve been around more, regardless of age or rank. Thankfully, at my age, I don’t have much to prove other than just being able to friggin keep up with the youngins.

Give me your $.02. What qualities make the difference between a good or a douche bag junior infantry officer in the guard? Stories help.

Thx m

Gentlemen hope we are well.

I’m currently in the NG as an 11B. I just picked up my 5 and have been considering reclassing to a 15T or 15U. I’m a LEO on the civilian side and make decent money I guess you could say (75,80k base).

Now I have always had a hard on for going SOF and aviation. I know 160th is only active duty so that means I would have to drop my badge and full send it.

Am I stupid for considering this?

Lmk, have a stupendous day.

I have never had a high heart rate before but I was so nervous. Made 94 on ASVAB did everything right. I called and ask my recruiter is waiver ok and she was like yeah let me figure it out. I haven’t go much of response since. Booked a EKG done perfectly normal. I don’t want to pay for a halter monitor or see cardiologist out of pocket if she’s not gonna put the waiver in what do you think I should do?

So, I've been all gung-ho about this. Then I watched a BCT video on youtube and these kids are literal fetus's.

I recently graduated with a Bachelor, and then got my Masters. Nobody is hiring me, so I thought the National Guard would be a good idea. My wife makes the money at the moment(hasn't always been this way).

Anyways, I know once I finish BCT it won't be so bad with my age, but, these kids are kids. I'll be 15 years older than some of them.

If you went through this, tell me your stories. lol.

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I'm a split trainer who completed BCT last summer and i ship for AIT tomorrow. I seem to be unable to locate my social security card. Do I need it if i have my birth certificate and CAC? Will I be turned around when I get there. My cadre has no idea.

Im currently in the process of putting in a warrant package to be an army NG pilot. Im a pilot in my civilian life as well and my worry is that when I get back from training and I get a civilian pilot job I may have to move out of state. Does the NG pay for travel to drill dates? When I was in the marine reserves and moved out of state they paid for my travel thru DTS. And for context I’d rather not do the army reserves because I like the mission of the national guard and the potential for more activations/deployments

Hey guys so I need some advice on something last night my team leader is trying to dictate that I have to run 5 days a week and I have to prove it. As well as send proof to him in a private chat. He even wants a PT plan but he says that we can’t go to the gym and workout that we have to run because he wants to see miles. Now I have already been running and working out because I’ve been wanting to better myself and because I stopped for a bit after like 6 months after getting back from deployment. Now is he allowed to do this or should I bring it up to my SL because to get told I can’t go to the gym just feels so out of wack to me. I also don’t wanna cause issues as I’m not that type of guy to bring stuff up to cause issues but I don’t know it just seems weird.

Hello all,

I’m separating from the Navy this year and plan to commission as an officer in another branch. I recently discovered the 31D CID SA position. I will have my bachelors in Criminal Justice in October of this year and would really like to put a package in for this.

What are peoples experience with this process? Do I attend OCS? How competitive is this pipeline? Will I have to go to BCT since I was 6 years enlisted in the navy? Any and all information is helpful.

Also, when should I begin reaching out to recruiters and putting together a package?

Thank you.

I have a quick question. What is the process for a National Guard officer to transfer to active duty? I’m a 6 year Army guard E5 looking to commission. I’m really wanting to go active but it looks like this is like the worst time to try to get an active duty OCS slot in like a decade apparently (or at least according to multiple recruiters I’ve talked to). Commissioning in the guard would be a significantly easier/faster process than what I’m looking at with active right now. If I were to take that route how difficult would it be for me to get a transfer to active? Is it even possible? Does branch affect this at all?

If you go to E-Co 3-54…good luck

Hey everyone , like the title says I’m joining the Army national guard as a 25B. I was wondering is AIT hard for this MOS. I’m also in college pursuing an IT degree. I know the basics of IT and remember things from my networking class. From my last semester. Is this MOD still highly transferable to a civilian career

Thanks!

I really need some advice. I am 34 years old, almost 35 years old. I enlisted today in the Navy because I was told it would be years before I was able to get a direct commission with a college degree. I am going back to school for a BSN and eventually a DNAP.

I initially wanted reserves and had zero interest in active duty. I got talked into TAR, then when I got to MEPS I got denied a TAR contract because they said that they were too unmanned to write those.

Ive been in a desperate situation since March when I fled my husband and domestic violence and despite having a civilian job as an operations manager, I am only making $22 bucks an hour. I have been sleeping in my car since mid-March and I am desperate as its getting hot. I didnt tell them this, but I figured I could use active duty to stabilize my life. I reluctantly got talked into Corpsman.

I have 13 years of nursing experience, but not a BSN. I left MEPS and instantly wanted to bawl when I saw essentially the job description is a CNA/EMT. Those are admirable professions, but in the opposite direction I am wanting to move. I have been reassured if I finish my BSN Program that I can apply for a nurse billet, but all the programs I've called do not have the flexibility to work with weekend clinicals only. This is the entire reason I joined was for:

1. Stability

2. To pay for school​​​​​

I am now wondering if I should back out of DEP and go to the Tennessee National Guard because I could get done with school faster, and just live like shit in a camper while I do. I would love advice on how to strategically get to my goal, if at all, with my current choice since I already joined, or if I should go ahead and back out.

Just stressed out being an E-5, feels like im in a full time position with part time benefits… I was active and lately the NG has a been a hindrance to my civilian career and college work . I just want to do my job and that’s it honestly…

I'm looking at a potential SAD duration of 81 days. I'm in Georgia. 3 years TIS E4. What is my pay looking like? Or better yet, do any of you have access to a calculator that I can share with my battles?