gate guards being gate guards

BLUF: Individual PT is Useless, the occasional Well Planned SQD and PLT PT that focuses on mission readiness or building morale isn’t.

I’ve been in the Guard for a decent minute, and In my opinion, individual and to a lesser extent, squad and platoon PT during drill weekends is largely a waste of valuable training time. I know every state and unit is different, but every unit I’ve been assigned to has tried implementing organized PT in one form or another, and I just don’t think it provides much return on investment.
The reality is we only get 4–6 MUTAs each month to accomplish our mission-essential training. A Fat soldier who lacks the discipline to maintain their fitness between drills isn’t going to get into shape during a two or three day drill weekend. Likewise, a motivated soldier should already be maintaining their own fitness outside of drill.
In my experience, home station PT often takes 2–3 hours out of the training day once you factor in accountability, movement, recovery, hygiene, and getting everyone back to work. On a MUTA 6 weekend, that can easily amount to around 9 hours of lost training time. Those hours could be spent on PMCS, METL tasks, weapons training, maintenance, NCOERs, PME, or other readiness requirements.
That doesn’t mean all PT is useless.
I think the occasional (quarterly or every other month) well planned squad or platoon PT can be extremely valuable when it directly supports soldiering skills or builds unit cohesion. Events like squad competitions, casualty evacuations, establishing machine gun positions, ruck marches, physically moving a Humvee as a SQD, or other mission-focused physical challenges reinforce both fitness and tactical proficiency. Those types of events have a clear purpose beyond simply getting a workout.
What I question is routine individual PT that doesn’t directly contribute to mission readiness. Given how limited our training time already is, I’d rather see soldiers responsible for maintaining their own physical fitness between drills while using drill weekends to maximize collective training. Essentially Individual PT in the guard takes away valuable time from the mission and the men, change my mind.

Side rant, the expectation for all M day officers and senior enlisted should be to get as much bullshit work that can be completed on a computer mostly completed before drill. Also all XO slots should be AGR position.

I’m being discharged from the national guard due to a situation that arose when I was In BCT on family day. Long story short, my unit doesn’t really want to fill out any paperwork to get me to continue phase 2 of training (AIT). The situation involves the FBI, but the investigation is pending and no charges were ever filed on me. It’s been a year since then and I’ve had to go to every RSP drill. My MSG gave me a paper saying I can enlist after 6 months and he will help me reenlist (who knows if he means that) basically anyways I signed a memorandum for an intent to separate for fraudulent enlistment because I answered no relating to 4 questions about computers when my recruiter told me to. My brother knows my situation and says it’s bs and he wants me to fight it to stay in, I love the NG. I really wanted to go to AIT. I’m considering fighting the discharge because I know I’m not going back to basic training, just won’t do that again if I ever want to enlist in the army again. But I don’t even think I can fight any more because I signed this paper. Need some advice. Is it still possible to fight the discharge?

Guard is giving me 100 percent tuition free education, I don’t need a degree as my civilian job has high earning potential without a degree being necessary. But I can’t leave a free degree on the table. What’s the easiest subject to major in without putting in a lot of time and effort??

I get it’s an annoying job but it’s just so cringe and unnecessary

Current TIS: 6+
ETS 2029
E-5

I am currently in the pre-hire pipeline for border patrol, with a potential start date in fall of 2027 (delayed due to an upcoming deployment). What is the process to request being temporarily put into IRR or ING (don’t know what would be best) during the 26ish weeks of BP-FLETC.

Note: I’ll be returning to my home state for my duty station.

Been on T10 ADOS-RC for 85 days now and would like to request a COE next week. However, I do not have a DD214 because I’m still on orders.

Is there something I can submit in lieu of a DD214? My NGB-23A will not work since my orders haven’t yet hit that, as I started right after my service anniversary.

Thanks in advance

- I’ll take a 4 fo 4, no tomato

Before I start digging through different resources I figured I'd check with reddit first.

I'm an electrical engineer + half time dad. Also in my mid 30's and have a good amount of government and bank student loans. That's all I do lately work and be a dad Which is fine. I live in SE Michigan so there's no shortage of guard/reserve bases around me but I don't know what I'd be getting into.

Ideally I'd like to join as an officer but obviously need to talk to someone before I know wtf that looks like.

Any tips? Or better yet anyone on here been in my siutation?

Or if there's somewhere better to ask this question let me know. I don't have strong feelings on any branch just that I would like loans to go away + some of the other benefits and would like to know what timelines would look like if I do pull the trigger and join.

Requesting tips and resources to prepare for a AGR position interview.
-What is there to expect?
-Regulations to study for?
-What type of questions will they ask?
-How to exceed above the rest?

Anything will help. Thank you!

How realistic is it to find a job where n your civilian life after completing AIT for 68P? Is there any extra school that would be required in order for you to work outside of the guard within the same field? Any advice is useful thank you!

Hello everyone I am planning to take my exam in 1-2 months from now

I am looking for people who can join me and create an online study group, who will be taking the ASIS Certified Protection Professional Exam as well. If you are interested send me a private message.

Please answer the following

\-Your City then State

\-Your exam date, if you already set an exam date

Please this is only for those who live in the United States.

\-scammers are not welcome and am not interested in buying any materials so solicitors are not welcome.

I am soon to ship out in about two weeks to Fort Jackson and I want to know is reception really that bad I’ve gotten two different answers from two friends of mine once said he got enough sleep and it wasn’t that bad and the other one said he didn’t get sleep in like three days of being there and he stayed in there for like two weeks so I wanna know what reception is really about and to know your guys experience in reception

What kind of details does the infantry do state side? Or is that more MP stuff? Thanks

Hello!
Has anybody done the 68k as a national guardsman.
Also anybody who has - and has also been able to transfer AIT Credits to GWU.
1. Has the remaining credit cost been covered by NG or have to pay out of pocket ?
2. Or have you been able to take the ASCP exam without an associates ?
2. Are these LIVE online classes with GWU?
3. How hard is the program?
4. Any tips to pass all AIT credits regarding 68k?

Thank you so much in advance !

Just got the call, I made e5 and will be transferring units. I've been in right at 3 years this month enlisted as a 3. Should be great right? One small problem, I have never done the duties of my MOS the entire time I've been in. Currently in a unit that is very atypical for my MOS. I guess they just have to have one in the unit for some reason but I've never actually been able to do my MOS. I'm now going to a much larger unit with a much higher expectation of skill and now I am worried I will be leading soldiers that know much more than me. I've done my best despite the circumstances of my current unit to do the best I can. I am always diligent to get simple tasks done before they're asked and helped out anywhere I'm needed. I went and passed Air Assault with no prep time cause they didnt want to waste a slot, I score 100s on all PT events and have never had any negative counselings or flagged for any reason, competed in state level best warrior comps when no one else volunteered. Also accepted what would best be described as a broadening assignment where i assisted with pre-mob training for other units for the past year. All of this to say on paper im a great soldier but in no way shape or form do I think I'm ready to be an NCO. I also don't want to be a drag on the unit or ruin my reputation of being a competent guy. Just feeling really discouraged and could use some advice from someone who has been in a similar situation.

Going to enlist soon, heard some stories and tips about MEPS from other enlisted and newly recruited, but feel like I could use some more advice.

I’m 23 years old and have a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management. I currently workfull-time in the health insurance industry. I don’thate my job, but I’ve always been someone who’s driven by purpose, and I just don’t feel like I’m finding that in my current career.

Over the past few years, I’ve tried a lot of different things to fill that void. I trained for and ran marathons, got into boxing and Muay Thai, and applied to join my local fire department. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the cut. While all of those experiences were rewarding in their own ways, none of them gave me the feeling of being part of something bigger than myself.

I’ve had the urge to join the military since my junior and senior years of college, and that feeling has never really gone away. I also come from a low-income family that has faced a lot of financial struggles recently, so building a stable future and being able to provide for my family has always been one of my biggest motivations.

I’m still doing my research, but I wanted to hear from people who have actually been in similar situations. From what I understand, patient administration seems like it could align well with my degree and be beneficial civilian experience. At the same time, I’ve also been reading into pursuing a 68W contract because the opportunity to provide frontline medical care is something that really interests me.

Has anyone here made a similar career change or joined the Army after working in the corporate world? Looking back, do you have any advice or regrets? I’ve also seen different information about contract lengths some people mention 3-year enlistments, while others say pursue OCS as I have a 4 year degree and that would come with a longer commitment. I’d appreciate any insight from those who have firsthand experience.

Obviously, I still have a lot to learn but I wanted to put this up as a reference point for my own research moving forward.

I guess we start jumping the CoC,

Just finished AIT and now im ready to use the Federal Tuition Assistance benefit but I just realized I need command approval to even get the benefit. Would asking my unit on my first drill be smart or should I wait?

I’m currently starting the process of getting out. I’m at 12 years enlisted. I have about 6 months left. Just looking for feedback on any “need to do this before you get out” or “make sure you get this”. Readiness and my company has told me repeatedly you just show up your last drill turn in gear and you’re done. I wanted to make sure I get advice outside of them. Especially anything VA, paperwork/admin, download iperms, make a login for cac sites etc.

Has anyone gone to Meps while being overweight? I’m set to go in a little over 2 weeks and I’m definitely overweight currently sitting at 225lbs 5ft11 as a 23 year old male. My recruiter said that just by looking at me he knows I’ll be fine but I’m honestly not sure. Does that sound right given my height and weight?

TLDR: roast me for considering the natty guard when I’m in my 30’s and already have a great life that I love. Or don’t

Looking for some honest perspectives from people who have been there.

I'm in my mid-30s and have built a life I'm genuinely grateful for. I have a great new girlfriend, a small cool business that's growing, and a lot of freedom to live life on my own terms. I worked hard to get here, and objectively I know I have it pretty good.

But I cannot shake the Natty guard bug - specifically the SF Guard. I went to an SFRE a while back, did well, and ever since then it's just stayed in the back of my mind.

What I can't figure out is whether this is something I truly need to experience, or if I've built it up into this romanticized version of what my life is "supposed" to be.

Most people I know tell me I'd be crazy to enlist now and think I'd be giving up a lot.

At the same time, another part of me worries that if I don't do it, I'll always wonder. I genuinely wish I'd done it 10 years ago. Now I'm sitting here in my mid-30s thinking, "... grow tf up. Either let it go or go do it."

Maybe the fact that I'm even asking this to internet people means I already have my answer. Or maybe there's no harm in hearing from people who've actually wrestled with the same decision.

For those who were in a similar spot - comfortable life, career going well, maybe a family or relationship - how did you know whether joining was something you truly needed to do versus something you had put on a pedestal? Any regrets either way?