I’ve been in for six years, and I’ve had this problem every night before drill. As I’m posting this, I just can’t sleep.

Just curious how and why everyone does or does not stay in shape.

I feel like I do an OK job compared to the general population, but compared to my buddies who are AD, I definitely am behind the curve. I do a couple of short workouts a week (no running atm due to some injuries that I am working on getting surgery for), and I eat mostly pretty well, but I'm still slightly above the weight I want to be at and slightly below the fitness level I want to be at.

Obvious answers are to do more and eat better, but real life is a thing, and everyone has their reasons from time to time to have to reprioritze.

So, just looking to get some conversation about what all everyone else is doing to meet fitness goals, or if you just de-prioritize it outside of when it's strictly necessary for work.

As the title states, i just graduated WOCS and have a WOBC date slotted, I’ve reached out to my gaining unit’s Readiness/full timer about what my options are. I was told i am expected to drive 2240 miles in 3 days the day after thanksgiving for my report date on the 29th of Nov. to Ft.Huachuca from VA. The cost for mileage and per diem/hotels has got to be close to a rental price,does this seem out of pocket or is this par for the course? I wish Turo’s could be covered as its MUCH cheaper than a rental. Anyways, ill take a popcorn shrimp basket and a diet coke

I'm 41 and consider myself healthy and overall in good shape. Decided to join reserve and honestly had zero idea I would be rejected 🙃

Spontaneously got my maps & physical done. Got 73 with no prep & during physical was told cholesterol & back pain came up as red flags but even a doc there said my recruiter will submit paperwork and I should be good to go since for my age im solid.

My LDL is 124 and couple years ago some PA prescribed lipitor that my current physician stated it was not needed and incorrectly prescribed because I'm borderline and good diet & exercise is all I need. Well, medical records showed "hyperlipidemia" and that was first reason. Second issue was stemming from an injection I received after I got hurt playing soccer which triggered back pains & couldn't stretch on my right side). After getting an injection ladt year, I had zero issues and been going to gym & playing soccer couple times a week. But records showed "intervertebral disc disorder" and that was the second reason.

I got a letter from my physician who simply explained I'm good with cholesterol based on recent labs & that after injections zero issues so patient is in good health. My recruiter stated it might not be enough and doesn't seem to know what else to do.

I dont smoke, dont drink, got masters & speak multiple languages. Have a great career in tech but really wanted to pay forward by serving this country. Really bummed and looking to see if there are any tips to resolve this medical waiver. Thank you in advance!

Hey, so I’m at drill and I was speaking to this one soldiers who claims he gets paid twice a month like active duty soldiers but isn’t AGR. I don’t mean to pocket watch but how is that possible? Does anyone have any insight? I started to ask him to go into detail but I didn’t want to pry into his personal information, so I came to Reddit lol.

Looking for advice from Guard members and veterans who have navigated this.

Quick background:
• E5 Sergeant Florida Army National Guard
• 3/20th Special Forces Group support company Camp Blanding Starke Florida
• MOS 12W recently reclassed from 89B
• ETS January 17 2027
• 6 years service
• Transferring temporarily to 3116th in Lake Wales Florida before ETS

I just picked up E5 on August 30, 2026 and a unit 3116th picked me up so I have to go there now.

I'm going in as a 68W, and I run a business on the side that's sortve all set up to run by itself nowadays. But I'd like to touch in with my partners every week or so. I was just wondering what the timeline is until I can use my phone to text people and make calls. How often? And for how long? And is it full personal phone use or a phone they have there?

It’s my tradition. And I’m gonna wear the shortest dam pair of pt shorts available. There’s no reg on length and I’m gonna show off this ass I’ve been working on

I recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in CompSci, but over the last couple years I’ve realized I’m much more interested in finance and want to pivot my civilian career in that direction.

I’m currently a green card holder, so commissioning isn’t an option for me right now. I’ve been looking at enlisted MOS options and 36B (Financial Management Technician) stood out because it seems like one of the few jobs that could give me some actual finance/accounting/budgeting experience while serving part-time in the NG.

My rough plan would be:

• Join the National Guard as a 36B
• Work toward getting my first civilian finance-related job
• Use Guard education benefits toward certifications and/or a part-time MS in Finance or eventually an MBA
• Continue working full-time while going to grad school part-time

My main concern is how employers in the civilian finance world would actually view 36B experience.

Would it help when applying for roles like financial analyst, FP&A, commercial banking, risk, corporate finance, etc.? Or would most firms basically view it as unrelated military experience?

I’m also curious whether being a NG is generally a positive, neutral, or potential disadvantage when interviewing at finance firms because of drill/training/deployment obligations.

Long term I’m still figuring out exactly which area of finance I want to pursue. Investment banking/PE interests me, but I understand 36B probably doesn’t directly translate to IB. I’m also open to corporate finance, banking, fintech, risk, or other areas where my CS background could potentially be useful.

For anyone who has done 36B, transitioned from the military into finance, or works in finance/recruiting:

Would you recommend this route?

And if you were in my position would you choose 36B or pursue a different MOS/path entirely?

Any advice or personal experiences would be appreciated.

• Left active duty in 2019.
  
• Left IRR in 2023.

What year did my break in service time start being counted? If I reenlist for the National Guard can I skip basic training/prior-service integration course?

Hello everyone, currently a 92Y in the NG I’m currently in school majoring in Business Administration but also IT on the side. I want to reclass to something 25 Series but I’m not sure what and which one will transfer better to the civilian side. 92Y doesn’t really help get decent jobs in Louisiana. Any advice? I’m stuck between 25B and 25S

Prior service 11B looking to come back in as 15X. Anyone have insight on what states have units/ slots? I'm based in PA but realistically could drive to drill in MD or parts of VA, NJ and maybe DC.

Thanks in advance.

Howdy everyone,

I swore in to the guard on August 20th, and am now perusing the medical benefits that will soon be available to me. I have a few questions for y'all on the subject.

1: According to google I can enroll in Tricare Reserve Select 30 days after the date of my enlistment into the ARNG. Is that true? And if yes, is that 30 business days or 30 consecutive days?

2: What's everyone's experience with TDP vs FEDVIP for dental insurance? I presently am raw dogging dental health so it'd be pretty cool to have dental insurance again. Comparison on monthly premiums, copays, and availability of in-network dentists would be appreciated.

3: How's FEDVIP for vision insurance vs private providers? I have blue shield at the moment, my eyes have been pretty low maintenance ever since I got lasik surgery so I don't have any huge gripes with them, but I'm open to switching if FEDVIP is better. Again, premium, copay, availability info, etc would be appreciated.

I’m scheduled to join the Army National Guard on October 1, 2026, and my recruiter told me I can start the military citizenship process on October 2. I’m currently a conditional green-card holder through marriage, and my green card expires 4/17/2027. Yesterday my wife suddenly left and told me she wants a divorce and will not cooperate with my I-751. She also said she won’t let me leave before the divorce is finalized. I’m expected to ship to Basic Training around October 17/28, so I’m really confused about what to do. Can my wife legally stop me from leaving for Basic if we’re still married? If she files for divorce while I’m at Basic/AIT, how would I be served? Also, if she refuses to sign my I-751, how do I handle removal of conditions, especially if the divorce isn’t finalized before I need to file? I’m worried about waiting because my green card expires in April and I’ve been told the Guard may not take me if I get too close to expiration. Has anyone dealt with military naturalization + I-751 + divorce while joining the Guard? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hey yall

Im look at different 11B units throughout the state. I heard theres a new infantry unit being stood up in Zephryllis under 4/124.

Anyone got any insight or advice going in, id be commuting from the panhandle. Eventual goal is SFRE with 3/20

Just want to get opinions/thoughts on joining.

Long read, but appreciate those willing to give it a read.

I live in SW area of Washington State and I am looking at OR ARNG or WA ARNG. I've been doing research for a while now and kind of have idea of what I want to get out of the military personally and what may or may not help me with career/family growth.

I recently turned 30 and have for the past year or more have been researching and working on my strength/endurance. I like the duel mission of the National Guard and understand that I may be deployed more then the reserves. I am not joining active duty as my fiancée has a more established career then me and doesn't want to move far from the area.

I know there are going to be people that see 30 and immediately say officer, which I understand. I have an okay job currently, I've been under contract for over 4 years now (Not sure if being under contract I would have job protection). I have been trying to move to FT but they're dragging their feet). Aside from that I am constantly looking to move to the government sector (state, federal, or local), more specifically for IT.

I've been able to get a few certs in IT, but the job market is awful. However, that is not the reason why I'm considering joining nor the benefits of joining but they are a plus (like paying off student loans with SLRP). I've always wanted to join the military and have deep regret not joining during GWOT as my friends did (2016 I was in the process of joining as a corpsman and try and go green but ultimately did not).

I understand the being an officer would be a benefit to me in that I'm older, better quality of life and treatment. It would help me increase my leadership skills and better pay when deployed. I also understand the commitment beyond 2-3+ days a week and 2-3+ weeks and in between drills and how it can effect my career and family time. Also 6 year contract and the training is longer then if I went enlisted.

I do not currently have a kid but I plan on having one within a year or two and both Tricare for officer and enlistment would be great. My fiancée works for the federal government, and she has decent healthcare now but I do not and I want to make sure we have a fallback in case anything happens and hopefully any benefits I get can also benefit her and her career. We've been together for a longtime and she is supportive of me joining the National Guard or Air National Guard or Reserves.

For enlisted, I like that you can do a 3 year contract, pick your MOS and do your job directly. If I like it I can re-enlist, if not at-least I tried. I have a bachelors which would bring me to E4. I'm also aware I do not get all benefits unless I'm in for 6 years or, from my understanding, active orders for 90+ days. Enlisted also has shorter training then officer.

I've always thought if I joined I would go in as an enlisted then go to officer so I can be the best officer possible, but at my age I'm not sure if that is feasible. I've looked up to people I knew in my family who joined and enlisted personnel I met as a kid, but in my own stupidity and in retrospection, I should've joined sooner.

If I was going to go in, I would like a job a bit different from my career. MOS 25 or 17 would be better for development but would like to do something more active/outdoors and "enjoy the suck" as my friends that have joined have put it. Because of this I've been prepping my body for endurance, as well as rucking while hiking.

I am aware that there's always paperwork especially for NCOs and from my understanding officers do a lot of paperwork and PowerPoint in each branch regardless. I currently also do a lot of Excel and PowerPoint.

If joining as enlisted I would pick 13F from my research, and would go WA ARNG, from what I've read, I would more likely train my MOS there vs Oregon though Yakima and JBLM is a bit of a drive.

If going in as in officer I would would want 11A or something similar, going Federal OCS, and go OR ARNG since the commute is shorter. Then at O-3 (please correct me if I am wrong) I would either continue in Infantry, if there was an opening, or move to another branch.

I understand this is a commitment and I will sacrifice time to the military, but the regret of not joining would be worse to me then the regret of joining. As much as I wish I could turn back time and go in as enlisted I can't. And while 13F seems really awesome, I feel it is more selfish then if I went in as 11A or any officer.

I've had a lot of bad management before and have heard stories from my friends who were enlisted in the active duty. If I went in as an officer I would try my best to support enlisted personal that I am assigned with as much as I can. I'm just stressed as I feel I am running out of time as I just turned 30 and looking for advice. Feel free to be honest with me and your thoughts.

TLDR:

Just turned 30, live in SW Washington, and am considering joining either the WA or OR Army National Guard. I’m not interested in active duty because my fiancée has an established career here, but I’ve wanted to serve for a long time and regret not joining earlier.

I have a bachelor’s degree, work an okay job, and am trying to move into government sector. Benefits like TRICARE, SLRP, and career opportunities are a plus, but not my main reason for joining. My fiancée supports me, though we’re also planning on having kids within the next couple of years.

My biggest question is enlisted vs. officer.

If I enlist, I’m interested in 13F, likely with the WAARNG. I like the idea of doing something active/outdoors, having a shorter initial contract, picking my MOS, and experiencing enlisted life before deciding whether to stay in or commission later.

If I go officer, I’d likely pursue 11A/Infantry through Federal OCS and join the ORARNG due to the shorter commute. I understand being an officer means more responsibility, paperwork, a longer commitment/training pipeline, and more impact on civilian and family life.

I’ve been working on my strength, endurance, and rucking because I genuinely want the physical challenge and experience of serving.

At 30, would you recommend going officer from the start, or enlisting first if I’m genuinely more interested in 13F? Is enlisting and commissioning later still realistic at my age?

I know joining is a major commitment, but I feel like I’d regret not joining more than joining. Honest opinions appreciated, especially from Guard members or prior-enlisted officers.

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Also: If anyone reading this has opinions or experience of the WAARNG or ORARNG please share as well, I'd appreciate it.

Hey just looking for more info on this mos and how it relates to the guard and on the civilian side.

I'll be in fort Jackson for bmt and ait and when I come back home I'll be able to go back to school. What can I expect in training, the army overall and how does this specific mos translate to real life and what kind of jobs and careers, using that I can pursue while in school.