Army National Guard vs. Air National Guard (reserves, Air Force Reserve, Navy)

[ladyc2090]

Hello all,

I'm deciding to join the military sooner than later (want to be in the military as i obtain my degree as a nurse) and have a few questions about each branch. I'm stuck between the army national guard and air national guard. Many people I spoke with say go air force/air national guard.

1. While on drill weekends, does the air national guard and army national guard provide you with housing for the weekend?
2. How is your overall experience being in the national guard (either branch) and how has it made an impact (positive or negative) on your life?
3. Are you able to partake in the enlisted commisioning programs for nursing both the army and airforce have? (AECP)?
4. How long is the process to go from enlisted to officer after obtaining a degree in nursing?

(My Future Goal for Nursing)
I plan on becoming a military nurse (active duty) after i obtain my degree in 3 more years and i feel like the army provides me with better opportunity for training and most importantly training as a nurse i can take back into the civilian sector.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[bellhead]

I was prior Air Guard so I'll answer your questions from that side of the house. I would also recommend the Air guard over the Army guard .

We had two people in my unit "medics" who were both nursing students and once they completed their 4 year B.S.N. both went active duty as an officer, so it's very doable.

I'll also point out a couple of jobs you might be interested in. The key is you have to find a unit filling these missions. An air combat comm. unit is not going to have certain jobs while a medical transportation squadron will.

Aerospace Medical Service - airforce.com
HEALTH SERVICES MANAGEMENT - airforce.com
MEDICAL MATERIAL SPECIALIST - airforce.com
OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY SURGICAL SERVICE SPECIALIST - airforce.com
MEDICAL LABORATORY SPECIALIST - airforce.com
PHARMACY SPECIALIST - airforce.com
PHYSICAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST - airforce.com
PUBLIC HEALTH - airforce.com
Diagnostic Imaging - airforce.com
SURGICAL SERVICE SPECIALIST - airforce.com

Originally Posted by ladyc2090

Hello all,

I'm deciding to join the military sooner than later (want to be in the military as i obtain my degree as a nurse) and have a few questions about each branch. I'm stuck between the army national guard and air national guard. Many people I spoke with say go air force/air national guard.

1. While on drill weekends, does the air national guard and army national guard provide you with housing for the weekend?

Yes, If over a certain amount of miles they will put you up in a hotel or quarters on base.


2. How is your overall experience being in the national guard (either branch) and how has it made an impact (positive or negative) on your life?

Really liked the guard.

3. Are you able to partake in the enlisted commisioning programs for nursing both the army and airforce have? (AECP)?

If you pick up a B.S.N. you have a great shot at a commission.

4. How long is the process to go from enlisted to officer after obtaining a degree in nursing?

I would say about 1 to 6 months to get your paperwork done. If you start early in the process, it will be less time.

(My Future Goal for Nursing)
I plan on becoming a military nurse (active duty) after i obtain my degree in 3 more years and i feel like the army provides me with better opportunity for training and most importantly training as a nurse i can take back into the civilian sector.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[AJBarney]

You were in both the Navy and the Air Guard? You must have had interesting experiences to end up in that career path.

[joe from dayton]

I would think that training would be pretty standard across the branches. In my experience, you may find anyone from any branch of service working in a military hospital. Medical folks seem to rotate out for training or deployment on a pretty regular basis in support of other/all branches. My local trauma center has airforce personnel in there on a regular basis doing hands-on trauma rotations.

I knew some people who were allowed to bring a sleeping bag and spend the night in the armory if they lived too far away to commute.

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by AJBarney

You were in both the Navy and the Air Guard? You must have had interesting experiences to end up in that career path.

It wasn't super exciting....

Did 4 years as a Navy ET and six years Air National Guard while going to college. Air guard works great as a college student, as you drill on the weekends, you can also pick up UTA's during the week, or go under orders on active duty while your out on break. Much better than serving food or bagging groceries.

[ladyc2090]

What are UTA's? Did you join the Air National Guard before you went to school or after? I'm not in school right now so I figure I join now while I'm out. Was there any time you took off from school for the Air guard, like for state or federal mobilization?

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by ladyc2090

What are UTA's? Did you join the Air National Guard before you went to school or after? I'm not in school right now so I figure I join now while I'm out. Was there any time you took off from school for the Air guard, like for state or federal mobilization?

UTA are training assignments. For your monthly drill it is broken into 4 UTA's for pay. So Saturday morning would count as a UTA, basically it's 4 hours each.

No I never really had to take a whole semester off except when I went to tech school. With a war in Asia you will more than likely be mobilized once for a 3 to 6 month deployment. Don't worry about school as you are protected by federal law on admission for nursing school and such.

This should be your order...

1.) Enroll in college as nursing programs are sometimes hard to get into.
2.) Before you take your classes go see the recruiter.
3.) Take "unofficial" asvab, & see what career fields "jobs" you are qualified for. The unofficial is a short asvab, to give the recruiter an idea.
4.) Go to MEPS, take real asvab, do physical.
5.) Come back and pick your career field and sign papers.

I think this is the way the process for the guard and air force reserves.

After you pick your career field and complete tech school then start college full time. There are some advantages to this.

1.) All your schools in the Air Force including basic training count as college credits.
2.) Some of the training for the health jobs in the Air Force overlap with your college material. This will give you advantage of having seen it once.
3.) You may be able to test out or not have to take some classes.
4.) Reserve GI bill and tuition aid.

Did you check out any of the jobs?

[ladyc2090]

Yes, and the job I find most interesting and would like is the Aerospace Medical Service Specialist. I guess they are "medics" and closely resemble "patient care associates and EMT's" job descriptions in the hospital I work at. Thank you for the guide as well, it is very helpful.

[bellhead]

Cool job, one of my buddies went to a unit which had an opening in this job, he really liked it. Said you could find yourself going almost any where in the world for a pickup.

[boukka]

I am a registered pharmacist and want to become a part of the national guard or the army. My husband is currently on active duty,and is a NCO training medic. I would like to know how to become part of the armed forces without interferring with my husband's duties.