Finished training, thinking of guard

[Nexus5]

Hi guys. Any docs on here join guard or reserve w/o prior service? I was hoping to hear your experience.

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[DeadCactus]

There should be some posts with people's experience if you search around. Bottom line is your experience is based on your unit, your luck, and your willingness to put time/effort into the military. What are you looking for out of the military?

 

[narcusprince]

Probably best to describe my reserve time as time that pulls me away from the things I enjoy at a rate far less then what I get paid in private practice. In addition my tolerance for bad leadership is far lower then when on active duty. Simply put its a bad financial deal the camaraderie aspects are minimal too.

 

[Nexus5]

Thanks for responses guys. I've been given a lot and want to serve. Similar to "to help people" why do you want to do medicine.

I can appreciate it will be a money and time losing proposition. I'm an ICU doc and CCATT is what I would do. Seems like a good way to use my skills.

 

[armytrainingsir]

Can’t complain about my reserve experience at all. Made some great friends and wouldn’t trade my deployment experience for anything. Depending on the unit of course, but it would be hard to come in off the streets to the reserves IMO, but I know guys that have done it successfully.
I think the reserves are the best fit for guys that want to finish their time to get 20. And even better for the subset of folks that want the military to be their hobby. That group IME tend to be some of both the best and worst commanders as well.

Good luck.

 

[Nexus5]

Can’t complain about my reserve experience at all. Made some great friends and wouldn’t trade my deployment experience for anything. Depending on the unit of course, but it would be hard to come in off the streets to the reserves IMO, but I know guys that have done it successfully.
I think the reserves are the best fit for guys that want to finish their time to get 20. And even better for the subset of folks that want the military to be their hobby. That group IME tend to be some of both the best and worst commanders as well.

Good luck.

Thanks, still kind of on a fact finding mission.

 

[narcusprince]

Their is significant variability amongst the different branches in the reserves. The army and air national guard I hear has a much better support admin services. The navy is highly variable and it depends on the NOSC you report to.

 

[armytrainingsir]

I would add that from what I’ve seen, going guard off the street with no prior experience seems to be more common.
Also, NG docs are much more primary care roles vs reserves.

 

[the_world_has_gone_mad]

Not guard but 'freshly off-the-street' (i.e. no prior experience) Air Force Reserve [just back from my second UTA] ... a lot of people on this forum were tremendously helpful in the past ... although most likely this will be 'a blind leading the blind' situation feel free to message me with any questions I might be able to help with.

As a lot of people do mention financials - perhaps one piece of advice - just run the numbers how a deployment would affect you (the numbers will be all quite confusing as you have to take the BAH into account etc.): If that calculation concludes that deployment will be a 'financial suicide' - just do not proceed. [yes some employers might 'match' your pay ... but that is clearly not something you can count on - for me the important part was that the BAH would cover my mortgage payment ... ] .

 

[DeadCactus]

If you want to do CCAT, you're looking at Air Force Reserve or Guard. The Guard has stateside missions and some people like serving their local community as well as national needs. Additionally, there are state specific benefits available to the Guard. The Reserve is better integrated into the federal system, protected from stateside deployment, and seems to be a little easier to just cruise by in. CCAT is a great mission but be aware that (at least right now), it's more about training than actual missions. Most of your military time will be bureaucratic admin work on drill weekends and training during annual training or when you go to schools. Also expect the process to take a few months in uniform but spread over several years between joining, getting credentialed, and getting through the training.

The Reserve and Guard are terrible financial decisions and will add extra stressors to your professional and personal life. They are a nice way to diversify your career a bit and provide unique experiences and opportunities to serve. The specific unit you join can make a big difference in how much you enjoy the experience.

Interestingly, I have had the opposite experience to other posters here. My observation is that prior active duty people sometimes have a hard time in the Reserve or Guard because 1) they've already checked the military box and can mentally move on, and 2) they have a hard time transitioning their expectations from active duty to working with people who do this 2 days out of a month.

 

[Nexus5]

If you want to do CCAT, you're looking at Air Force Reserve or Guard. The Guard has stateside missions and some people like serving their local community as well as national needs. Additionally, there are state specific benefits available to the Guard. The Reserve is better integrated into the federal system, protected from stateside deployment, and seems to be a little easier to just cruise by in. CCAT is a great mission but be aware that (at least right now), it's more about training than actual missions. Most of your military time will be bureaucratic admin work on drill weekends and training during annual training or when you go to schools. Also expect the process to take a few months in uniform but spread over several years between joining, getting credentialed, and getting through the training.

The Reserve and Guard are terrible financial decisions and will add extra stressors to your professional and personal life. They are a nice way to diversify your career a bit and provide unique experiences and opportunities to serve. The specific unit you join can make a big difference in how much you enjoy the experience.

Interestingly, I have had the opposite experience to other posters here. My observation is that prior active duty people sometimes have a hard time in the Reserve or Guard because 1) they've already checked the military box and can mentally move on, and 2) they have a hard time transitioning their expectations from active duty to working with people who do this 2 days out of a month.

Thanks for posting this. I'm going to MEPS later this month. Some CCATT places drill quarterly so that is important to look for IMO. None the less it's a lot of time and not enough money - even with the retention bonus. After MEPS I'm going to go down and visit them in person on a drill weekend. I'll report back.

 

[el mero mero]

A lot depends on medical specialty... National Guard and Air National Guard have very different missions.
Your unit factors significantly into your happiness... And even the best unit can change with leadership changes though guard is significantly more stable.
I'm prior USAF AD, prior USAFR, current USAR... Lmk if you have any specific questions

 

[Nexus5]

A lot depends on medical specialty... National Guard and Air National Guard have very different missions.
Your unit factors significantly into your happiness... And even the best unit can change with leadership changes though guard is significantly more stable.
I'm prior USAF AD, prior USAFR, current USAR... Lmk if you have any specific questions

Could you explain the first part more? What makes the mission so different?

I got through Meps recently. The doc was cool but it could be very easy to get jammed up.

 

[TheEarDoc]

Could you explain the first part more? What makes the mission so different?

I got through Meps recently. The doc was cool but it could be very easy to get jammed up.

I am guessing they meant the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard have very different missions. Title 10 vs. title 32 orders.

Air National Guard belongs to the state and is primarily focused on state missions (title 32), but can be activated for federal missions with the permission of the governor of the state (title 10), but the ANG belongs to the state.

Air Force Reserves belongs to the federal government and has it's own unique missions.

There is some overlap, but in most ANG units be prepared to mobilize more for state level needs plus also do the normal trainings you need to do to keep up with the federal requirements.

 

[Nexus5]

I am guessing they meant the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard have very different missions. Title 10 vs. title 32 orders.

Air National Guard belongs to the state and is primarily focused on state missions (title 32), but can be activated for federal missions with the permission of the governor of the state (title 10), but the ANG belongs to the state.

Air Force Reserves belongs to the federal government and has it's own unique missions.

There is some overlap, but in most ANG units be prepared to mobilize more for state level needs plus also do the normal trainings you need to do to keep up with the federal requirements.

Ah yes. I did know about that aspect. I have a unit I think will work well. I’m going to visit in a few months and kick the tires. And let them see if I match what they are looking for.

 

[el mero mero]

I was referring to army reserve vs national guard.
National guard has billets for military medical roles 1 & 2 essentially "field" care... with Army Reserve having billets for roles 3 & 4 which are aligned with "hospital" care. There is someone leeway between the two, especially with primary care...
However I would caution most specialists against joining the NG unless they have an interest in being a field surgeon.
I have very limited experience with the ANG but my understanding is that their roles aren't different from USAFR besides their state mission and corresponding funding.