What should I do?

[Delta Farce]

I plan on being MI. but I don’t know which branch I should do it through. My main two are the National Guard and Army reserves. I have talked to both recruiters but am unsure of which to choose. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[MP_Girl]

Ultimately, it is up to you what you decide to choose to do. The only real difference between NG and Reserves is the funding, one is funded by state and federal govt and the other is funded by just the state, so really, it is your choice.

[PhilK]

Originally Posted by MP_Girl

Ultimately, it is up to you what you decide to choose to do. The only real difference between NG and Reserves is the funding, one is funded by state and federal govt and the other is funded by just the state, so really, it is your choice.

Correction. The Reserves are funded by the Federal Government only and the National Guard is funded by both the state and the federal government.

The National Guard answers to both the Govenor of the state and the President of the United States while the Reserves only answer to the POTUS.

[StormCrow]

If military intelligence is what you want to do I would recommend going Reserve. In my opinion you can be more useful in that particular MOS with the Reserves rather than the guard...instructors correct me if I am wrong.

Storm

[PhilK]

Originally Posted by StormCrow

If military intelligence is what you want to do I would recommend going Reserve. In my opinion you can be more useful in that particular MOS with the Reserves rather than the guard...instructors correct me if I am wrong.

Storm

It depends on what you want to do with it.

In the National Guard, you have Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) and Division Headquarters that require robust MI assests. You also have several MI Battalions that deploy to conduct various MI specific missions.

In the Reserves, you have mostly training units that are CONUS based, you have some Combat Support units and Service Support units, but the MI footprint is pretty small (from what I know).

The Reserves does have Civil Affairs and PSYOP units, but the National Guard has Information Operations units, Red Teams, and SF Groups. So there are plenty of "sexy" jobs to find in each component also.

[StormCrow]

Well, I was under the impression that many of the reserve MI units would be deployed. That is a very good point though.

Storm

[PhilK]

Originally Posted by StormCrow

Well, I was under the impression that many of the reserve MI units would be deployed. That is a very good point though.

ALL MI units will get mobilized. They are high demand units. There is a MI BN in Texas (ARNG) that is getting ready to mobilize.

Then there is a MI Company that is gearing up to deploy with an IBCT from the TXARNG also.

When the new ARFORGEN (Army Force Generation) Model kicks into full gear, every National Guard and deployable Reserve unit will be on a 5-6 year cycle for deployment.