Air National Guard

[jolly22]

So who here is in the Air National Guard. I'm STRONGLY considering joining it.

I'm 19, at a local community college, part-time job, and coach a travel soccer team..

BUT. I'm going be completely honest. I'm incredibly lazy.. It may not seem like it with all the stuff I do. But it all only takes a few hours at a time.. I work 6-10 in the AM then work again 2-4. Soccer from 4:30-8:30. I'm not in school this semester because of a tax malfunction. But I'm only 16 credits from graduation with my associates.

Maybe someone can help me change my attitude here, but I don't see the point of school right now. I want a job that I can get into right away. That's why I'm strongly considering the ANG. I'm not physically or mentally able to go into a military branch. I just can't. I won't survive. I'm not mentally tough enough.

ANG seems right for me. It's helping people. Which I love doing. I love helping people every chance I get and I feel this is really a job opportunity where I could really make a difference. It doesn't seem quite as physically and mentally demanding as the military itself. It's something I believe I can handle.

Here's my main concern.  I want to go ANG full time. Everything I read is all about Part-time while pursuing a full time career. All pay rates are based on part-time. I don't know what I could while I'm doing part-time ANG.

Out of all things I said right there, Who can help me out. Give me some suggestions of what I could do and what's maybe a decent option.

Thank you
 
JRjolly

[FLS]

The National Guard is a state's military force as well as being a federal reserve military force. I don't know why you think it's not the military, I suppose it's their recruiting/marketing. The National Guard has been filling in for our reduced regular forces to the point that it's like a full time military commitment for many people.

[RotBaron]

FLS is spot on.

What would you do if you were activated to go to Afghanistan or Liberia for a full tour?

When you are activated your uniform will say US Air Force, maybe think some more about that.

[Tumor]

Jolly

 There are those who will sugar coat this for you.  I am no one of them.  Finish school first.  If you still want in after school, go in as an O if at all possible.... you'll save yourself a world of crap.  I'm not knocking Enlisted... I was for 21yrs. 

 The USAF, Active Duty, Guard and Reserve is not looking for anyone not mentally or physically able to handle it.  Active Duty, Guard and Reserve are all expected to operate at the same level.  They all get the same Basic Training and Technical School.  Same standards, same uniforms etc etc.

  If you absolutely must enlist... get back to classes as soon as possible.

[NatCigg]

I would go to school if i were you...Also, concider becoming a teacher.  Teacher manual labor load is light. summers and weekends and holidays off.  Pay is not great but you will have a union to help maintain your job and benefits , maybe a pension.

For a lazy person such as yourself teaching should be perfect.  The old saying goes something like "Lazy professionals become teachers."

GL and stay in school. don't sign your life away to the military, yet.

 

[jolly22]

I guess i misinterpreted myself there. I know they're military, but not part of the main branches? lol I knew that.

I couldn't be a teacher. I'm too smart for that. I'm too valuable to be a teacher. I'm not knocking teachers, It's just not me. I need something where I can use my brain but still be able to make a physical impact if necessary. There was a position open here in VA where they basically needed a brain. Where to move troops when needed, how many to have on at a certain time, etc. I don't remember what it was called But I feel like that would fit me perfectly.

I'm not saying I "couldn't" handle it. Because I could, but it would put a lot of strain on me. I'm an extremely hard worker ONCE I GET GOING. It's getting me into the working part of it that's hard. I'm all business at that point.

I don't want it to be sugar coated. I don't want a false idea of what I could be going into, so I appreciate it tremendously.

[Maverick]

If you don't think you could hack the "main branches" what makes you think you can hack the Guard. Have you been paying any attention at all to where the Guard and Reserve units have been ending up the last 5 to 10 years???? Have you bothered to see how many times the unit you are thinking about has been activated or had members activated and sent overseas?  Where do you think that Guard unit is going to send you to do basic? 

If you don't have a desire to serve, to be an adult about it, do yourself a favor and forget anything to do with the Military. Keep in mind that quite a few of the Guard units are more than a little political oriented. It may be that promotion / job selection would be based on who you are, you know and suck up to. Not to mention how long they let you stay in.

From what you say, you have a bit of growing up to do. Any part of the military is no place to be looking to get a free ride or simply coast along. They can afford to be choosey now. You might be a different person that what you have posted but if you are not, then I'd suggest looking elsewhere.

[Zoney]

Lets see......your lazy, smart, self centered and pompus, I'd go into politics if I were you where you can pretend to be there to serve your country with out putting any dedicated soldier's life in danger.

[puller]

I already here the older men on this board bristling...without them even posting...the vets on this board are doing more than bristling...the best thing you can do is find a purpose in life...find a purpose that you feel drawn too...if you want to help people...go into utility services...water, sewer, gas, electric, phone....everyone is going to need these basic services...and they are filled with lazy smart people...of course if you run across someone like me as an employer...you wont make it long....but if you find a municipality, where politics play a role in the basic services, the lazy smart ones fit right in...

[wpeters]

I would go to school if i were you...Also, concider becoming a teacher.  Teacher manual labor load is light. summers and weekends and holidays off.  Pay is not great but you will have a union to help maintain your job and benefits , maybe a pension.

For a lazy person such as yourself teaching should be perfect.  The old saying goes something like "Lazy professionals become teachers."

GL and stay in school. don't sign your life away to the military, yet.

 

I say teaching.... I have been a teacher for 4 years now and can tell you it is extremely rewarding.  Get your schooling done. You are close enough that it would be a wasted for all the time you have put in already.

To smart to be a teacher???   I know personally at the school that the more stuff you know about things the better you can engage students and get them to learn.

Many schools give the teachers some leeway in being creative in teaching.  I say the smarter the teacher the better the student will learn.

Remember what a veteran teacher told me the first year I taught. Once you teach a child or teenager you have affect the World for life.

  He then told me this little poem.      

If you have touch a rock,
You have touch the past.

If you touch a flower
you have touch today.

If you touch a child
you have touch the future.

I can tell you from experience, that teaching has been the most rewarding job I have ever had.  By saying you are to smart is limiting the impact that you can have on the world.  
Remember that someone taught the children who became smartest scientist in the world. Because of those teachers the World is where it is today.


From the way you talk you would not be able to survive the Military.  

<S>   LtCondor

[jolly22]

Lets see......your lazy, smart, self centered and pompus, I'd go into politics if I were you where you can pretend to be there to serve your country with out putting any dedicated soldier's life in danger.

Funny. That's my major. Major: Political science/law. Minor:Spanish

[Hetzer7]

Air and Army National Guardsmen go thru the same training right next to their Regular (full-time) counterparts. Its the same military, with the same BS and everything else. Dont listen or assume anything and if you do enlist, any recruitment promises must be in writing before you take the Oath. And really try to take the advice given above and finish school first, (OCS) and go in as an officer. Nothing wrong with enlisting however as I had done in the Army, its really a valuable experience I think. It will definitly cure any residual laziness you might have!

Good luck sir <S> - Hetzer

[Puma44]

You state that "I'm incredibly lazy".  That a rules you out for military service.  Don't waste your time or anyone's else's trying to get in.  Military service requires dedication, commitment, and most importantly, continual hard work.  You don't appear to have any of those attributes. 

[Hetzer7]

You state that "I'm incredibly lazy".  That a rules you out for military service.  Don't waste your time or anyone's else's trying to get in.  Military service requires dedication, commitment, and most importantly, continual hard work.  You don't appear to have any of those attributes. 

He says lazy, yet goes to school, has a job, and coaches soccer. I dont think he's lazy, just doesnt have goal it seems. So lighten up Francis.

[Puma44]

He says lazy, yet goes to school, has a job, and coaches soccer. I dont think he's lazy, just doesnt have goal it seems. So lighten up Francis.

Just an observation based on experience, sport.