The Process of Joining the Air National Guard is a Little Different Than You Might Think

[@rudygomez8308]

Appreciate that bro. I already did my ASVAB and I’m currently waiting to do my physical. It’s been a couple months since I’ve started the process already and I wish someone would’ve told me all this since the start lol

[@AliMooshh]

Have you gone to basic yet?

[@mitchmac9287]

Joined airforce reserves in 08.. Went army guard in 2016 Rejoining air national guard 2023!! Can't wait...6/7 more years before retirement!!!

[@gangsta_pigeon8023]

was army guard better than ang has been?

[@leonardopab5]

I will join the Air National Guard too, with God's help!

[@isaacmatthews8033]

You won’t necessarily only be a maintainer or in the cyber field. It’s depending on your ASVAB and your physical to see what you are able to do that job and if there’s openings

[@johnk4908]

I got an 88 on my asvab, but yeah it's pretty much all about what the af needs at the time. You can always cross train a couple years into your contract if u really hate ur job.

[@MrChickenspit]

good info. im currently in the process. going to enlist tomorrow

[@russsellsrealestate1157]

I remember discovering this video before I enlisted end of August 2022. Now I'll be leaving for BMT in 3 days

[@naesaj9795]

How’s it going? Currently 21 thinking about joining

[@mitchmac9287]

14 year e-4 been stuck in a position that can't go to e-5 in army. Finally switched to air guard can't wait

[@CornDogg117]

So i just canceled going to the navy. And I thought about going to air national gaurd. How long do you think I would have to wait til I go to boot camp in air national gaurd.

[@johnk4908]

Good choice. Hahaha it's around 4-6 months typically but could be sooner or way later. I knew one guy who was in student flight for a year before he went to basic.

[@CornDogg117]

@@johnk4908 ok thanks.

[@acekhmer]

Whats your regular job brotha? Just curious. Im a barber right now and i want to experience something new and feel like the guard will fit that

[@johnk4908]

I'm going to school, but I know a good number of people who have full time jobs (teacher, managers, programmers, etc.) before enlisting.

[@abbieamavi]

Thank you so much!! This was really helpful 😊

[@noelm4450]

Really appreciate the info, I have a couple questions. How does the contracts work in terms of length and benefits of each. Are 4 year contracts available for non prior service and if they are, do the education benefits still apply? Thanks again for the info, really makes my life easier!

[@johnk4908]

For the guard, it is a 6 year minimum contract. With that, (depending on your state) you will get tuition assistance and access to GI bill benefits as well.

[@boltononabudget7423]

Everyone can do a 3yr contract in the guard. It’s a 3x5, similar to the standard 6x2. You will miss out on the majority of the benefits though

[@kyzerw3816]

​@@boltononabudget7423 how do you even know about that? I don't think the air guard allows that maybe the army does.

[@boltononabudget7423]

@@kyzerw3816 I joined the army guard in October 2022 on a 3x5 contract. The air national guard doesn’t offer anything other than a 6x2 if you’re non prior service. I won’t get student loan repayment, and a few other benefits. If I get activated for more than 90 days (outside of initial training) I’ll earn the VA home loan and some of the post 9/11 GI bill. If you sign a 6x2 contract, you’ll automatically earn the VA loan at the end of your contract even if you never get activated

[@darkestatheist]

Please do the MEPS one. This is very informative and insightful. Thank you so much I am currently in the process of signing and yes it has been a hassle with the paperwork

[@mitchmccin1583]

Been air force reservist...army national guard now... joining the air national guard.

[@johnk4908]

My video is from the perspective of someone who has no prior service.

[@pemarabsel]

Yo, yes please let me know more of the detailed process.

[@johnk4908]

What are the things ur interested in hearing about?

[@tesiawatkins8445]

Can You make a basic training video

[@Chieftian101]

Thank you for making this video, the information is helpful.

[@ecclairmayo4153]

I am so glad you explained all of this about the timeline.

[@Ufcfreak97]

So theirs not like 15 week boot camps ?

[@GreenEagleVR]

A maintainer or cyber field? What about the disaster response and med evacs? The Space Force was outta my reach, the navy was described as “you’d be put into a submarine” and the ANG seemed perfect but this is rather discouraging bro 😮

[@Haven_OG]

How did they give you your bonus enlistment? They are offering me 25,000 and I was wondering, do you get half after basic and tech and the rest in increments, all up front or what?

[@johnk4908]

Good question, it completely depends on the contract. Mine is I got half after 3 years and the other half at my 5 year. I have known people who have had different tho so I would just ask!

[@Haven_OG]

@@johnk4908 can the recruiter adjust it? Mine is saying in increments annually throughout 6 years

[@johnk4908]

@@Haven_OG you would have to ask the recruiter.

[@Haven_OG]

@@johnk4908 he’s been taking like 10+ hours to reply lol

[@llunasthi4723]

Im planni Im planning to join Air national Guard and couldnt imagine it take time 😳 But thank you for sharing !

[@xfuture3762]

Hey I’m a sophomore in college and thinking about joining the air national guard, do you think that already being in college is an issue? Thanks

[@johnk4908]

I actually joined after my sophomore year and it was no big deal other than having to take a break from school for basic and your job training. You can even get tuition for the semester you are currently in if you sign before the semester is over in some cases.

[@xfuture3762]

@@johnk4908 Would I be able to go to basic during the summer? And when does the job training take place?

[@johnk4908]

@@xfuture3762 you're on the militarys time so they send you anytime in a year window. Typically tech school for your job is directly after basic so even if you do get to go during the summer you might still end up missing a semester

[@Jake-fe4uf]

If you want air guard or air reserves officer route you need just about a 4.0 or closeto it GPA or nursing or medical field or the recruiter wont waste their time. (Extremely competitive)

[@PYTU]

@@johnk4908 do they pay on campus housing too or just tuition and fees?

[@TheShnewgen]

Did you apply for Wisconsin because you're from there or do they stick you in a state they need you for?

[@johnk4908]

You can enlist into any state you want, provided they have jobs in need there (correct me if im wrong, but they always do)

[@joshsanchezxD]

Appreciate the clarity dude

[@readoutloud6171]

Ty.

[@andrewgutierrez3009]

I have a friend in army national guard and he’s going to Africa for a month Does the air national guard have active duty jobs too ?

[@johnk4908]

Yes, there are plenty of opportunities to be full-time!

[@JoeSmith-qe2nd]

Does your time in service begin after you swear in at meps? Does your contract begin on the date you swear in then?

[@johnk4908]

Yes, once you swear in your contract starts. Your time in rank (time at a rank before u can get a promotion) doesn't start until you graduate BMT.

[@lordseano2343]

Is Security Forces in the ANG a job u can do or is that only for active duty??

[@johnk4908]

You can do it in the guard too 👍

[@lordseano2343]

@@johnk4908 thanx homie :)

[@tylermanharth9110]

How is the age diversity among the recruits? Am I gonna feel like the “old guy” enlisting at 25?

[@johnk4908]

I'd say the majority are 18/19 year Olds but there are usually a good number of people who are in their 20s. Especially rn with covid, there's quite a few older people. My current class has 2 18 year Olds and the other 4 of us are in between 21 and 28

[@johnk4908]

Ur really only the "old guy" if you make urself that. We all thought the 28 year old was like 19 until he told us. 😂

[@phizz4786]

Great informative video appreciate it!!

[@Ulalalalalam]

I badly want to be an Airmen but My Height&Weight is not good enough to get qualified

[@repreviews8791]

Can I join with hand tats?

[@johnk4908]

Only if it's a wedding band tattoo

[@aiyanacruz3498]

are most cybersecurity jobs deployable? how do cybersecurity specialists work in an area impacted by natural disasters?

[@johnk4908]

I'm not cyber security so unfortunately I don't know a lot about it. Cybersecurity is typically deployable, but it really depends on your squadron that you are assigned to. A great thing about the guard, is that you can go talk to your shop on your base before you even enlist. So if you get a chance to tour the base definitely go for it and you can ask a lot of those questions to people who are in the career field. Otherwise reddit and some other online forums have some really great info on job specific questions.

[@DenisShch93]

@@johnk4908 can you tell more about that? How does it look? Just call to my local Air National Guard base and ask questions? Or just show up at their doorsteps?

[@johnk4908]

@@DenisShch93 Definitely don't just show up. 😂 you can find most bases phone numbers online (the air national guard website has all of them I believe). Then they can tell you all you need to know or schedule a time that would work!

[@dimr8280]

Hello mate What is your glass power?

[@alexjohnson4567]

But did your job availability lists of 6 or so have to do with your ASVAB?... It feels like a high score would offer more opportunities in quantity of job options.

[@johnk4908]

It does, but I got an 88 avg, which qualifies me for essentially every job available. It just so happened to be that there was only that small list of jobs available at that base.

[@alexjohnson4567]

Much appreciated on the fast reply. And that's a great score my man! Thanks for the update and info@@johnk4908

[@PYTU]

Can you pick you tech school location? What the maximum amount of time you will be in tech school?

[@johnk4908]

Tech school location is completely dependent on your job because each job has their tech school in a specific location. So yes because you can pick your job based on where it's tech school is, but don't do that. 😂 tech school can be anywhere from around a month to over a year depending on the job.

[@ashlingutierrez5409]

Can you describe what training you do?

[@ChristianRock62]

Can you do Surgical Specialist in Guard?

[@johnk4908]

I'm sure they do, but like I said it depends on the squadron you apply to and the jobs they have available. You would have to ask your recruiter to be certain.

[@Chill23134]

you cant go specwar in the guard?

[@johnk4908]

Only specific bases unfortunately.

[@marcusbrown188]

Can I become a drone pilot in the guard?

[@johnk4908]

Probably, but honestly I have no clue 😂 I would check the ang website and check out the job list. It should tell you where different jobs would be if available.

[@yeagerborchert8296]

Very informative thank you 🙌🏼

[@johnk4908]

Of course king. I'll see you in base soon right? 😉

[@rickybeatty7810]

Do yo still have to shave you head and face after BMT?

[@johnk4908]

During BMT, yes, but after BMT, your hair needs to be in regulation but can be a little longer. You have to be clean shaven but can grow out a stache 🥸

[@chaserackzz]

Can they deploy you anytime if there’s a war?

[@Havanafly]

Yes. If it is your base turn, get ready boy, you are getting drafted

[@SwolShark]

Hey I’m thinking about joining the air guard in Wisconsin. Have you ever deployed? How much of a time commitment is it? Is it really one drill weekend a month and a two week training or is it more? How do you like right now? Was thinking of security forces if that would be open…

[@johnk4908]

I haven't been deployed but I am still in tech school. Typically guard deploys every 3-5 years. It's a big time commitment for basic but after that not so much. One thing is that u are committing to the military lifestyle and bearing though which is a pretty big commitment. Basic and tech school kinda suck but it's an experience. I'd recommend hitting up a recruiter to maybe tour the base and check out what kind of openings they have.

[@johnk4908]

When I joined about a year ago there were no secfo jobs but things change in a year

[@SwolShark]

@@johnk4908 hey thank you for getting back to me, how do you like it so far? What did you get for an MOS? Has your work/life balance been OK?

[@johnk4908]

@@SwolShark well I would say the work life balance pretty much blows when ur in basic and tech school cause ur whole purpose in life is just to become a full fledged airman. Once you finish tech school though I've heard it's mostly good with some patches of shit (late shifts, stupid punishments for things u didn't do, etc.) I'm 1C8X3 (RAWS/ground radar). My job is basically fixing any and all radio, airfield, and weather systems, hence the acronym. It's a pretty fun job so far, but it's a lot to learn which kind of blows when it's just a part time gig.

[@SwolShark]

@@johnk4908 your MOS sounds pretty cool though 😎 yeah I could see the initial training being super rough. Worried a bit about losing my job potentially, I know their are federal protections but I’ve also heard horror stories of companies loopholing firings due to sudden “poor performance”. You have any issues or guys experience anything like that? Also how long did it take for you to get to your tech school after BMT? I heard the guard is slower at getting people into rotation, is this true?

[@romka2k156]

Joining part time after tech school can you continue and go to collage or do you get deployed

[@johnk4908]

You can go to college. Deployments are usually scheduled every 3-5 years, so u might get back from tech and have a deployment soon. If ur shop is big enough you can request to opt out of the deployment for school I believe. Buuut no guarantees on that.

[@gabrielguzman6018]

@@johnk4908 where do you get deployed to?

[@johnk4908]

@@gabrielguzman6018 my base deploys to the UAE but there are also plenty of jobs that are non deployable, so keep that in mind.

[@gabrielguzman6018]

@@johnk4908 true, I'm going for material management so I don't know if they get deployed a lot

[@KC_daRula]

Can you do air national gaurd full time?

[@johnk4908]

You can, but it's more like the civilian side where you have to apply to the position and get hired on full time.

[@mitchmac9287]

Well....least in army national guard I just said I volunteer for ados / or sad orders. Boom next week I was working. But that's the army guard not air national guard.

[@gabrielguzman6018]

Did you get the job you wanted?

[@johnk4908]

You get to pick your job out of the jobs available and what you qualify for. To be completely honest, none of the jobs were really all that interesting to me, but this for me is also more of a stepping stone than a career so the job wasn't as important to me.

[@gabrielguzman6018]

@@johnk4908 how's the pay in the air National guard compared to air force

[@johnk4908]

@@gabrielguzman6018 it's really all about perspective. Cause the guard is on the same pay scale as active duty when ur on active orders, but when ur not on orders ur not working so ur not making money. It's like comparing a part time job to a full time one. Kind of hard to compare cause they are different things

[@mitchmccin1583]

Dude shut up. Airforce reserves took me under a month

[@johnk4908]

Unless I'm mistaken, I never said anything about the reserves. . .

[@coreyhepler2503]

Don’t be a tampon, go active duty dawg

[@johnk4908]

You will also get a lot of this. People will make fun of you for being in the guard and in the chair force. So you'll have to be prepared for that too. Lol

[@coreyhepler2503]

@@johnk4908 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@douglashenry8303]

What a snooze fest!

[@Bugeyedbastard]

Thank you for this please make more videos