Transferring to RA after Guard commitment ends?

[Diesel]

I've read all the many threads re: switching from Guard to active duty - most of which focus on how hard it is to get your NG command/state to release you. And I've seen some discussion about going active after your initial post-commissioning commitment ends.

But what I don't know and can't find is the obvious question: just how hard is it to accomplish?

I'm increasingly realizing I'd like to make the military a full-time career. The reasons are numerous, not least of which is my prior 5 years active duty; the financial reasons are there, too; but mostly, I'm just having a blast.

So back to my question: six years from now, how hard will it be to go active? Is it easy and something people do everyday? I have no idea. And yeah, I realize that we can't know exactly what the environment will be in 6 years - so apply today's standards. If I was a CPT with 6 years in NG and 5 years prior AD time ... how difficult would it be for me, today, as an infantry officer, to go active duty Army?

Thanks for any insight. I realize I'm planning way ahead here, but I'd like some realistic assessment of whether this should be a professional goal.

[RedLeg]

Why not just attend Active Duty OCS?

To answer your question, I'd say it would be pretty tough to go Active. HRC has the details. (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/opdistacc/CAD/calltoAD.htm)

[plano2001]

I've read all the many threads re: switching from Guard to active duty - most of which focus on how hard it is to get your NG command/state to release you. And I've seen some discussion about going active after your initial post-commissioning commitment ends.

But what I don't know and can't find is the obvious question: just how hard is it to accomplish?

I'm increasingly realizing I'd like to make the military a full-time career. The reasons are numerous, not least of which is my prior 5 years active duty; the financial reasons are there, too; but mostly, I'm just having a blast.

So back to my question: six years from now, how hard will it be to go active? Is it easy and something people do everyday? I have no idea. And yeah, I realize that we can't know exactly what the environment will be in 6 years - so apply today's standards. If I was a CPT with 6 years in NG and 5 years prior AD time ... how difficult would it be for me, today, as an infantry officer, to go active duty Army?

Thanks for any insight. I realize I'm planning way ahead here, but I'd like some realistic assessment of whether this should be a professional goal.

Been told to me that at the end of the guard commitment, your commitment is done, so you would simply re-enlist as prior service with an active duty recruiter - no conditional release would be needed because you fulfilled your drilling commitment. I don't know the official policy, that's just what has been expressed to me.

Also been told I would have the best luck to go active later if I stay enlisted in the Guard and not go the commissioned route.

[dnall]

The best/easiest route to go to active duty is to apply for active duty OCS through an active duty recruiter. Better to start in the place you're trying to get than figure out how to undo something year from now to get back to that point.

That said, the call to active duty program expressed above is out there to get you across before the six years is up, assuming you can get a release. Or you can wait it out & apply through HRC to pick up. If they don't have a slot for you right away, I would convert to reserves. It's easier to get picked up out of there on CAD or just in general - easier to get the release anyway.

[Chaplain4me]

Aren't there fulltime positions for officers just as enlisted?

[Diesel]

Why not just attend Active Duty OCS?


If I had a time machine, I might do just that. At this point, with commissioning barely 3 months away, it seems less than wise to start all over.


The best/easiest route to go to active duty is to apply for active duty OCS through an active duty recruiter. Better to start in the place you're trying to get than figure out how to undo something year from now to get back to that point.

That said, the call to active duty program expressed above is out there to get you across before the six years is up, assuming you can get a release. Or you can wait it out & apply through HRC to pick up. If they don't have a slot for you right away, I would convert to reserves. It's easier to get picked up out of there on CAD or just in general - easier to get the release anyway.

Thank you, sir. That helps. As I said above, I don't see much point in bailing on Guard OCS this close to the finish line - especially not since I already have a unit, and thanks to a deployment, I'm already guaranteed full-time service for the next 18+ months.

I'm just looking at my options for after that. I understand that getting released during your Guard commitment is difficult. I'm just wondering how hard it would be after my commitment ends.


Aren't there fulltime positions for officers just as enlisted?

Of course. And after the deployment, you can bet I'll be exploring AGR opportunities. In a lot of ways, its a better option than active duty Army. Actually, I've already started asking around. But AGR slots are few and far between for officers, at least in my state.

Thanks to all for the wisdom.

[RedLeg]

Getting a release from the NG is probably the easy part, getting AC to take you is the hard part. The officers I've seen make the transition were former AC officers.

The USAR is not easier to get a release from, if anything it's harder.

[dnall]

Reserve is easier for CAD only, because it's controlled by HRC, it's probably about the same for a normal conditional release.

Once your commitment is over & you ETS, then you are in the IRR. You are free then to apply for active duty through HRC & work with the active component branch manager. The big deal is where you fit as far as branch & year group & that they have a shortage in that spot.

I realize it's a very difficult concept to leave guard OCS only months from commissioning & start over at Federal OCS. I know what a sacrifice that would be. However, you're talking about the next six years versus the last one year. You really have to seriously consider that option. I'm not sure honestly it is an option. Theoretically once you start OCS, if you drop you aren't going to get into the federal program. I realize dropping for the purposes of rolling over to the other program is different than failing out & trying again on the active side, but I just don't know. That'd be a question to ask an active duty recruiting commander.

[RedLeg]

Reserve is easier for CAD only, because it's controlled by HRC, it's probably about the same for a normal conditional release.


The last release I saw took 10 months. Current USAR policy strongly discourages releases.

The best place to answer your question about going active is www.armyocs.com.

[dnall]

Any AV WO (must have completed 2yrs flight service to state) & CPTs (with a certain experience profile) are per DA & HRC... WILL be released for service under CAD. I've seen it tried but never successfully done, and that includes people who 160th had accepted & was actively trying to bring over. I know releases under CAD happen, but they're very difficult to do. Getting picked up outside CAD by DA is a shot in the dark.