more questions ??

[kiowaterlouw]

What is an AGR or technician job ? is it like the guard contracting out or is it a guard position fully ? AGR is a better position how ? what is the difference between an AGR and a technician ? How does he apply to be an AGR or technician ?
you said he would have to wait 6 months is he got an enlistment bonus , wait 6 months for what ? the bonus or the position ?
Will he have to sign up to be in the guard before he knows if he can get the AGR ot technician position ? he really doesnt want to be a weekend warrior so there really isnt any sense in him signing on if he isnt going to be full time , then he will just stay active duty army .
As for the retirement thing , it said that time spent on active duty such as training drills and deployments would count toward his retirment but if he gets a AGR or technician position and that means he is full time does that mean he will have the same retirement as active duty army ?
I was also confused about the dental , it said that he would get dental at a discount when on part time status , what about full time status ? if he is a full timer will he still get discounted dental or will it be free ?
Finally i know he should contact a recruiter within our state but right now he is in afghanistan . so im doing the research for him. But is he were here and he enlisted to the guard for an AGR / technician position does that mean we will have to stay in this state or can we still go somewhere else ?
Oh and say he did get an AGR position , does the guard move you around like the army or is it stationary , and does being in the guard decrease his chances of being deployed if he was full time or are they still going to be the same , i really would like the un sugar coated version of that answer please .
thanks so much .

[ping9798]

I'll take a stab at answering some of your questions. However, a recruiter would be the best way to go about getting all answers you would like.

- not sure what you mean by technician. Be more specific. Do you mean what type of MOS can you get?

- As for waiting for 6 months for the enlistment bonus... if you sign and are eligible for a 20,000 bonus, for example. You get half after you complete BCT and AIT, which will take in the ballpark of 6 months. You get the other half at the two year anniversary of your signing (I think).

- you have to take the ASVAB to know what you are qualified to have as your MOS.

- if you don't want to be "weekend warrior" then yes, active is a better route. In the National Guard, you drill one weekend per month and two weeks per year.

- you are technically "part time" but there may be some full time jobs available in your state.

- you go for your training and then you return back to your state. You will drill in your state for the weekends. It's not like active where you live on a base in another state. You go about your business doing whatever you want throughout the week, but for the weekend drill, you have to report. You could go to another state, but you'd have to check first with their National Guard unit to see if there are any openings in the MOS you are in.

- being in the Guard does NOT lower your chances of being deployed. Look at the number of Reserves and Guard troops who are deployed right now. You get the same training in the Guard as you do in Active, but it's technically part time.


If your recruiter is deployed right now, there should be another one in your state you could find. If not, go to the Guard website and look up different names and numbers for recruiters...even if they are in a different state, they could answer your questions better than me.

[LRSU_Dog]

Your questions are in reference to transitions from Active duty to the Army National Guard, so everything is different that the process many on this forum are in - which is as a non-prior recruit, or new soldier. There may be a time period for waiting for a transition to the ARNG and being able to pursue a possible AGR job, likewise there may be issues in regards to accession bonus or reup monay as it reflects the transition. The state ARNG recruiting and personnel office can help answer these questions for you more direct.

1. AGR - Active Guard and Reserve. This is active duty in your state and is subject to the say pay and benefits as the active duty component. same pay, same retirement.

2. Technician - A civilian job that is based upon government pay tables. Although this is full time, you are a civilian employee. Different pay, different role, different retirement and benefit package.

3. Application requirements differ between the two and are outlined in the job postings for each as to the requirements and processes for applying and securing a job. Typically you remain in your state and position once secured, so it is not a matter of being moved around avery couple of years like on Active.

4. You cannot enlist into an AGR job. As a tech you have the ability to enlist, but some technician jobs will only be given to people with the appropriate military experience. Some positions at the state level have a dcreased chance of being deployed as opposed to others. This type of question can only get a more realistic answer from the particular state in reference to a particular position. Another thing, if in AGR you can apply for other slots in other states if it is your desire - since techs are civilain employees they can do whatever civiland do .

5. If you are on active duty now, and looking for an AGR or tech position - begin searching for positions within your dezired state, contact the appropriate Points-of-contact and see if they support applications for active to guard transfers into AGR slots.

6. There are different Title 10, 32, or ADSW (Active Duty Special Work) options available. The positions are either posted on individual state websites, Virtual Armory, as well AKO and the AHRC websites.

7. There is a dental plan offered to Guard and Reserve soldiers (simialr to the active duty conterpart) for United Concordia, there is also talk of a similar plan for medical but I have no details as to the rumors I have heard (centers around Tri-Care). In the ARNG if you are not full time, then medical coverage is available through Tri-care for orders periods of 30 days or more.

I hope this helps