Calling all Barracks Lawyers :-)

Question. (In Dwight from the office voice)

The Guard's relieved from Basic (skip basic training if you're prior service within 2 years of your contract ending) wording is SUPER vague.

If I am 11B and air assault qualified, can I reclass if a slot opens for a 35F (analyst, not HUMINT) as an E4?

The business rules keep changing and my family (all officers) keep telling me different things. A slop opened up at a nearby Guard unit and I'd love to jump in. Their company commander has checked out since he's leaving on other orders and the XO doesn't know squat. Anyone got a grasp on how re-enlistment and "power-slotting" works now?

I'm not opposed to going to basic again, I just want to know if I'm qualified to slot in without it.

Thanks in advance

 

Well, "slotting in" is something very different. You can slot in if you need training or not. So long as the slot is unfilled, anybody can request and then be assigned to it. Once an individual signs a contract for a slot, it is held for at least one year, allowing that person to attend boot camp and any AIT required to fill it.

As far as rank and training required, that depends on a lot of things that are constantly changing. When I came into the Army in 2007, they were still runing WTC, a 1 month "mini bootcamp for prior service", which was pretty easy. As far as rank, without knowing your break in service or your exit rank, going in as an E-3 should be simple. And E-3 to E-4 you should be able to do by the time you complete your IT.

Plus do not forget that requirements for the Nation Guard are a bit different, and can differ from state to state. I know when I was first trying to go in (2005-2007), the Alabama National Guard was offering me Specialist (E4). When I joined the Army in 2007, I entered as a PFC (E3). It took me 6 months to make Specialist, a lot of that delay being that I spent over half that time in training commands.

 

Thanks for the reply. It's an E4 slot so I shouldn't lose rank (left as E4: RE code 1). I honestly just don't understand the business rules from the RA. It's a Guard MOS but the rules stem from the RA from what I hear

 

Not sure how the National Guard works, but if you wanted to join the regular Army again

As a prior service soldier, you would be required to attend a four-week WTC at Fort Bliss, TX if you have a break in service of more than 3 years.

WTC = Warrior Transition Course

 

I've been out for less than 3 years but am not an NCO. Given I'm not MOSQ for the intel slot it might be tough. I heard from the XO and he's sending me to MEPS to get the rundown again. MEPS is SO BORING

 

The Air Force has what is known as Palace Chase/Front programs which allow for a fairly seamless transition from regular to reserves (Air Force.) It's open to both officers and enlisted. After leaving the active Air Force, and as a traditional Air Force reservist I was only required to engage in full-time active duty if there is a need.

Are you seeking a full-time position (AGR) with the Army National Guard?

I'm sorry, I am not as familiar with the Army options, other than as Mushroom alluded, it's doubtful you will have to go through basic training all over again. The most likely scenario, is WTC and you will probably be able to opt out of that. Again though I'm hesitant to give out any sort of advice that is trustworthy. Policy changes are a near constant and my only affliation with the Army is anecdotal, no direct experience with them.

Let us know how this works out for you.

 

Thanks for this! I would LOVE an AGR position. However this is not an AGR position it's just a standard mos.

 

Mushroom is correct in that National Guard policy may vary by State, even the pay varies...also whether the MOS is considered critical skills.

I did find this however in relation to your question about opting out of basic training, it appears you are eligible to bypass BMT/BCT since you've already completed it. This is regardless of the length of your break in service.

Policy Directive 2011-02

This dates from February 2011. Possibly another directive supersedes this, it's difficult to nail down a solid answer to your question.

 

You the man, Herk

 

It is admirable you want to keep serving our nation and your state in a reserve capacity. The citizen soldier is the backbone of the Guard.

 

Well, WTC was never at Fort Bliss. It was at either at Fort Sill or with the New Mexico National Guard, at Santa Fe and White Sands. And it was closed in 2011, with the drawdown the Army was shrinking and not growing, so no need for it.

Well, then you should be fine. The current requirements are that you have been out of service for less then 3 years to avoid going back to boot camp. So as long as you can finish MEPS, swear in, and start drilling with your unit in under 3 years you should be fine. And even that can be waived, and from what I hear frequently is because of budget reasons. Much more likely if your prior MOS is combat related.

As for the slotting, sounds like it is a standard E1-E4 slot (all "lower enlisted" slots are E1-E4, ranked slots start at E5). It is basically the TO&E, not a big deal other then in order to move up they will have to find an E5 slot for you to move up into in the future. That was my problem, they would open up an E5 slot so they could promote me into it, and the Army Reserve Command would see an open E5 slot and send them another E5 before they could finish the paperwork promoting me into it.

Finally I had to take an "up and out" promotion, where they promoted me out of my unit into another one that needed an E5 of my MOS.

As a side note, I hope you knocked out WLC prior to getting out. Now that is required to make E5, and it is a major pain in the butt to get a slot if you have not gone yet, especially in the Guard and Reserve. First priority for all classes nationwide is for those already E5 who have not gone yet. I know some who have been on waiting lists to go for over 2 years now. And have seen people at my old base (Camp Parks) coming from as far away as Fort Lewis and Fort Carson to take the course.

 

Thank you my friend. Nothing brings me more pride than putting on that uniform. That, and smoke checking an enemy

 

The airman going Blue to Green, at least in 2005... I thought were going to Fort Knox, temporarily and then the training would be transferred to Fort Bliss.

Apparently the transfer never occured, so I stand corrected; however I thought Fort Knox was involved with the initial program for the first few WTC classes at least?

 

For a short time it was at Fort Knox before it was moved to Sill and New Mexico. They were also planning on expanding the program, before troop and budget cuts killed the need for it. The proposed site was to be at one of several base camps in the White Sands - Fort Bliss area. I know I heard rumors when I was still out there of converting either Donna Ana or part of MacGreggor for the future WTC before it was killed in 2011.

Donna Ana would probably have been a perfect location. Isolated, it had a real "base camp" feel to it,. And the ranges were literally across the street. I spent a lot of time out there, and it really sucked.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.1513036,-106.5051824,16z/data=!3m1!1e3

 

I'll defer to your expertise on that, I certainly don't trust my own memory on the details. Around 2005, there was a push in the Air Force to transition airman to the Army to assist the Army/Marine ground troops during OIF. I recall Fort Knox having an affiliation with WTC for the Blue to Green program with as you say, rumors the program would be transferred to Fort Bliss. Obviously Fort Bliss was never actually involved with WTC, so indeed my initial reference was in error. Also, you're correct in that WTC was indeed shut down in 2011 as the need to transition prior/other service personnel to the Army was no longer there. Thank you for setting it straight.

 

I've been retired since 2009 so things have probably changed alot, but I'm pretty sure that if you've been out less than 5 years, you shouldn't have to repeat Basic Training.

As far as reclassing, that depends on if there is an open slot in the unit for an E-4 35F. The unit can't send you to school unless there is an open slot you can fill. If they have an open 11B slot they would probably prefer to stick you in that. But that may depend on the type of unit.

However if the slot is available, they want to send you, and you otherwise qualify (minimum ST score, able to get a TS clearance) you should be able to go. However you might not get to go to the active duty school. They have Reserve/Guard component MOS schools for 35F. I don't know if that makes a difference to you or not.

 

What the (*)(*)(*)(*) is a "slot" ? Is that Army slang for Army nomenclature for a billet ?

In the Marine Corps you have MOS positions that are referred to as billets and not as slots. Slots are a Marine Corps slang word for a (*)(*)(*)(*)(*) or a vagina. You know "this is my rifle and this is my gun. My rifle is for killing and my gun is for having fun." In landlubbers language, inserting your gun into the slot and having fun doing it. It feels really good, believe me.

But I digress.

Hey Army Soldier, have you ever gave it any thought of going NAVY ?

In todays PC Navy, boot camp is comparable to a Boy Scout summer campout that is held inside a building, They actually call the building a ship, I (*)(*)(*)(*) you not.
No rifle drill in fact no rifles at all.. No "General Orders" because some civilian cop will be standing post for you. And you can be a sloppy landlubber sailor with out fearing some Marine from the Marine Barracks will slap you up the side of the head because there are no more Navy Marine Barracks.

Think about it, go Navy. After living under Holiday Inn conditions you will graduate from basic with band music and some Navy Captain calling you sailors Then you will attend A-School and you will soon find yourself as Third Class P.O. (E-4) with only one year of service under your belt. I (*)(*)(*)(*) you not.

And the best part of Obama's PC Navy, drag queens, affirmative action, lower standards, No Marines (*)(*)(*)(*)ing with squids, no perimeter security on naval instalations and a Navy that rejects that sailors should have a girl in every port, but every ship should have girls, gays and T,G,s servining on every ship and boat and eveb those "ships that go under water" that Obama referred to.

GO NAVY

 

Lol no, I won't be going navy.

Slot is merely an open mos for that unit.

I can't join the Marines because my singing voice isn't great

 

Thank you for your response.

I meet the quals and already have my clearance so I'm not worried about that.

MEPS was not as bad as it used to be. It only took me 4 hours this morning!

 

That was quick!

So do you know if you are going to the active duty school or an NG version?

 

So they 35f slot is on "hold" for the support unit. They explained to me that the "hold" (whatever the F that means) will be lifted in the "near future". Typical army.

Good news is I passed all medical.

I seriously don't understand why I can't see the army "MOS squad" before I go to medical. It would have saved us all 4 hours to tell me "come back later".

 

The Air Force refers to openings as "slots" as well. It's understandable the Army and Air Force share some of the same nomenclature as they (USAF) are the ugly step-child of the Army.

 

I think he's just busting ballz

 

Anyway. I'm assuming a 35F requires a Top Secret security clearance. I had to get one of those for an assignment. I didn't maintain it after the assignment ended.