Expert: James Bell - 9/21/2007

Question
I just recently started looking into joining, but am torn between active duty and guard. I live in klamath falls, OR which has Kinsgley Field, a great training base for...um jets something!! SOrry yes, a little naive here, actually a bit more than that with all this military stuff, it is all SO new to me; an area i have no contact, experience, or knowledge in. I am looking at out air base and spoke to a guard recruiter, who of course, swears that guard is better. Im almost 25, finishing associates degree in business management minor in marketing (3 months shy) and not sure what to do next.... i have no money, hardly any family, and SSOOOOOO active in my communities ( ive lived in several) love to give to others and just realizing that i need stuff too. So.....what do i do??? Help???

Answer
Greetings Sabrena -

Where you want to go depends on the amount of dedication you are willing to put forth.  The Guard and Reserve, often referred to as the "Weekend Warriors" do the one-weekend a month and two weeks a year activated.  However, in this post-9/11 world, you will also note that many Guard and Reserve units are spending upwards of 18 months activated and sent to the Middle East.

On the active duty side, that is your life.  You do it 24/7 for the number of years you have enlisted.  You don't have outside pursuits of a civilian job as you would with the Guard, as the military IS your full time job.

So it all boils down to your desires: If you are ready to leave your community for a base determined by the military, and to do this job fully for the 4 or 6 years that you enlist, then go Active Duty.

If you want to still remain anchored in your community and have that civilian job and sense of belonging in Klamath Falls, then I would go with the Guard.

One last thing, and please don't take this the wrong way:  You are an adult and almost 25, finishing up a college degree.  In writing, you should work on your sentence structure, punctuation and capitalization.  If you pursue a job in the military, that's one of the very basic tasks you will be expected to have already mastered.  You aren't texting a friend or writing as if carrying on a conversation.  Just remember, with the lack of anything else to go on, HOW you say your words reflects wholly on how you are perceived.  If you write intelligently, you will be treated as such.  If you write like a child, the same applies.

Good luck and I hope you choose a career that meets your goals and expectations.

Sincerely,
James Bell