National Guard, Reserves, Deployments and the DEP.

[TrajanMax]

These are questions that I have seen frequently aound different militar oriented sites, so I thought it would be a good idea to put them all together in one post so that any National Guard or Reserves recruits will have an easy time finding them.

Q: I enlisted in the Reserves/National Guard, and I considered a DEPer ??

A: No, the Reserves and National Guard do NOT operate under the DEP, it uses the DTP or Delayed Training Progam. Click here to see what that is all about and what the regulations are:

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dep_4.htm

Q: I am joining the Reserves/National guard and will be going to Basic Training in the summer between my Junio and Senior year of High School. Can I be deployed while I am still in school ??

A: No, even though you have attended basic traing, you are still not MOS Qualified, basically that means you have not learned all the skills needed to fullfill the duties required by your specific MOS. You will not be MOSQ untill you have completed AIT which will be after you graduate High School. The Army will not and can not deploy some one who is NOT MOSQ.

Q: I have enlisted in the Reserves/National Guard and have not been to basic yet, and I have had a change of heart and would like to Transfer to Active Duty, can I do this ??

A: The answer to this is not as simple as yes or no. Under most circumstances the answer will probably be no. What you have to do is talk to an active duty recruiter and have him draft Conditional Release forms. You then have to send thse forms through your Chain of Command in your Reserve/National Guard Unit. The final decision is ultimately up to your unit as to wether or not they will release you.



It is important to remember when you enlist in the National Guard that once you swear in at MEPS for the first time, you ARE enlisted and are in an Active Drilling status, and holding a slot in your unit for the MOS that you have chosen. And, also remember that as soon as you enlist and start drilling and get your initial issue, the National Guard has invested money in you, so they do not want to see you leave. If anyone has any questions would like clarification, or can add any insight to this, please do.