Switching from active duty to National Guard... possible?

Military Law Discussions
1

Hey everyone, I just got to my active duty unit last week, but I’ve got some family issues back home. I need to take care of my mom and siblings and was wondering if it’s even possible to switch to the National Guard this early in my contract? Has anyone dealt with something similar? Any advice would be awesome.

2

Hey, I don’t think you can just transfer directly. Active duty and National Guard are completely separate programs, unfortunately.

3

OliviaA said:
Hey, I don’t think you can just transfer directly. Active duty and National Guard are completely separate programs, unfortunately.

That’s what I was afraid of… Thanks for the info. Do you know if there’s anyone I can talk to about this?

4

OliviaA said:
Hey, I don’t think you can just transfer directly. Active duty and National Guard are completely separate programs, unfortunately.

You’d probably have to bring it up with your commander, but I’ve heard it’s rarely approved. Might still be worth asking, though.

5

I’ve seen people ask about this before, but the answer’s almost always no. Sorry you’re dealing with this.

6

Page said:
I’ve seen people ask about this before, but the answer’s almost always no. Sorry you’re dealing with this.

Thanks for the honesty. It sucks, but at least now I know what to expect. Appreciate it.

7

Wait, what’s the difference between active duty and National Guard? Like, why can’t they just switch you?

8

Abi said:
Wait, what’s the difference between active duty and National Guard? Like, why can’t they just switch you?

Active duty is full-time military service. National Guard is more like part-time, with state control for emergencies. Totally different setups.

9

Abi said:
Wait, what’s the difference between active duty and National Guard? Like, why can’t they just switch you?

Ah, gotcha. Makes sense now. Thanks for explaining!

10

If you’re really struggling with family stuff, maybe there’s a way to get a hardship discharge? Worth looking into, IMO.

11

Perrin said:
If you’re really struggling with family stuff, maybe there’s a way to get a hardship discharge? Worth looking into, IMO.

That’s an idea I hadn’t thought about. I’ll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion!

12

Man, I’m sorry to hear about your situation. Hope your family’s okay. Wishing you the best.

13

Noah said:
Man, I’m sorry to hear about your situation. Hope your family’s okay. Wishing you the best.

Thanks, I appreciate it. Just trying to figure out the best way to handle everything right now.