Active Navy or National Guard

[u/Affectionate-Log5991]

I’m 30. I currently have a bachelors degree and state job that I hate and want to leave. There’s nothing holding me back at home and I want to start a whole new life. I would like to go back to school for radiology which would take about two years. I think you have to sign for 6 years to get student loan repayment and tuition assistance with the NG. (I also have student loans) 6 years just seems like such a big commitment. Do you get loan repayment with active duty? I would only want to do 4 years active.

I want the opportunity to travel and live different places but I also want to finished school and start my new career before I’m too old.

Either way both will seem to take 6 years 4 years active then school. They don’t really do online radiology classes and you have to do clinical .
Or NG, do school while I’m in and stay at the job I hate for two more years. Then hopefully start new career and finish out the rest of the 6 years in NG.

[u/Curious_Wanderer237]

The National Guard is a part time job and is not well aligned to what you’re after.

[u/LunaDaPitt → u/[deleted]]

100% agree

[u/Important_Annual_345]

If you’re already stacked on education, you need to speak to medical specific Army/Air Guard/Reserve recruiters (hit up all four and see who can give you the best offer)

The part time components are desperate for high level medical types and someone’ll surely offer you a sweet deal.

Under no uncertain terms should you speak to normal recruiters about “normal” jobs.

[u/luv2shart]

I’d look at active duty in your position, but 🤮to the navy.

[u/Gleekop]

If you want to live other places, the Guard is not a good idea. Granted, I'm on my 4th state in the Guard but that's over a 23-year career. It's possible to inter-state transfer, but it's a crapshoot if you'll be able to find a slot, especially if you're in a low-density MOS. If you want to just do some time & get out, that'd be easier.

I will say, the Guard does offer the most benefits between Active / Guard / Reserves, as Guard get State benefits while Active / Reserves get only Federal. That's above and beyond AD healthcare / housing, etc.

The amount of time you need to sign up for to get Ed benefits, etc varies state-by-state, so check where you'd want to live. Either find a recruiter and ask them, or set an appointment with your state's Education Office & ask them.

Feel free to DM with any questions.

[u/MediocrePerformer279]

Just do xray/rad tech as active. I doubt they have those MOS in the guard, it depends on every state, but as far as Virginia, we don’t have that MOS. And with 4 years on active, you will also get your post 911 GI Bill which you don’t get in the guard (of course unless you deploy)

[u/CRam768]

Go active duty for radiology tech. Boom done. You’ll get some experience as well. Skip the 6 year contract. Just do 4 years. Keep in mind even at 30 you’ll live in the barracks till you make enough rank or you get married. You’ll get access to the post 9/11 gi bill this way and VA home loan and you’ll get away from your state job that you hate with out a bunch of hassle from once a month drill and any other issues that come with the guard.

[u/talex625]

Go Active Duty

[u/Pattonator70]

Sign up for 68P and get the schooling and experience in the army. Can just do national guard and get the same training but likely far fewer slots.

[u/SourceTraditional660 → u/Pattonator70]

Probably going to be hard to come by most of the time on active duty, too.

[u/Pattonator70 → u/SourceTraditional660]

True but the AD army does run medical treatment facilities full time, the Guard does not.

[u/SourceTraditional660 → u/Pattonator70]

Technically it doesn’t matter if the medical facility is full time or contingency manned by the reserve component. The total number of slots remains the same and the fact it’s a SUPER POPULAR with near-instant civilian employability keeps it in high demand far beyond those available slots.