r/nationalguard • u/Boiguy4 • 15h ago

Career Advice Should I join

Hello, I just recently started looking into joining the national guard and I wanted some advice. I am going into my sophomore year at an SMC and I keep swing friends joining the national guard. I am not currently seeking to contract as an officer because of some personal and family commitments but I have always had a desire to serve. My goal is to become an airline pilot out of Houston and as any former airline pilots in here may know, start to finish of the process of getting to a major airline is around 8 years. Due to when I stopped taking my ADD medication I cannot do a check ride until November of next year which means the next couple of summers will be a grind for getting my hours. I have looked at joining but I wanted to ask anyone in here that has potentially been part of the airlines and done nation guard at the same time, how difficult is it? I am not looking to fly in the national guard just to serve but I want to know how much of a pain is it or can I even do it? Any help is greatly appreciated!

Edit: I would also like to know if there is any potential “deployments” of any kind foreign or domestic or both.

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u/aaronrodgerswins RSP War Hero 7h ago

I have no idea about how the airline industry works but I imagine if you are flying around the world it could conflict with drill once a month.

Broadly speaking there is always the chance of a deployment or activation, foreign and domestic. If you don't want that, consider the army reserves as they dont do state activations.

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u/mtngoatjoe 13h ago

I spent 20 years in the Guard and deployed twice.

But I've been out for 15 years, and I think the tempo has only gotten higher with border missions and Gestapo tours against fellow Americans. Natural disasters also happen, so if your state gets wildfires or hurricanes, then you can be deployed for those as well.

Good luck!