National Guard

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with your time in the service. Most military members I have met feel very proud to have served their country, and many plan to re-enlist when their terms are over. I guess it is a good thing they are not all like you describe your unit or our country would be in a lot of trouble. Maybe you could try requesting deployment if you prefer an assignment with more purpose than pulling weeds.

Not that pulling weeds is such a bad thing. It certainly humbles a person and teaches discipline.

Like Stringbean, I, too, am sorry that you have had this bad military experience. I am curious, however, when you say that your unit needs to actually try being the Army instead of playing Army, just what do you mean? What would you rather be doing? I know that pulling weeds can be incredibly boring as well as frustrating considering you didn't sign up for weed pulling. But what do you wish your Guard unit was doing instead? Have you considered the alternatives?

I've never heard of people in the Army "pulling weeds" before...I know when the soldiers get in trouble with their platoon, unit, whatever, they sometimes have to do chores around the base, but pulling weeds. Is this what they do all of the time? Doesn't make sense to me that we would pay people to train by pulling weeds and sitting in a classroom talking for 5 hours.

Where are you? I wanna join?! Just kidding. Not a bad job to get paid and just sit around. Like previous person I have heard of the Army doing yard work and chores when they are in trouble but other then that haven't seen it. Hopefully they start training you just in case you all deploy. I rather be trained then walking into an unknown.

Wow that must have been boring. I had no idea that is how it was run. But I guess you have to do what you have to do. Free health care for you and your family is important.

Back in 03, my husband came close to being deployed to Iraq. Thank the lord that fell through because the people in his unit was not in the right mind frame to go there. His captain was never deployed before, for ones not understanding, he has never has left this state. Luckily, my husband was grouped with men that went to Vietnam, they knew what they were doing.

Now my husband has a GS job with the military and still does his one weekend a month and 2wks out of a year. I'm not complaining, it's extra money and also he's going to college as well.

As my husband says, Don't volunteer to do anything with the guard.

I have 16 years of military 4 active Air Force the rest Air National Guard and Army National. After being in active military I understand the term "PLAYING ARMY". I understand your feelings and understand your going back to active duty. I'm on disability and wished I could have retired from the military...God Bless You

I completely relate to this one. I was active duty army for 3 years also and am now in a Nation Guard unit. Although I don't pull weeds or do lawn work...we do clean a heck of a lot. But you know the Army, always looking like they are doing something, but never really doing anything at all. I wish you luck in your re enlistment to Active duty. As for me..I'm going to look into the OCS route!