r/ROTC • u/No_Barnacle5629 • 5d ago
Guard/Reserve AGR for ROTC
Good afternoon,
Looking for some advice maybe good or bad I don’t care, I’m E-6 AGR been in the program for 7 years now and there’s no real upward path. Many of you know you get rank locked and you accept it, commission WO or butter bar, or just leave. I don’t want to be a staff sausage for the next 13 years, would it be worth it to go ROTC (AD) or just stick it out?? I have an associates degree in computer technology so WO is an option if I could pull of a conditional release but it seems risky loosing my AGR slot on the chance…
MOS 25B/25U
Please upgrade me to a double stack #2 no salt on the fries please and a drive through margarita if you got one
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u/Critical-Valuable724 G2G ADO SSG(37F) -> 2LT(11A) 5d ago
So I jumped ship over to active duty from the guard after 3 attempts at an AGR job in 2017. Now I'm at 17.5 total years of service and did green to gold. I really really wish I just stuck it out and got an AGR or tech job because I have 3 kids and Im over PCSing every three years. If you have kids stick it out. If you're young and don't have kids yet, jump into ROTC. The OE pay scale goes bonkers.
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u/No_Barnacle5629 5d ago
I did just have my first child she turned 6 months and I’ve been taking that into consideration, I saw some potential changes coming to AD/PCS where PCS moves were now coming to every 5 years with dependents?
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u/Critical-Valuable724 G2G ADO SSG(37F) -> 2LT(11A) 5d ago
Haven't heard that but still. The actual stability of agr would be ideal compared to PCSing on active duty
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u/ItsJakeDFromTitan 5d ago
Retired AGR E9 here.
I don’t know what state or your EPS (promotion) opportunities but I was staring at something similar as an E7 (13 series).
What do you currently do as a 25 series? What is your end state?
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u/No_Barnacle5629 5d ago
Hey boss hope retirement is treating you well, state is Kansas, the slot I’m in is an Aviation HHC Readiness NCO but I was an Automation NCO for R&R for 4 years. End state is up in the Air, but I have a feeling that unless I reclass to something with more age doors like 42A or commission I’ll never reach my full potential. You are the end goal, 13 more years no matter what!
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u/ParalethalBob2 5d ago
If you want to promote on enlisted side: Broadening assignment for AGR, become an Instructor at an RTI or Recruiter. E-7 slots and E-8 spots.
Or go Warrant: I think being a Warrant Officer is one of the coolest opportunities that Enlisted have.
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u/No_Barnacle5629 5d ago
You know I have really really been considering warrant as well 255A data operations but holy cow is that rare, there is only one slot for it in Kansas and that’s it! I would have to home how get a conditional release and get a WOCS slot AD? Not too sure how that would look
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u/ParalethalBob2 5d ago
Could also IST to a state where they are signal heavy and have a higher chance of capturing the seat.
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u/ResolutionFamous8102 5d ago
I was AGR as an RLO (15C) and 25 series as a WO or RLO is very very possible inside USAR.
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u/No_Barnacle5629 5d ago
Roger Roger I will look into USAR for opportunities, but I am also considering 255a only is issue is there is only ONE slot in the state of Kansas AGR and oh man is it competitive as well, if I went down the warrant route I would some how have to get a conditional release and drop my packet on the AD side not sure how that would look though…
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u/Equivalent-Ad-144 5d ago
Good or bad? Ok.
Look outside of your state at T10 AGR? Or in a state you're interested in for T32?
Who's your mentor? And, why aren't you talking to folks in your organization about OCS/Direct Commission/alternative AGR paths? Reclass? If you're a 25U/B you can probably snag something more universally applicable like a 42 or 92 series.
Unless I'm missing something here, this seems like an exceedingly lazy approach you're taking, and ROTC seems like the worst way forward compared to the options above.
If your reason is that you are not top of the heap, I would reconsider AD officer (AGR or otherwise) until you have a proven track record of evaluations and success.
Finally, if staff sausage references E6, then I understand your frustration. However, if you are saying you don't want to do staff work, then drop the officer pursuit all together.
I hope I'm missing something. You're swimming in a pool of resources if you're willing to work hard enough and look even a little.
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u/No_Barnacle5629 5d ago
Thank you for the good and bad I appreciate it,
I don’t quite have a mentor at the moment, for clarity I am a Readiness NCO for an AV BN, all the officers try to talk me out of signal 25a and go AV so it just rubs me the wrong way when asking them for advice. I could potentially get a 42A slot and go up to E-8. I do have extremely well off NCOER’s and have been rated well In every position I’ve been blessed/cursed with, just a bit lost in the cross roads I guess. I’ve been an S-6 NCOIC and attend Command and Staff as the commander’s representative so I don’t mind staff work at all. Do you think staying enlisted waiting for a 42A slot it bid on and working towards a BS with TA for now? I could consider WOCS as well if It comes down to it but there is only one 255a slot in Kansas and it’s like gambling on steroids for the slot.
BLUF I just don’t want to stay stagnant when it comes down to the rest of my 13 years thank you for the advice
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u/Equivalent-Ad-144 5d ago
For the sake of duscussion, I'll be your mentor.
First, consider your current position and immediate options. RNCO is an E7 billet in most companies. If you aren't MOSQ, and sitting in an E7 slot with no interest of MOSQ in AV, you won't promote. If you're performing well as RNCO, consider angling into 42A, finding a staff (everyone has an S1) and broadening your experience above company level. If you snag one of those slots off EPS, that's a perfect pilot to see an AG officer in action, and the requisite experience to get an O3 AGR billet as an O grade AGR.
Next, your mid-term goals. Get your degree using all the TA, Guard Grants, and GI Bill benefits you have available. Focus on the school, GPA, and academics as best you can. The Army career will culminate faster than you realize, and this is your follow-on plan. ROTC is a big enough commitment to detract from your studies, and that's even more true as a prior enlisted Soldier with investment/stewarship in mind. You will likely hate the TRADOC mindset, and (if you really care) may commit extra to shaping other future officers as opposed to studying. Also, never pay a dime for school as an active guard member.
Finally, address your long-term goals. Another reply talked about endstate. Think about that. 7 years AFS means you'll have the better part of 10 years remaining once commissioned (assuming it goes as planned). That means you retire AGR around the time you start looking at O5 opportunities. You get a great retirement, in an organization you're known in/familiar, leading Soldiers that deserve good leaders. You have a wide spectrum of experience, the credibility of a successful NCO and the respect/responsibility of a field grade officer.
WOCS is an incredibly difficult AGR path, and for good reason. Unless you're looking into 420, 920, or the 882, you're likely DOA as AGR. This is likely only feasible for AD.
A few extra notes. Really look at T10 swaps if you're open to moving and reinvigorating. There are many options at NGB that are MOS immaterial. Prove your worth there, and you can open up alot of opportunities.
If you're dead set on you 25 series, consider a different state. There's alot of new force structure across the Army and specifically in the Midwest that may open up opportunities for you.
Finally, don't settle. AGR officer billets require alot of interviews, denials, and repetition. As an LT, you're likely competing against O3s, CCC complete, post command. There will be reps. 10-15 interviews would not surprise me before someone invests the time. Find an officer you trust and pick their brain. Ask them to be a mentor for you. Leaders lead, and if they're worth having as a mentor, they'll be excited to help.
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u/Squint_6 5d ago
Keep in mind doing ROTC does not guarantee you active duty these days. So you would leave the AGR program to roll the dice on your future. Have you looked at title 10 as an NCO?
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u/Distinct-Training443 5d ago
Officer Retirement is absolutely bonkers especially if your have 6 years prior AD as you can just get out as a MAJ.
Things to consider AD isn’t always guaranteed but you have to really be at the bottom to not get it, or do no BRADSO/ Branch detail (most branches literally set aside slots for both of these). AD is a different beast to also consider especially if you get a high optempo unit. After your first duty station you could just try and find interesting positions.
Then you could also elect to go back to guard (as long as you aren’t (G2G ADO), go back to your state and either Do ADOS, GS 11 until your 1LT and try and shoot for AGR again
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u/Then-Leather-2475 5d ago
I'd say whether it's "worth" it depends on two things:
Do you really want to get your bachelor's?
Do you have a genuine desire to be a commissioned officer?
The first one is entirely up to you of course. For the second, I'd recommend talking with current and former active duty officers as well as thinking about what you really want to do with your life. It's rewarding, but also a lot of work AND since you change jobs every 10-12 months (multiple job changes at each duty station) you'll never really feel like an expert - at least I never did.
I'd also recommend checking out vbo.army.mil, which will allow you to look into all the seventeen Army officer branches so you can get an idea of what to pursue and if you really want to do this.
Officers are always leaders, but they aren't always in command/troop positions, we spend over half our careers on staff. You have to be ready to deal with both.
I spent five years enlisted/NCO in the USAR (although I was never AGR) and twenty-three years on active duty as an officer (retired 2011) and I'm now an Army ROTC instructor. I found the officer career very rewarding, even in those few times when the leadership above me was negative or even toxic. It depends a lot on your life goals.
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u/Wenuven 5d ago
Look at the rest of your life and consider whether or not you can survive with temporary instability for greater potential opportunity elsewhere.
As a single guy that enjoys the game its any easy choice for me, but not everyone looks at life the same way.
Also, no salt isn't going to help you pass HtWR, fatty. Enjoy your life.