It all depends on your personality.

If you are a good dude that is laid back, gets along with others, has a good personality and sense of humor, likes to have a good time, but is willing to work hard to get the job done, then you should join the Guard.

On the other hand, if you are a toolbag and think you are the greatest thing since sliced bread, then you should fly lawn darts in the active duty.

Spoken like a true Herbivore. Sour grapes?

No regrets or jealousy here. Just one man's observation after 20+ years in the Guard. (heavy driver and proud of it)

Nothing to Prove
 

One would think with 20+ years in the Guard, you'd have more of a clue. How many fighter guys have you ever heard running around saying, "On the other hand, if you are a toolbag and think you are the greatest thing since sliced bread, then you should fly heavies in the guard." Now tell me who's the toolbag. The kid isn't even interested in a fighter job, so why bring it up in the first place? I know...just another shot at starting another fighter vs heavy thread. Just another man's observation. I wish I hadn't posted #12. I'm almost ashamed to admit I bit.

I was trying to be humorous, but I feel there is some truth to my statement.

Generally, the "fighter mafia" is a lot different than the heavy world.

Hopefully the original poster will find a good fit.

If I hurt your feelings, then I apologize.

My Mistake
 

My mistake then. Just didn't see the humor in it as written. Next time try a little smiley face, wink, etc to show intent. I'm always up for a little "intra-service" rivalry. You didn't hurt my feelings at all. I have a pretty thick skin. It just struck me as another typical whiny heavy driver bi@tching about the cocky smart @ss sky god fighter jocks.:D Proud fighter jock with 20+ years active duty (including a stint at numbered AF IG inspecting Guard and Reserve units). Yea...I know..."We're here to help"....and "We're glad you're here!" I almost ended up as a Guard Adviser before retiring.

I have taken an oath never to use an emoticon.

Too bad you did not do the Guard Adviser job. I have a few friends that did it and they all said it was a great experience.

"So you're telling me there's a chance. YEAH!!!!!!"

I Know
 

I loved working with the Guard and Reserves. Between my NAF/IG tour and the other job I did at the NAF, all I did was work with gained units. It was a tough choice not to, but I ended up going a different path to retirement. Turned out to be the best move for me. I think I would have liked the Adviser job more except for the fact that it would have meant ANOTHER deployment to the sandbox. At that point in my career, I just wanted to fly, be current and retire (without going remote or to the sandbox again).

The flying experience is a small part of the package for the AD side. Sure it may give you a very slight edge - but it's not exactly a grandslam in the 9th to win the game.

The Guard seems to put a little more on the prior flight experience than say AD Navy, but in the AD AF it is actually factored into a test score (I think the max hours are 200 or something). Of course, there is also a certain Guard unit that doesn't like to hire guys with more than 60hrs - they say they've learned bad habits...but others say they like to see guys that have a flying job already - guess it just depends.

Either way like someone said, baseops.net is a good place to start for the AD AF, Guard, AF Reserve and airwarriors.com is a good place for AD Navy and USMC.

Good luck either way.