Introduction-Delon

[delonbaber]

Hey everybody, I'm a specialist in the 11th ACR, a guard cav. unit out of Nevada, I'm currently deployed in Afghanistan right now, but this is completely not what I expected. I really didn't understand how the military worked before I enlisted, I just wanted to get in as soon as possible. The guard said I'd be able to join at 17 in high school do a split-ops contract and still get my diploma, so I went for that. Now I'm not saying I don't completely regret my hasty decision, but this isn't what I want at all, and for the past 3 years I've had this fascination and urge for the ranger's and everything that comes with them since basic. I just wanted to know how I would go about switching branches, and getting the ranger life going after this deployment. I know I need a release form from my commander but after that I'm lost and my first line's really don't give a shit, and continuously say doing the ranger thing is a wasted of time, and it's pissing me off more and more. Any help, any shape way or form of it would be greatly appreciated, I think you guys have a mentor thing on here somewhere but I couldn't find it. My pt scores are great, my hearing health and sight are in top shape if that helps at all. Thank you all for letting me in here, hope to here from you guys soon.

[Steadfast]

Hi Delon & welcome.

I upgraded your title and moved your intro thread to the proper forum.
You can not see the mentor program forum unless you are a OPT 40 candidate.

Shortly some Rangers will be a long to assist you here. In the mean time diddily bop on down to read Recruiters and Schools - Q&A (Forum) - some great reading to be had.

[Ranger Bill]

Welcome. Your desire to become a Ranger is appreciated, but you are going to have to jump through a few hoops to get there. Check out the Recruitment Process forum on this site and you will find several threads dealing with the issue of Reserve/Gaurd members who were in the same situation as you are.

[delonbaber]

Sorry I haven't been on in awhile, it already feels like you guys are going to be a great help. Afghanistan for a war torn country has some pretty unique scenic views, but I'm digressing. I'll get right onto reading the recruitment process and am willing to do whatever I gotta do to get this done. I'll get back on a.s.a.p. the next chance I visit a FOB's MWR, thanks again all the help is much appreciated.

[Ranger Ron]

Welcome to ArmyRanger.com and good luck with your future undertakings. Thanks for your service to our great country!

[smokn38]

Welcome and thanks for serving.

[delonbaber]

Wow, the hospitality on this website is scores better then that back home. I really appreciate it, and I've been doing all the reading I can on how to get to where I want. I know it's gonna be a shit ton of hard work, but nothing is worth it if it's easy, just means everybody else probably already has it. I wanna earn this, but I'm just curious is how come it's more difficult for a prior servicemen to get something in their contract compared to Joe Schmoe off the street? Again thank you guys for welcoming me.

[delonbaber]

I don't know if posting on this thread again is proper, but I made it back home from Afghanistan and got sent straight to WLC formely PLDC, I talk to an active duty recruiter two days after I get back from here. Thank you guys for having this website and all it's tools to help with this process I'll move to the recruitment thread, and thank you again!

[al_2ndWolfhounds]

Welcome back.

[IEDmagnet]

Welcome soldier, and I might be able to help (I did a semi-tour as a recruiter, I sucked and they sent me to Iraq which was my master plan all along).

First brother, when you get back...go see an Active Component recruiter. They will be able to better explain what options the RA is offering for prior service enlistments. 90% of the time you will have to enlist into the same MOS you carry now, but that's just a stepping stone. After speaking with them you will have to file a 368 form at your unit. It is a conditional release (released upon entry into Active Component) which will have to be signed up to Brigade Level. Once that has been signed, you go to MEPS, possibly physical again, sit down with a career counselor, and roll on.

I have to issue this warning, more a caution, when you turn in that 368 at your unit....you have to stay on your unit's PAC soldiers. They will lose it, delay it, or a combination of both because you are part of their MTOE. Just be persistent without losing your bearing, and remember why and what you want. You'll get there.

[K.Ingraham]

Welcome back to the site.
Glad to see you are being persistent and not just posting on a whim.
Your situation has been on these pages many times. Be prepared for the long haul with MEPS. The regs are a moving target and can change without warning - so if you need a signature, for example, get it that day & don't wait until next week. There's a prior-service here (I forget his username) who's been fighting this battle for three years. His thread makes an impressive read - by the time he gets to the battlefield, he will seriously be ready to kill after dealing with the paper-pushers and weaklings for so long.

Was your original post a typo or has the Blackhorse (11th Cav) really been moved from the RA to the NG?