1) "119th Civil Engineer Squadron members board a military aircraft Dec. 6, at the North Dakota Air National Guard, Fargo, N.D., as the depart on a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia. (DoD photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp)"
So what if you want to serve BUT you want to be more local. Well, the Air National Guard is always in option. There's not always guarantee that you'll be stationed where you desire or be deployed but come on guys! This doesn't seem like a horrible option.
1) " 'We do things a little differently in the Army versus the Air (Force), but in both instances whenever we’re sending off our Airmen and our Soldiers, this is our opportunity to thank you for what you do, wish you well in the coming months in terms of the mission, and most importantly, show our support for you, both the Airmen and the family members, as members of the North Dakota National Guard,' Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, told the Airmen and their families before they left."
Serving your country in any way is an honor. Being away from family and friends is something they sometimes to deal with. And Skype just can't reenact those moments you've missed. The National Guard can help with that. But there are situations where people are deployed.
1) " 'Having a family member there is kind of nice, but it does actually make it a little bit harder because when I’m gone the person I would look to for snow removal, maybe help around my house, will be a couple doors down. … It’s good for me over there, but for being back here it makes it more difficult,' Tracy said.
Leaving so soon before the many would observe holidays poses an extra challenge for military families, some of whom celebrated early. Others are holding out for a summer celebration after their Airman’s return.
'Actually knowing that Steve is going over and there’s Soldiers coming home to have Christmas with their families makes our Christmas a little more special,' said Bridget Schwartz, whose husband Master Sgt. Steve Schwartz is deployed for the second time.' "
2) "118th Airlift Wing C-130 unloads Tennessee National Guard equipment at Berry Field ANGB"
Where's the nearest Air National Guard close here? Berry Field Air National Guard in Nashville, Tennessee. Want to stay close to home? Check this area out. Maybe it would be right for you! But what do they do there? Great question!
2) "Berry Field Air National Guard Base is the military enclave of Nashville International Airport in Nashville,Tennessee. It has hosted the Tennessee Air National Guard 118th Airlift Wing (in various designations) since 1937.[1] The base is home to Headquarters, Tennessee Air National Guard and the 118th Airlift Wing (118 AW), the latter serving as host wing for the installation. Berry Field and the 118 AW currently operate the C-130 International Training Center, an AETC activity in support of DoD Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of the C-130, training up to 150 international military C-130E and C-130H flight crew and maintenance students annually.[1 "
Sounds super awesome right? The Air National Guard might be something you want to check out! It's defiantly something I even considered.
3) "Even if you think you’re physically fit, you still need to prepare for Basic Training. You must meet the following fitness standards even before reporting to BMT."
Think you're ready? Don't be fooled! Hey, being trained for the Air National Guard is harder than it looks.
3) "In Basic Training, you'll learn the basics of Air Guard knowledge, as well as start the most intense fitness training of your life. Each week will focus on a new area to make you an elite Airman. You'll learn basic combat and survival skills, as well as how to communicate in the battlefield. You'll push your mental stamina to the limit and find out just how strong you really are when you face the ultimate obstacle course. Later, prepare yourself for an adrenaline rush where you'll test your new skills by going head-to-head with other enlistees in simulated hand-to-hand combat scenarios. All your preparation really gets tested in the Basic Expeditionary Airmen Skill Training. Finally, in week eight, you have made it! It's graduation week, and you have a lot to be proud of."
You think have what it takes to join today? Go talk to a recruiter! Maybe serving near you won't be so bad after all!
Sources:
1) "North Dakota Air National Guard Engineers Leave on 6-Month Deployment." North Dakota Air National Guard Engineers Leave on 6-Month Deployment. 2015. Dakota Air National Guard, Web. 17 Apr. 2015."
http://www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil/news/Pages/NDANGEngineersLeaveonDeployment.aspx
2) "Berry Field Air National Guard Base." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 17 Apr. 2015."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berry_Field_Air_National_Guard_Base
3) "Training." Life. U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD, 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2015."
https://www.goang.com/Life/Training
Very good, MOrgan. 10/10
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