Pledging While In The Military

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by LaneSig

eta: The comparison of joining the Masons while active duty to joining a GLO while active duty is apples to lugwrenches.

This made me chuckle lol

[als463]

Originally Posted by jessehr3

Would you pledge a fraternity or sorority if you were in the military?

Yes. I would and I have. I'm a Penn State Phi Mu and I'm proud that my girls accepted the fact that I was in the military at the time I pledged and I had already served overseas in Iraq.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by als463

Yes. I would and I have. I'm a Penn State Phi Mu and I'm proud that my girls accepted the fact that I was in the military at the time I pledged and I had already served overseas in Iraq.

Were you active duty at the time? Because that is what the OP was asking about. Some of the brothers I am closest to are Guard or Reserves.

[als463]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Were you active duty at the time? Because that is what the OP was asking about. Some of the brothers I am closest to are Guard or Reserves.

I was in the Reserves. I drove 4 hours (one way) one weekend a month to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. I don't really see the difference because as a Guard or Reserves, you have the option be called up at any time. I had come back from deployment less than a year when I rushed and there was a chance for me to go back. In fact, I was told that I might get pulled out of Penn State to go back over (as I was rushing).

For what it is worth, I think that a lot of people underestimate the guard or reserves. I had to do the same exact training as my active duty friends.

[c130jumper53]

Hey guys,

Seeing as how im former active duty (6 years in Ft. Bragg) and am currently National Guard (my drill station is 2 hours away). I think i might have some good info on this subject.

If you are active duty... You have absolutely no time to pledge. Period. Active duty, you are a soldier 365/7/24. Monday through Friday from 530 am to about 1700-1900 at night, you are doing your job skill. Saturdays and Sundays, your too burned out to even remotely think about dealing with some Pledge Educator telling you what to do.

However, i went through my pledgeship while i was in the Guard. And while i will never say that being in the Guard and Reserve isnt being a real soldier... Guardies and Reservists, really have no clue of the time commit to active duty. Granted in the Guard you are a soldier 365/7/24, you really only play soldier 24 days a year, 2 weeks a year, and about 12 hours a day. A fraction of active duty.

So... It is completely possible to pledge a GLO while being a Guard or Reservist, Being Active, its not even gonna come across your mind.

(As for doing the same exact training, On active, I spent 27 months deployed to Iraq, 30 months in a constant state of training, and 15 months, recovering/recuperating. You factor that into the Guard/Reserve training, and Reservist may do the same, but the amount of time spent on each task is greatly reduced for Reservists)

[als463]

Originally Posted by c130jumper53

Hey guys,

Seeing as how im former active duty (6 years in Ft. Bragg) and am currently National Guard (my drill station is 2 hours away). I think i might have some good info on this subject.

If you are active duty... You have absolutely no time to pledge. Period. Active duty, you are a soldier 365/7/24. Monday through Friday from 530 am to about 1700-1900 at night, you are doing your job skill. Saturdays and Sundays, your too burned out to even remotely think about dealing with some Pledge Educator telling you what to do.

However, i went through my pledgeship while i was in the Guard. And while i will never say that being in the Guard and Reserve isnt being a real soldier... Guardies and Reservists, really have no clue of the time commit to active duty. Granted in the Guard you are a soldier 365/7/24, you really only play soldier 24 days a year, 2 weeks a year, and about 12 hours a day. A fraction of active duty.

So... It is completely possible to pledge a GLO while being a Guard or Reservist, Being Active, its not even gonna come across your mind.

(As for doing the same exact training, On active, I spent 27 months deployed to Iraq, 30 months in a constant state of training, and 15 months, recovering/recuperating. You factor that into the Guard/Reserve training, and Reservist may do the same, but the amount of time spent on each task is greatly reduced for Reservists)

Wow...You sure are a pompous asshat. What makes you feel superior to people who were in the guard or reserves? I'm sorry I chose to attend college instead of go active duty. Wait-I'm NOT sorry. Yes, we do the SAME EXACT training as you. Oh, and another thing-I'm willing to bet you outright volunteered for some of that "hard work" overseas that you claim you did. Yes, we all "volunteered" but I've seen far too many people choose to go to war over being with their family. Before you use the whole "patriotic" reasoning-don't try that with me. I was in the military. I've seen too many people with crap jobs and little civilian skills try and say they were being "patriotic" so they raised their hand and volunteered when their commander asked who would WANT to go. Many of those people did it because they needed the money or they wanted that combat patch.

You really need to get over yourself and have respect for ALL the branches of the service (to include guard and reserve). My boyfriend was active duty and I respect the active duty force, but don't come on here and act superior because you chose to go active duty. I'm curious, where did you attend college after going active duty?

[Senusret I]

Alumni chapter, so a little different, but my line brother was technically in active duty when we became Alphas.

He was a recruiter, though. So I can see what people mean when they say it depends on the job.

[Boodleboy322]

Being that I'm prior Active Duty I would like to chime in on this.

It really depends on your duty assignment. There are several programs out there for enlisted and/or officers that allow you to go back to school full-time while on active duty. One example is the old Seaman to Admiral's Program that Admiral Jeremy Boorda began in the Navy. The program allowed an active duty sailor to go back to school full-time while still drawing in all base pay, BAH and benefits. Basically, your duty assignment was to go to school. I believe that you where still required to check in with a military installation once a month during your time at school. Upon completion of your degree you owed a set number of years back to the Navy as an officer. I have heard of several deviations of this program through the years including Graduate programs that allow officers to do something similar.

In this case, you would most certainly have the time to commit to pledging a fraternity if you so desire. When I pledged Phi Mu Alpha I had 4 years of Naval experience under my belt and it was the greatest experience for me. The Navy taught me a great deal of leadership. I was able to exercise that in my fraternal experience in college and bleed it into my current career in Banking/Finance. It is true that there are lots of similarities between the US Armed Forces and a fellowship of fraternal bonds. Combined they both make you stronger and better.

Fraternal Regards,

Boodleboy322

[c130jumper53]

Originally Posted by Boodleboy322

Being that I'm prior Active Duty I would like to chime in on this.

It really depends on your duty assignment. There are several programs out there for enlisted and/or officers that allow you to go back to school full-time while on active duty. One example is the old Seaman to Admiral's Program that Admiral Jeremy Boorda began in the Navy. The program allowed an active duty sailor to go back to school full-time while still drawing in all base pay, BAH and benefits. Basically, your duty assignment was to go to school. I believe that you where still required to check in with a military installation once a month during your time at school. Upon completion of your degree you owed a set number of years back to the Navy as an officer. I have heard of several deviations of this program through the years including Graduate programs that allow officers to do something similar.

In this case, you would most certainly have the time to commit to pledging a fraternity if you so desire. When I pledged Phi Mu Alpha I had 4 years of Naval experience under my belt and it was the greatest experience for me. The Navy taught me a great deal of leadership. I was able to exercise that in my fraternal experience in college and bleed it into my current career in Banking/Finance. It is true that there are lots of similarities between the US Armed Forces and a fellowship of fraternal bonds. Combined they both make you stronger and better.

Fraternal Regards,

Boodleboy322

The Army has a similiar program called Green to Gold. I dont know too much about your program, but G2G you are in yours college ROTC program.

[c130jumper53]

Lol... your assumptions are quite humorous.