Pledging While In The Military

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Having a full time job and taking a full course load is bad enough. Then add the time for pledge or fraternity activities and you are talking damn near impossible. And active duty doesn't really correspond to having a full time job if you think about it.

It can, depending on what your job is.

I'm not saying it's easy, but it's obviously been done.

[ree-Xi]

We had a sister who was in the reserves. She had to do stuff one weekend a month and the summer. It didn't interfere with much. We were so proud of her!

[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 als463

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?

Did you even read my post? Cause if you had... you would have seen that I am currently in the Guard. SO, I have seen how things on both sides of the fence work. The Guard and Reserve cannot even remotely compare to Active. They just cant, based on the obvious fact, you can do a heck of alot more in a one month on Active duty than you can on Guard.

Secondly, what unit do you work in that you can "volunteer" to deploy? I only volunteered once and thats when I signed my enlstment papers. Whenever my unit (82nd Airborne) got called to go overseas we went. So, i never had to "outright volunteered for some of that "hard work" overseas"... I got the call to go, and went without question.

Lastly, i have respect for every branch of service and component. Yet, I can honestly say having been Active, and currently being in the Guard (for 2 years now)... You really cant compare the two. And thats not being pompous.. thats telling it how it is.

[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.

[als463]

Originally Posted by c130jumper53

Did you even read my post? Cause if you had... you would have seen that I am currently in the Guard. SO, I have seen how things on both sides of the fence work. The Guard and Reserve cannot even remotely compare to Active. They just cant, based on the obvious fact, you can do a heck of alot more in a one month on Active duty than you can on Guard.

Secondly, what unit do you work in that you can "volunteer" to deploy? I only volunteered once and thats when I signed my enlstment papers. Whenever my unit (82nd Airborne) got called to go overseas we went. So, i never had to "outright volunteered for some of that "hard work" overseas"... I got the call to go, and went without question.

Lastly, i have respect for every branch of service and component. Yet, I can honestly say having been Active, and currently being in the Guard (for 2 years now)... You really cant compare the two. And thats not being pompous.. thats telling it how it is.

1.) Apparently you haven't been in the guard long enough to know that while you can get called up to serve overseas, there are some units which try to get soldiers who REALLY WANT TO go over, first. I was involuntarily transferred to a unit in Maryland (as a Reservist) to go with them. There are times, now that it isn't the BEGINNING of the war, where commanders will try and get people to volunteer to go to Afghanistan or Iraq. Maybe you should "check it out" before you say that it can't happen.

2.) You say that you have respect for every branch of the service-sure seems that way. Yes, you CAN compare the two-to an extent. No, I didn't have to wake up EVERY MORNING to go to PT or get weekend passes because I wasn't active duty BUT I DID HAVE TO complete basic training and AIT the same as you! I did the same Military Intelligence training as all the active duty members-so, please don't discount my service because I was not active.

3.) Just because you WERE active, don't act like you are better than the other soldiers in your unit who are in the guard. Of course, you won't admit to it but I have seen guys who were once active that are now in the reserves or the guard and they act like they are smarter or better than the guard soldiers. Those of us who didn't go active duty made different choices then those of you who did. Don't try and make it seem like WE made the wrong choice. There really is NO wrong choice.

I still stand behind my belief that your comments came off as pretentious.

[c130jumper53]

Originally Posted by als463

1.) Apparently you haven't been in the guard long enough to know that while you can get called up to serve overseas, there are some units which try to get soldiers who REALLY WANT TO go over, first. I was involuntarily transferred to a unit in Maryland (as a Reservist) to go with them. There are times, now that it isn't the BEGINNING of the war, where commanders will try and get people to volunteer to go to Afghanistan or Iraq. Maybe you should "check it out" before you say that it can't happen.

Besides the Air Force ive never really heard of the Army (Reserve/Guard) asking its reservist if it wants to deploy. I have heard of soldiers going through an intra-state transfer of units to get into a unit thats deploying. I know on active, you go when your unit is slotted to go... If your units not going... wait until they do. lol

Originally Posted by als463

2.) You say that you have respect for every branch of the service-sure seems that way. Yes, you CAN compare the two-to an extent. No, I didn't have to wake up EVERY MORNING to go to PT or get weekend passes because I wasn't active duty BUT I DID HAVE TO complete basic training and AIT the same as you! I did the same Military Intelligence training as all the active duty members-so, please don't discount my service because I was not active.

2.) I do have respect for every sevice and component. Just because I say I cant stand those Chair Force Mother Truckers because they dont do jack, or just because I say Marines dont know how to fight, they just know how to Charge. Or that the Guard/Reserve is the JV team. Its called Interservice rivalry Your always going to say your association is better, but even the dumbest Marines know that without those support units, nothing gets done.

Concerning the guard/reseve, I never argued the point that you dont go through the same training... I mean everyone goes through Basic, AIT, and any other MOS skill schools, however how many NTC's, JRTC's, JFEX's, ORS's, DRB's (1 through 9), does the average guard unit go through a year? Sure you do your 2 weeks annual training, and have about 24 days of training a year... but Thats a JRTC and a JFEX. So, my point is the amount of training and the quantity of proficiency training you go through, is minimal.

Originally Posted by als463

3.) Just because you WERE active, don't act like you are better than the other soldiers in your unit who are in the guard. Of course, you won't admit to it but I have seen guys who were once active that are now in the reserves or the guard and they act like they are smarter or better than the guard soldiers. Those of us who didn't go active duty made different choices then those of you who did. Don't try and make it seem like WE made the wrong choice. There really is NO wrong choice.

Not once did i say... "I'm better because i was active." Being on Active Duty has nothing to do with the quality of leadership or soldiers in a unit. However the Proficiency level of a guard unit will be, well... going to the range once or twice a year just dont cut it.

I also never said their was a right or wrong choice... these are all assumptions you are making because you feel that with my comments i made your time in service diminutive. Sure i have done alot in my active service... but ive also had alot more time do stuff. So dont take that as a personl slight against you. It not a slight at all. Lastly, going Guard or Reserve is a helluva a lot more admirable than doing nothing at all. So, if you want a thank you for your service, there you go.

Originally Posted by als463

I still stand behind my belief that your comments came off as pretentious.

Hey, thats your belief... and you should know better than most, thats one of the reasons you and I joined in the first place. To defend America and her rights. Plus ive been called worse, so no sweat of my back!

[epchick]

Originally Posted by c130jumper53

2.) I do have respect for every sevice and component. Just because I say I cant stand those Chair Force Mother Truckers because they dont do jack, or just because I say Marines dont know how to fight, they just know how to Charge. Or that the Guard/Reserve is the JV team. Its called Interservice rivalry Your always going to say your association is better, but even the dumbest Marines know that without those support units, nothing gets done.

You might want to go ahead and look up what the word "respect" means because it is not the same as "interservice rivalry." This post just shows that you're a jerk. And you were in the 82nd?

*wishing I had a shaking my head emoticon*

[als463]

Originally Posted by epchick

You might want to go ahead and look up what the word "respect" means because it is not the same as "interservice rivalry." This post just shows that you're a jerk. And you were in the 82nd?

*wishing I had a shaking my head emoticon*

epchick....hahaha-that's why I love you! You said what I was thinking. Thank you!