Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with guard

Coast Guard Reserves?

tryniti — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:26:20 -0800

What are the Reserves (specifically, the Coast Guard) really like? I am looking into the Coast Guard Reserves, and am curious if anyone has experience with military reserve programs.

I am most interested in the environmental protection and disaster relief aspects of the Coast Guard. I work as an environmental consultant in south Louisiana, and feel that being a part of the USCG Reserves will allow me to do more for my state and country and maybe gain valuable experience. Before I jump in and make an appointment with a recruiter, I thought I'd see if anyone might have some insight. I guess my main questions are:

1) What is being a reservist like (USCG specifically, but stories from any branch are also helpful)? What types of things are done on drill weekends?

2) How often are reservists called to active duty? Is there somewhere to find hard numbers on how often certain branches or divisions are called up?

3) For someone with an already-established career, what does the reserves have to offer other than extra cash?

4) I would most likely qualify for a 'straight-to-officer' type program. Any experience with these types of programs?

5) Anything else I should consider?

Are there any DVD copy protection utilities out there?

Apo11o — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 06:10:32 -0800

Is there a consumer software (preferably free) that copy protects dvds? This goes against much of what I stand for, but is there an application that will convert a home video DVD like a commercial DVD? Something that will still play in consumer DVD players even after encryption? I already make movies in NTSC format, but i sell my movies (I'm somewhat of an amateur movie maker) and I'd love a copy guard. Is there something out there?

Social Insecurity Phone Number

DragonBoy — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 11:51:01 -0800

Yesterday I spent two hours in line at the Social Security Office to get a new card for my son. Considering how long the wait was I can't believe the rules they had for waiting in line. Please help me understand the rational for not allowing people to use their mobile phones. The SSA guard on duty was also very active about enforcing the "No Cellular Phones" rule. I got told off for sending text messages and playing games on my phone. Other people were threatened with losing their place in line because they were making calls. No one was loud enough to bother others and really, the guard's enforcement of the rule made standing in line all the more miserable. Is this a violation of my rights to free speech? Can the SSA ban cell phones in their offices?

I have to go back to the SSA in a couple of weeks to update my card and before I do I'd like to know all the facts so I can be prepared for the overzealous guard.

My brother wants to join the National Guard. WTF?

TurkishGolds — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 07:06:21 -0800

My little brother just announced that he's seriously considering joining the National Guard. Help my family and I either a) discourage him, or b) make peace with his decision. He's 22 years old with no college education. For the past several years he's been bouncing around from one low-paying job to another. Albeit, he's been doing fun stuff like spending summers doing conservation work in Montana and winters working as a ski lift operator in Vermont.

He's always heard a different drummer and he's very impressionable. He's been spending A LOT of time with a recruiter and a friend of his who's passionate about the National Guard. I think that a lot of their influence shows in the e-mail from him that I've copy-and-pasted below.

I don't have a lot of specific knowledge about the National Guard to know whether or not the claims that he makes below are true. I don't know how to argue against what he's saying, but I'm anti-war, anti-bush, anti-violence so my knee-jerk reaction is to be terrified. I can't ever imagine making this life decision for myself. It scares me that this idea would even cross his mind. I have no idea how credible any of his claims are regarding the compensation and the option of avoiding deployment.

(aside: he has a history of drug-abuse problems and mental illness including hospitalization, but has been quite functional for some time.)

I am seriously thinking about joining the National Guard. If I did that, I would still live right here in Vermont and only have to serve 1 weekend a month, so I would still have time to go to school or work or anything else I need to do. I would learn all kinds of new skills, and I feel like it would greatly increase my confidence and responsibility. As far as being deployed is concerned, I talked to my friend who's in the guard about it for a long time and he said there is absolutely no way they can send me to the Middle East or anywhere else like that without my consent. He said that when they tried to deploy him, he refused and he didn't have to go to Iraq. If they do try to deploy me, which is unlikely at this point, I plan to either outright refuse, go to Canada, or get a psychologist to say that I am not mentally stable enough to go.
Everyone that they were going to send has already been sent, and they are actually sending people back now, and after this Iraq War the U.S. really doesn't have enough money to go and start another war, especially with Bush's approval rating being down to like 30-something now. Furthermore, I went to take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) and my scores were well over 100, almost perfect, good enough to qualify me to be an officer or anything I want to be. I spoke with the recruiter, and he recommended a Supply and Logistics job for me which is not a combat position. Basically I would just sit in front of a computer and keep track of my unit's supplies and equipment. Just for completing the training for this job, I would receive a bonus of 20 thousand dollars. I would get $4500 a year towards my education, $297 for every weekend that I serve, as well as an additional $200 bonus. Also, I would have Health and Dental Insurance provided for me for the rest of my life. I feel like this is an excellent opportunity for me to get my life back on track, go to college, and achieve success to the level that I have always been capable. I hope that this idea does not totally freak you out. I have not enlisted yet, and do not plan to enlist until I am good and ready. I would probably go to Basic Training down south this Summer, and then go on to Advanced Training, and possibly also look into the Mountain School.

Was the National Guard Federalized or Not?

tsarfan — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 22:08:22 -0800

Did the Gov. of Louisiana ask President Bush to federalize the National Guard or not? I hear conflicting opinoins on both sides. One the left, like for example today on Al Franken I heard that the Gov. asked the Pres to federalize the Guard and the next day he approved it. While on the right I heard that *because* the President wasn't given authority to go into New Orleans it would have been illegal for them to help those dying.

Which is the case? And please provide links. thanks!