The National Guard Technician Program is responsible for organizing, administering, instructing, and training Soldiers. The program is also responsible for the maintenance of equipment for the entire Army National Guard. Technicians can be assigned to positions in Human Resources, Aviation Facilities, Ground Equipment Maintenance, Logistics Management, Facilities Management, Soldier Training Sites, and Property and even Financial supporting areas!
Army National Guard Techs can be either Dual Status or Non-Dual Status technicians. Dual Status technicians are federal civilian employees and are assigned to organize, administer, or train Guard members while maintaining membership in the National Guard. As Citizen Soldiers, these techs provide continuity and a greater depth and breadth of civilian skills to their units in their respective states whom they work for.
Dual Status ARNG technicians are employees of the Department of Army or Department of the Air Force. These technicians are required to maintain military membership in the National Guard in order to retain employment. However, unlike other Federal employees, the State Adjutant General has the authority to affect employment and is the level of final appeal for most personnel actions. With few exceptions, an ARNG technician enjoys the same benefits, privileges and rights as other federal employees. If selected as a National Guard Technician, you become a federal employee covered by the National Guard Technician Act of 1968 (32 USC 709, Public Law 90-486). Because of this law, you are referred to as a military technician.
Remember, your primary mission as an ARNG technician is to provide day-to-day continuity in the operation and training of Army and Air National Guard units…which to me, isn’t a bad way to make a living. Here is a link to help you begin the application process if you are interested:
If you’ve ever spent time as a National Guard Dual Technician, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment to tell us what your experience was like.
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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This sounds like a really neat opportunity. I read elsewhere on your site that someone in this position can earn TWO pensions: one from the technician position, and one from the military. That is absolutely wonderful given that many civilian jobs nowadays do not even offer one pension. If someone really loves doing this work, working until the age of sixty (when the average retirement age is actually higher) may not be a burden at all.
For some reason, not sure why, I was under the impression that members of the National Guard were similar to members of the reserves. What I mean to say is that I’ve always thought these two groups were comprised of citizen soldiers that dedicate a weekend a month, two weeks per year, to the protection of our borders.
After reading this, however, I see that I was sorely misinformed, which is why I’m glad to know that there are some really exciting job opportunities available for those who qualify.
Both the USAR and ARNG have some things in common, but there are some major differences too.
Rachel, what a lot of the full timers forget is that their job is to provide continuity for the M Day Soldiers. There is a large contingency that comes only one weekend a month. I’ve been on both sides of the fence and I miss being full time, because I was privy to a lot more information and continuity. You need to make sure all lines of communication are open with the M Day so they don’t feel left out or confused.
For four years, I was a non-dual status (competitive) technician (most dual status jobs are also known as ‘excepted’ service positions), and while my position didn’t have any upward mobility, I miss it a lot since I’ve left. I value my experiences that I gained while I had my job, I was a GS-9 right out of college, and only a SPC at the time I got hired. I got a significant amount of autonomy in my job, and for a junior leader, that was phenomenal experience for me.
Sounds like you got some good experience right out of college, Candace. Good for you.
Chuck
Great post, Justin. I served with many, many Soldiers who were part of the dual technician program. Some of them loved it because of the two paychecks and double retirement. Most of these folks had better promotion opportunities compared to their AGR counterparts. On the flip side of the coin, many complained because their AGR counterpart normally made A LOT more money than they did.
Personally, I like the idea of having people assigned to units they support and doing military stuff on a daily basis, just like their Active Duty counterparts. The major downside as I see it is that you have to serve until you are 60. That’s a long time! It works for some folks, but isn’t for everyone.
Chuck
I agree, Chuck. It seems like if you can’t get AGR or ADOS, dual tech is the way to go. But, like you said, the pay isn’t as much and you have to work a LOT longer to get retirement. It may be for some, but not me. I would like the experience you would get from it though. For example, our incoming S3 actually works as a technician for the FTIG Operations as the OIC. As an S3, that is good experience to bring to the table…
The experience is probably what helps them the most. But the idea of having to stick around until you are 60 does not appeal to me at all. Not when an AGR can retire at 38 and move on to something else.