National Guard officer vs Active Duty enlisted?

Look partner, you have pretty much answered your own question. Based on the 2nd paragraph, you want to become a military officer and only considering enlisting to get active duty experience. I am a retired senior Marine Corps officer who started out as enlisted. I can personally tell you that the experience you seek is not to be had by enlisting.

As an officer, you begin as a leader. As an enlisted, you are a follower. Different responsibilities and functions.

You spent your time in college for a reason. Don't change the reason. It is not too late to drop out of Army ROTC and apply for Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class (PLC). If you are a Sophomore, apply for regular PLC - two 6 week summers between Soph - Jr year and Jr-Sr year OR one 10 week summer between Jr-Sr year. This will give you a chance at a commission and active duty - probably the best chance considering the impending draw down of force structure for all military services. Other option is to apply to the Navy and Air Force - both taking force reduction hits but if you are in a technical major such as engineering and have a 3.0 average, good chance to be accepted.

Comment about the money picture - if this is why you want to join the military - your priorities are screwed up! NG is a reserve outfit that falls under state governors. You are paid for one weekend a month (4 days worth of pay) drill period and two weeks a year for training activation. That's it unless you do some extra "training" time - even that is limited by law (Title X, USC). You HAVE to work at a civilian job to make ends meet. There is a short active duty period for NG officers that involve Officer Training and then MOS training with a normal year or two for MOS proficiency (this is what is being curtailed as it has at the end of all wars). "Nature of the work" is no factor to determine NG officer pay - all officers and enlisted are paid on the same pay schedule that is based on rank and years of service. Only exception is hazardous duty pay or specialty pay (few get this beyond aviators).

Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps-Retired (Been there and done that - you can too. Additionally, brother SSG in Tenn NG and have HS friends who retired from NG as majors.)

EDIT: Since you are in the NG now, might be a complication; however, suggest talk to an Officer Selection Officer for the other Services about your situation. I have known other Marine Corps officers who were in your shoes at the end of Vietnam who were denied active duty commissions after ROTC. The Army shortchanged them so they had reason to "jump ship" and join another Service. All did well in the Corps. Hmmmm, I recall two Army officers over the years who were Reservists from ROTC and denied active duty Army officer slots. Somehow they found openings for regular Army and were brought on active duty - one later retired. I believe they had to change branches - not sure the process though. Assuming you have already checked this out, but if not, suggest you consider it as well - talk to an Army Officer Recruiting Officer (guess that is their title) about your situation.

Suggest start your inquiries sooner rather than later. Going from enlisted to officer associated to transferring to another military service is much easier than enlisted to enlisted. As I noted, I have been there to include a 9 month stint as an Active drilling Marine Corps Reservist while in college after completing a 4 year hitch with combat duty. I checked out the other three Services before coming back into the Corps as an officer - I was accepted by all without any issue related to my enlisted Reserve status.

Take the reserve or guard commission then volunteer for deployments or other active duty opportunities.

I have met reservists who have been activated almost non stop from 9-11 until now because they keep asking for more.

Good Luck

Go active enlisted finish your degree drop your OCS packet. Side note you should have done reserves if your were doing ROTC you would have been guaranteed an active duty commission.

Not if you do SMP in with the reserves. If you graduate you have a choice to stay reserve or go active as an officer.

NoQuestion,

I believe that it depends on your performance academically as well as with PT tests for active duty slots.

I think you should stay as an officer because you would most likely regret your decision for the rest of your life when you're older and wiser and taking orders from your classmates.

However, I totally would respect your decision to go active.