This..

[JesterDTM]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna skip all of that Weekend Warrior crap. I like being able ot tella Soldier to do something, and it gets done with respect. My wife thinks that I'm too hard on Privates because I don't say "Please" after telling them to do something.

Please....

One of the hardest transitions I had to make going from Military to Civilian. You don't tell a soldier please.. Please will get you killed in combat.

However, in civilian life, please definately goes along way....

[gr0n]

Having started off in the civilian world, joining the Air National Guard actually worked out well for me.  I was fine with the structure and respect that was required in Basic and in Tech School, but now that I'm doing this just one weekend a month at my base I really enjoy the laid back atmosphere.  Flightline safety and TO's (technical orders...essentially a Haynes manual for F-16s and other systems) are still hugely enforced but you get a really civilian vibe even though we're walking around in uniforms and do formations occasionally, awards ceremonies, etc.

To each their own...but yeah...alot of the active duty guys (even from the Air Force) have differing opinions on the Guard lifestyle.  Some really enjoy it...some would prefer to still be active.

-gr0n