Ask The Experts · 1310 WIBA (WIBA-AM)

All About Deployment with SFC Grant Soletski with the Wisconsin Army National Guard

April 11, 2026·16 min·1 clip

The Wisconsin Army National Guard was established in 1636, making it older than the nation it serves.

The segment opens with casual banter between the radio host and Sergeant Soletski about coffee and spring weather before settling into substantive content. Soletski provides background on the Wisconsin Army National Guard, noting its establishment in 1636 as the oldest military force in the US, predating the nation itself, which he says most people do not know. The Guard operates on a part-time schedule of roughly one weekend per month and two weeks in summer. Enlistment is open to people aged 17 to 42 who are in reasonable health. The recruiter process is described in detail: Soletski leads with casual conversation, asks medical screening questions, and goes through all details with no pressure, explicitly telling candidates at the start that he will ask if they want to join at the end but that saying no is fully acceptable. If someone declines, they receive a T-shirt and a standing invitation to return. Soletski emphasizes he wants mutual fit, not bodies: a bad fit wastes taxpayer money and his time. Deployment is identified as the biggest fear most recruits have. Soletski explains it is neither guaranteed nor inevitable; with a 5-year cycle, some soldiers go 20 years without deploying while others deploy four times. Job specialty determines the nature of any deployment; he gives examples of a cook deploying to perform cooking duties and an HR specialist who worked in a Dubai office. The singular common element across all deployments is going somewhere for a purpose. He clarifies that federal deployments are scheduled years in advance and known well ahead of time, while state activations for natural disasters like hurricanes can give soldiers 24 hours' notice. A rotating quick reaction force is always on standby for state calls. For the infantry deployment timeline specifically: informal notification comes mid-cycle, official go-ahead is given about 18 months out, buildup training occurs stateside, followed by months on location and a final demobilization month. Total duration is roughly 12 months. Employment protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act mean employers cannot legally penalize soldiers for Guard commitments, and Soletski reports he has never personally encountered a truly uncooperative employer. He closes with a message to parents, urging them not to discourage young people from even asking questions, pointing to the frequency with which middle-aged adults at county fairs tell him their top life regret is never having joined.

As heard by us

Deployment is framed as a real commitment, shaped by role, timing, and outcome rather than assumption.

The segment treats deployment as a practical matter, not a slogan. The sergeant makes the point that joining the Wisconsin Army National Guard is not casual, and he keeps the focus on time, cost, and the plain need to understand what the process actually asks of someone.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want the straight talk on Guard deployment timing and what it really means.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Ask The Experts