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Guard or Reserve: Army National Guard
For more than 360 years, the citizen soldiers of the Army National Guard have rallied around the
flag when their country needed them. Not only has the Guard played key roles
in every conflict in United States history but also has done its part in responding
to natural disasters and civil emergencies.
For more on general Guard benefits and pay, see the Guard
Help Pages.
Guidelines
If you are interested in joining the Army National Guard, you must: · Be between
the ages of 18 and 35 (you can be 17 with a parent's signature). Prior service
age limits differ. · Have a High School diploma although in some instances GED
certificates can be accepted. · Pass a physical. · Take the Armed
Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which will determine career
paths available for consideration. To learn how to get a good score on the ASVAB,
go to the ASVAB section.
Education Benefits and Skills Training
Montgomery G.I. Bill for Selected Reserve - The MGIB-SR allows you attend school full-time while serving in the Reserve or National Guard and get over $10,000 for school in addition to your paycheck and any other educational benefits you may be eligible to receive. For more on the GI Bill for Selected Reservists, go to the Reserve GI Bill section.
Reserve Officer Training Corps - Hundreds of colleges and universities offer Army ROTC as an elective course for college credit. Through ROTC, the Army offers merit-based scholarships. In addition to tuition and fees, the Army pays ROTC students a monthly allowance for living expenses. There is no military commitment for the first year in ROTC. The leadership and management training ROTC provides can serve as the foundation for future success in either a military or civilian career.
Tuition Assistance - The Army National Guard offers you tuition assistance.
You can be reimbursed up to 75% of tuition costs for up to 15 credit hours per
fiscal year.
Loan Repayment Program - The Guard can help soldiers pay off student
loans, if they attended schools on an approved Perkins, Stafford or other Department
of Education Guaranteed Student Loan. Soldiers can qualify to have their loan
repaid at the rate of 15% of the loan for each year of reserve duty, up to a
maximum loan repayment of $20,000, depending on Military Occupational Specialties.
Education and Learning Facilities - Most Army posts have education counselors
who help soldiers identify their goals and determine how best to reach them
within the Army Continuing Education System. Counseling services include academic
and vocational planning, testing, college application processing and financial
aid advice.
Foreign Languages - Most Army Education Centers on major posts have language
labs where you can study new languages. The Army also has Linguistics Schools
that offer more in-depth, specialized training to people interested in pursuing
military assignments that require language skills.
State-Specific Benefits - National Guard members may also receive additional
tuition and education benefits, depending on what state you are in. Be sure
to ask your local recruiter about state-specific education benefits.
College Credit-by-Exam - Members of the Guard can also take advantage of free College Level Examination Program tests (CLEP). For every test you pass on a particular subject, you can earn up to six transferable college credits.
Promotions and Career Path
The Army National Guard bases its promotions on a system called: Select, Train, Promote and Assign.
Prior Service - The prior service career path for enlisted in the Army National Guard is just like that of the regular Army from ranks E-1 through E-9. Whatever branch of the service, the Army National Guard will take into consideration your job skill and rank at your time of discharge. In many cases, if you were discharged with a rank of E-6 or below, the Guard can enlist you at the same rank.
If you are prior service enlisted wishing to gain a commission then the Army National Guard, you are encouraged to pursue advanced leadership roles. The option of State Officer Candidate School, which allows candidates to continue civilian employment during this period, is also available. Training is usually held one weekend a month and during two, 14 day periods usually in the summer months. The course is for one year and the curriculum is very demanding.
For the Officer Candidate School Enlistment Option you must:
· Have already completed 60 semester hours from an accredited college prior to enrollment.
· Be able to apply for this program prior to your 29th birthday. (There are a few exceptions for people between the ages of 30-34)
· If you are an officer your prior-service experience and leadership can also be put to use in the federal and state missions of the Army National Guard.
The Army National Guard Experience
Lifestyle - In the Army National Guard, you can get training in career
skills, educational opportunities, adventure and excitement, money and a feeling
of satisfaction from serving your country. Since the Army National Guard is
local, you also can get satisfaction in helping your neighbors and community.
If you are 17 years old and in high school, you can still join with your parent's consent. Basic training and specialized individual training can be arranged during summer breaks so as to not interfere with your school or college career.
Obligation - In the Army National Guard, you serve one weekend a month
and two weeks a year. Your initial training will be broken into two parts. The
first part is basic training where you learn how to be a soldier. Here, you
receive instruction in military courtesies and history, as well as solving field
problems and qualifying with an M-16A2. The second part consists of specialized
training in your chosen occupational skill. These two parts can be split so
you can do the first part one summer and the second part the next summer.
Drills - A drill consists of two days of training per month. Your pay
will also be adjusted automatically for cost-of-living increases. You'll get
pay increases for every two years of accumulated service and may earn special
duty pay. To calculate your drill pay, visit the Drill
Calculator.
Annual Training - Annual training in the Army National Guard is held
for two weeks per year. Depending on the unit and your specialty you could be
stationed at a shore location, with an aviation squadron or aboard ship.
Travel - As a member of the Army National Guard you will have the opportunity
to travel both on duty and off. You also qualify for military Space Available
travel within and between the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam
and Puerto Rico. For more on military travel options and benefits, see the Travel
Center.
Base Privileges - As a member you can access to all recreational facilities
on military bases such as gyms, tennis courts and libraries. You and your family
can also enjoy unlimited access shopping at any Military Exchange nationwide.
Army National Guard members and their families are also entitled to use base
commissaries for up to 24 days annually, plus any days spent on active duty.
For more on recreational and family benefits, see the Guard
Family and Individual Help page.
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