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- > Additional Benefits
- Fly for Free
- Discount Shopping and More
- Life Insurance
- VA Home Loans
- Re-employment Benefits
- Federal Retirement Plan
- State Benefits
Additional Guard Benefits
Get discounts, privileges, insurance and more.
Fly for Free
Guard Soldiers can travel free on military planes when space is available. You can fly within and between the Continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico. Availability is based on a priority system. Learn more.
Discount Shopping and More
Guard and Families can enjoy privileges at military installations around the world, including tax-free discount shopping at any Military Exchange (department store) and commissary (grocery store). Other retail and lodging discounts are also available. Find out more.
Healthcare
The Guard cares about the health of Soldiers and their Families. Military members and their Families can purchase inexpensive health coverage from TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), for the top-quality healthcare they deserve. Your recruiter can offer additional details, or you can find out more through TRICARE.
Life Insurance
Low-cost life insurance plans are available for Guard Soldiers—up to $400,000. Family members are eligible for Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), which offers insurance to spouses and dependent children of Guard members insured under SGLI. Learn more.
Veterans Administration (VA) Home Loans
Guard Soldiers may be eligible for VA home loans with minimum or no down payment. Working through private lenders, such as banks, savings and loans, and mortgage companies, VA guarantees loans for homes up to a pre-determined amount and can also eliminate the need for private mortgage insurance. Get more information.
Re-employment Benefits
As a member of the Guard, you can be deployed on short notice. And by federal law, when you have to leave your job to serve your country, you’re assured of being able to come back to work when you return. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects your right to be re-employed in the same position upon returning from military service. Find out more.
Federal Retirement Plan
You probably won’t be thinking about retirement for many years, but think about this: The Guard can continue to pay you every month after you’ve finished serving. This is on top of any benefits from your civilian career and any other retirement funds you may have coming. Learn more.
Note: Army National Guard programs and benefits are subject to change. For the latest information, please contact your local recruiter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your total enlistment period will be eight years, but you can serve as little as three or six years, and spend the remainder in IRR (Individual Ready Reserve).
Learn moreAbsolutely. Your Guard service is only part time—just one weekend per month, and one two-week period each year.
See how the Guard helps with school.Recruits need to meet certain standards of height, weight, age, fitness and education in order to enlist.
Learn about the Guard's eligibility requirements.Yes. Guard members can be mobilized to protect and defend America in battle domestically or overseas.
Learn more about about training.MEPS stands for Military Entrance Processing Station, METS stands for Military Entrance Testing Site.
Learn moreThe Guard is a military branch that serves both state and federal governments, at home and overseas.
Find out more about the Guard.Guard pay is based on your rank and the number of years you've served, along with incentives like hazardous-duty pay.
Contact a representative to learn more.Your pay depends on a few different factors, but you won't make less than $183 for every weekend you drill.
Find out more about Guard pay.Different states may offer commissioning bonuses for critical skill positions. Please check with your local Guard representative for current bonus information.
Learn more about becoming an officer.Yes, you will be paid for every day you work.
Find out about Annual Training pay.There are different ways to become an officer. If you’re heading to college, the ROTC program is the way to go.
View how to become an officer.The training period varies for each job.
Learn moreFor certain career specialties, particularly medical professions, the Guard will reimburse student loans.
Contact a Guard representative.Find jobs in your area on our Job Board.
Learn moreIn two major ways: getting promotions and activating retirement benefits.
Learn more from a Guard representative.If you've completed Army or Marine Corps Basic Training, you won't need to repeat BCT. Most other prior service personnel will need to attend BCT (except USAF and USN Special Operations personnel). Your recruiter has details.
Talk to a Guard representative.Yes, provided you can complete 20 years of total military service by age 60.
Learn more about retirement benefits.As a National Guard Soldier, you get good pay and great benefits, and continue building toward a military retirement—while serving your country in a part-time status.
Learn moreYou are eligible for this benefit only once in your career. Once it has ended, it cannot be reinstated, even with a new enlistment contract.
Learn more.Your Chapter 1606 GI Bill benefit is suspended while you are AGR. You may need to extend your enlistment to have it reinstated once you return as a traditional drilling Soldier.
Learn more.Eligibility for Chapter 1607 is based on Title 10 Active Duty periods. The Border Mission is Title 32 and not considered a mobilization eligible for Chapter 1607.
Learn more.If you are released from Active Duty prior to completing 90 days due to an illness or injury in the line of duty, you will receive Chapter 1607 benefits at a 40 percent rate.
Learn more.You cannot receive payment from more than one benefit program at a time.
Learn more.Pay Calculator
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Your estimated total for the first year.
*DetailsPlease understand that these calculations are only estimates and that a recruiter will have the most up-to-date information about benefits.
Because of the broad range of pay options, the Pay Calculator does not apply to Medical Professional Officers.
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Note: Army National Guard programs and benefits are subject to change. For the latest information, please contact your local recruiter.
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