People join the military for different reasons. Some join the Marines for the uniform, the Navy to be at sea or the Air Force to fly, but I chose a part of the Army. The Army is a unique branch of service because there are three different internal branches of the Army: the United States Army, the United States Army Reserves and the Army National Guard. Each of these internal branches has its own unique features, and the three combine to make the United States Army the largest service branch within the Department of Defense.
When I was 16, I started speaking with recruiters from each branch of the military. I grew up with a single mom raising three young girls, and being an ambitious young lady, I decided it was in my best interest to find a way to pay for school myself. I made decent grades, played sports, did plenty of community service and could easily have gone to a community college. However, I never felt that was the life for me. I needed to pave my own road, and I knew the National Guard was the way to do it.
I pleaded with my mom at the age of 16 to sign the papers allowing me to enlist. I explained to her all the benefits of the National Guard: tuition assistance, bonuses, the Montgomery GI Bill, job experience and more. After a few hours of persuasion, my mother agreed the National Guard was a good choice for me, and she signed her name, allowing me to enlist on my 17th birthday.
A few months later I graduated from high school and went to Basic Combat Training (BCT). Basic Training came naturally to me. I remember walking with my rifle on long road marches thinking, “There isn’t anywhere in the world I would rather be.” Advanced Individual Training (AIT) followed Basic. At AIT I learned how to be a Human Resources Specialist. I graduated and was in Recruiting school within seven months.
I loved the National Guard so much that I wanted to share it with everyone. I spent a few years recruiting young people like myself to join the National Guard. The more time I spent in the Guard, the more I realized that people join the military for many different reasons: adventure, money, education and training. When the time came for me to make the decision to stay in the National Guard or take what I had learned and move on, I decided to stay in for one more year while I figured out what I wanted to do. In that year, I ended up on a voluntary deployment to Iraq.
It was not until I found myself in another country, with thousands of people who all believed in one common cause, that I realized why I belonged in the National Guard. I joined the Guard because of what I wanted from it, but I stayed in the National Guard because I found a home in my fellow Soldiers. Finding that home gave me the strength to want to give back to my community, country and comrades. Serving in the military unites Soldiers. It is a powerful bond that is unbroken, and I am eternally grateful I had the honor of standing beside my fellow Army National Guard Soldiers when I was needed. Citizens join the National Guard, and Soldiers stay.
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 62.
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.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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