“Duty, Honor, Country†are more than just words to you? Well, there’s only one way to find out if you’ve got what it takes to be a member of an elite team of warriors.“Do I need a GED or High School diploma?â€. If you do not have a GED or a HS diploma, the Guard can help. The Army National Guard’s GED Plus Program provides free training and testing services that will enable you to successfully obtain your GED. Find out more.The Job Market can be tough for new entries. You want your children to have the best possible chance at a good start in a good career. Guard service will give them the real-world experience, confidence and job skills he or she needs to get ahead.
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.
Education Benefits and Skills Training
Montgomery G.I. Bill - The MGIB allows you attend school full-time while serving in the Army National Guard and get up to $272 a month in addition to your Army National Guard paycheck and any other Army National Guard educational benefits you may be eligible to receive. For more on the GI Bill for Guard members.
Tuition Assistance - The Army National Guard offers you tuition assistance. You can be reimbursed up to 100% 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.
Credits for Experience - 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 earn three transferable college credits.
DANTES - You can also pursue college and university independent study courses through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) as a member of the Reserve. The program is comprised of over 1200 colleges and universities nationwide which help sevicemembers transfer credits from school to school and get college credits for military training and experience.
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.
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The Soldier's Creed:
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and
live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
Thinking about joining the military? Get the scoop, get in the know, and make an informed decision.
Step 1: Learn about the military
Find out military basics: what they do, where they go, and who they are.
Step 2: Decide if you're ready
Get a handle on the basics of joining: eligibility, benefits information, and branch missions.
Step 3: Choose the right path
Find the best point of entry for you: compare services, consider guard and reserve services, compare enlisted vs. officer, and look at your job choices.
Step 4: Meet the recruiter
How do you handle meeting recruiters? Find out questions and answers, secrets to visiting a recruiter, documents you'll need, incentives and more.
Step 5: Ace the ASVAB
If you will be enlisting, you need to ace the ASVAB! Our special ASVAB section will help you get the best score possible.
Step 6: Get the best job
You want to join - now make sure you will be doing what you like! Find an interest matcher, tips on finding the right job, and overviews of all jobs in each branch here.
Step 7: Complete the process
Let us take out the fear and confusion about MEPS: find out about medical conditions, waivers, how to handle legal problems, and more.
Step 8: Raise your right hand
Your about to swear in: find out about the oaths you'll take, the general orders you need to learn, military ranks, and more.
Step 9: Get ready for bootcamp
Are you ready to be challenged? Get the skinny on how to prepare yourself mentally and physically.
Step 10: You're in! Make the most of it.
What happens after boot camp? How do you make a success of yourself? Find out tips and get advice from those who have been there.
Army National Guard History
The National Guard, the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and one of the nation's longest enduring institutions, celebrated its 369th birthday in 2005. The National Guard traces its history back to the earliest English colonies in North America. Responsible for their own defense, the colonists drew on English military tradition and organized their able-bodied male citizens into militias. The citizen-Soldiers who make up the National Guard have fought in every major American war since 1637. War has changed a great deal since 1637, and today's Guard must be prepared to fight in a high-technology environment, using complex weapons and equipment. The men and women of today's Guard are ready to become full-time professional soldiers if the need arises, whether for federal or state missions just as they did in 1637.