Montgomery G.I. Bill - The MGIB allows you attend school full-time while serving in the
Reserve and get up to $272 a month in addition to your Reserve paycheck and any other
Reserve educational benefits you may be eligible to receive.

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 worth over
$50,000. 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.

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.


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.
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,  

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  .