How long are you committed to the national guard

Each branch of the service has its own unique requirements for active duty recruits. Some branches require far more in the physical departments than others the Marine Corps is the best example but all branches have some form of required physical discipline. All branches of active duty service require some form of basic training, which helps new recruits come up to the physical standards while learning military order and discipline.

Active duty military service is a full-time, job and the Department of Defense may assign its active duty forces anywhere in the world. Joining as an active duty member means signing a legally binding contract that obligates the member to a minimum service commitment defined by the individual branch of service. Active duty service members can be stationed stateside or overseas, they get full military benefits after meeting minimum time-in-service and training requirements, and are eligible for the full range of education benefits offered to them when they have served long enough.

Active duty service members are eligible for:. Active duty military service is a career, or potentially a career for any new recruit who joins to do full-time uniformed service. The DoD has a group of reserve components including:. The Guard and Reserve both have their origins in early American militia groups formed at the beginning of American colonization—more than one National Guard unit has its origins in such militias.

Depending on the branch of service, and current mission requirements, that answer may be different but examples of past commitment requirements can tell you a lot. National Guard troops may do monthly drills, musters, or require other training or activities.

They may be deployed by the state Governor in times of emergency or unrest, etc. The schedule of your individual National Guard unit will determine your individual time commitment each month. Some join the Guard and serve part-time for their entire military career; others join after serving on Active Duty and may have an easier time getting placed due to being prior military.

Regardless of how you join, the benefits of National Guard service include VA benefits—two of which are the most asked-about:. Those who join the National Guard and meet minimum time-in-service requirements are eligible to apply for VA home loan benefits.

Under the Act, the following changes should be noted—the Act modified Section b of title 38, United States Code to add a paragraph to the end of the section that states:.

Are there specialized areas of training for Chaplains? Because you'll encounter a variety of unique scenarios, we offer specialized training in the following fields: Suicide Prevention, Critical Incident Stress Management, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Marriage and Relationship Enhancement and Clinical Pastoral Education for hospital chaplains.

What qualities make a good Chaplain in the Army National Guard? To name just a few: self-discipline, initiative, confidence, intelligence, physical fitness, the ability to perform under pressure, leadership, the ability to make decisions quickly and complete missions and respect for subordinates.

As an officer, what branch of service will I be in? As an officer, what will my salary be? Not bad for part-time work! As an officer, how long will my military commitment be? Is there an age limit for officers? You must be at least 18 and not more than 41 years old to become an officer in the Army National Guard, except for medical professions—they take recruits up to 60 years old.

Waivers may be authorized—speak to a recruiter for details. Do I need a degree to be an officer? But applicants for State or Accelerated OCS must have earned a minimum of 90 semester hours toward an accredited degree. Is there more than one enrollment option for Officer Candidate School? What benefits does an officer receive? A higher monthly paycheck, financial assistance for continuing education, free space-available travel on military aircraft and much more.

What are the qualities of a great officer? Being an officer in the National Guard requires a combination of personal and professional characteristics. Leadership skills, exceptional integrity, self-discipline, confidence and courage, the ability to make quick decisions and the willingness to accept moral responsibility for those decisions are just a few of the qualities officers must possess.

Can I become an officer while going to college? The course consists of both academic classes and hands-on training. This four-year course consists of a two-year Basic Course and a two-year Advanced Course. You'll then enter active service as a 2nd lieutenant. Can doctors or lawyers enter the Guard as officers?

Highly qualified candidates with expertise in legal or medical fields may be eligible for a Direct Commission Direct Commission:. Direct commission is one of the ways to become an officer in the Guard. A member of the chain of command nominates you for appointment as an officer, based on your professional skills medical professional, legal or chaplain. Contact your local recruiter for information and program details. To be considered for this elite program, you must have at least a Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent and receive a nomination and selection from your Commanding Officer.

How do I apply for Officer Candidate School? You should speak to a recruiter to determine which will best fit your circumstances. Times and locations vary according to your branch. For more information, contact your local recruiter or ask your commanding officer. How are warrant officers different from commissioned officers?

Warrant officers are a unique group. They are, in fact, commissioned officers, but they're also considered to be in a class by themselves due to their highly specialized technical expertise in specific areas.

Put another way: commissioned officers are generalists, warrant officers are specialists. What benefits do warrant officers receive? The benefits for warrant officers are stellar.

In addition to your monthly paycheck, you may be eligible for financing for higher education, tax-free shopping and recreation privileges at the bases, free travel on military aircraft when space is available, low-cost life insurance, retirement benefits and much more. How do I become an aviator? If a career in aviation is your goal, becoming a warrant officer is a first-class ticket.

What specialty areas besides aviation are available to warrant officers? Branches besides aviation include military intelligence, medical service, special forces, ordnance and field artillery. What training do I need to become a warrant officer? After meeting the specific prerequisites, you'll start warrant officer candidate school.

You'll hone your leadership and decision-making skills through progressive levels of training. You'll adapt to quick on the spot thinking and consequence management. There are two training options with prior military experience:.

Regional Training Institute within selected states, completing Distance Learning, five drills and a two-week Annual Training. Learn more. What percentage of Guard members are warrant officers? Warrant officers comprise about 2 percent of total Army personnel, and about 11 percent of Army Commissioned Officers. Can I change my MOS? What Guard jobs are available in Texas? You can see a list of all the job openings in your area by checking the National Guard's Job Board.

As a prior service recruit, what will my rank be when I enlist in the Guard? Most Prior Service members in the rank of Private E-1 through Corporal E-4 Soldiers are accepted back at the rank they held previously, but it is not guaranteed.

Please contact your local National Guard recruiter for more details. How will my prior service benefit me in the National Guard?

In two major ways: getting promotions and activating retirement benefits. Whatever military division you served in previously, your accrued time carries over into the Guard toward your overall military career.

In addition, by joining the Guard, you continue earning points toward activating your retirement benefits. Your Montgomery G. Bill will also be extended upon enlistment. As a prior service recruit, will I need to attend Basic Training?

Your recruiter can explain this in detail. As a prior service recruit, will I receive a re-enlistment bonus? Applicants cannot have more than 16 years of prior military service. Bonuses require a six-year enlistment. Applicants whose last discharge was from the Army National Guard or Army Reserve must wait 12 months from discharge date to be eligible.

All periods of prior service must be characterized as Honorable. Have I served too long already to qualify for a bonus? You can't have more than 16 years total prior military service when you enlist in the Guard. You'll also need to have received an honorable discharge for all prior periods of service. Your Recruiter can answer any specific questions. You'll need to reenlist for not less than 6 years, enlist in a deployable unit, and have at least one existing, qualifying loan at the time of your re-enlistment.

Ask your recruiter about other requirements. As a prior service Soldier, will I keep my rank? Prior service personnel are not automatically guaranteed to enter at the same rank they held when they were discharged. Most E-1 through E-4 Soldiers are accepted back at the rank they held previously—but again, it is not guaranteed.

Will my National Guard service count toward my military retirement benefits? Yes, provided you can complete 20 years of total military service by age 60, including service in any branch, your Guard time will be added to your prior military service and count toward your retirement benefits. Learn more about retirement benefits. What is a good reason for me to join the Guard after getting off Active Duty?

Joining the National Guard after your Active Duty service is a great way to continue serving your country in a part-time status. National Guard Soldiers get good pay the equivalent of four days of Active Duty for a weekend spent drilling and great benefits, and continue building toward a military retirement.

So no matter what your goals are for "life after Active Duty," you can achieve them in the National Guard. Where can I obtain a copy of my DD?

Is there another way to ask a question about my account? You should receive a response within 72 hours. Only the DVA can give you this information. What should I do if the VA denied my request for education benefits?

Will my Chapter benefit be reinstated if I sign a new six-year Reserve Component contract? You are eligible for this benefit only once in your career.

Once it has ended, it cannot be reinstated, even with a new enlistment contract. You may need to extend your enlistment to have it reinstated once you return as a traditional drilling Soldier. You are eligible to continue receiving payments if you are medically discharged or if you were deployed prior to your benefit delimiting date. If you are medically discharged, you retain your benefits for 14 years from your original date of eligibility.

If you were deployed, you have the time of deployment plus four months. For example, if you were deployed for 12 months, you have 16 months 12 months plus the additional four from your date of discharge to use any remaining benefits. Can I be eligible for two GI Bill programs at the same time? Soldiers who have more than one GI Bill receive an additional 12 months of full-time benefits for a total of 48 months.

Soldiers may use up to 36 months of one GI Bill chapter and they may use the additional 12 months on a different chapter. Soldiers are not eligible to use more than one chapter of GI Bill benefits at the same time. I am retiring from the military.

Can I transfer my CH 33 benefits after I retire? Once a Soldier retires, they are not eligible to transfer benefits to dependents. There are no exceptions. An Exception to Policy will not be considered. Soldiers must transfer benefits prior to leaving the military. There will be a 4 year service requirement after benefits are transfered.

Is there a Service Obligation? In order to transfer your CH 33 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or child, you must first complete a minimum of 6 years of service. Soldiers who are barred from extending due to retirement or being involuntarily separated through the enlisted qualification board EQRB should complete the transferability application online regardless.

Upon receipt, the application will be processed on a case-by-case basis. Print step 2 here:. You may also submit a question at the VA website. Note, if you have never submitted a question before you will have to register first. In the question you can state you would like an evaluation of your qualifying percentage and upload your documents for review.

This option enables Soldiers to receive benefits to pay for books while preserving benefits for future use or transferability. Enlisted: How do I start the transfer process? The Soldier must first have the approval of their chain of command.

Then they need to make arrangements to return any issued supplies. Once these arrangements have been made, the interstate transfer worksheet must be completed with the assistance of the IST coordinator. When this is complete, the worksheet is sent to the gaining state's IST coordinator who will assist the service member in finding a new unit. Enlisted: When can I conduct an Interstate Transfer? Enlisted: Why haven't I been paid since I transferred? Many IST coordinators have a very high volume of transfers.

Soldiers must be proactive in the transfer process. Don't wait to be called by the IST coordinator; call or contact them with any means available. Refer to the website for further assistance.

In most cases, bonus and stabilization contracts are honored in other states. Research may be required. Stabilizations are usually honored as long as proper documentation is presented. Confirm this with the unit and the IST Coordinator.

All service members must complete basic and AIT in order to transfer. If a Soldier has not completed training, the State of Texas will allow them to courtesy drill with a local unit in the new state. Training certificates will be sent to their previous unit until the Soldier is ready to be courtesy shipped to complete training.

Enlisted: How long should the IST process take? The Interstate Transfer process can take between 14 and 90 days, depending on the initiative of the Soldier. When you enlist in the National Guard, your length of service is a total of eight years, advises the Army National Guard. During your service, you train, or drill, one weekend each month and two weeks each year. You may serve as an active member of the National Guard for your entire commitment. Alternatively, you may be eligible to serve only three or six years.

After that time, you do your remaining service in the Individual Ready Reserves. You no longer have to train during this time, but you may be called up to serve, either at home or abroad, if you are needed in an emergency.

You must complete the week Basic Combat Training course when you enlist and subsequent job training. The length of training depends on your specific job; it may be as few as four weeks or as long as 64 weeks for specialized roles. While serving in the National Guard, you may be called up to serve full time, and you may be deployed abroad to assist in combat operations.