Frequently Asked Questions
(Non prior service)

Q: If I enlist in the Army National Guard, am I still required to register for the draft?
A: Yes, you must still complete registration for Selective Service. If you have internet access, you can register online at this website: http://www.sss.gov.

Q: How long do I have to join for?
A: You have the option of joining for 3 to 8 years. However, if you want to be eligible for our educational benefit programs, a 6-year enlistment is required. All first enlistments contracts are for 8 years (6 years of drills, 2 years of inactive).

Q: How old do I have to be to join the Army National Guard?
A: You must be at least 17 and a high school junior. If you are under age 18, your parents or legal guardians must sign their consent for you to enlist in the Army National Guard.

Q: What are my attendance requirements when I enlist?
A: You must attend basic training (same one as active duty). You must attend job skill training (Advanced Individual Training or AIT). The length of this will vary depending upon what job you have selected. After you have completed these two things, you must attend 39 days per year (one weekend per month and a two-week annual training). Sometimes it will a 3-day weekend (Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday). Of course, you will be paid more then.

Q: How long will I be gone if I join the Army Nation Guard?
A: Usually 4-5 months, depending upon what job you select. However, if you decide to go for the Split-Option Training, that will be broken up into two separate summers.

Q: What is Split-Option Training?
A: Split-Option Training is a program designed to split your initial entry training into separate summers. For example, if you are a high school junior, you can go to basic training the summer between your Junior and Senior years and then attend AIT after you graduate. This option is also available to high school seniors and high school graduates.

Q: How long is basic training?
A: Basic training lasts 9 weeks, regardless of which job you select.

Q: How long is Advanced Individual Training (AIT)?
A: That depends on what job you select. For example, a Combat Engineer AIT last 6 weeks, a Tank Crewman AIT lasts 6 weeks, but a Medic AIT last 10 weeks. It just depends on the job you take.

Q: How long do I have before I have to ship out to basic training?
A: If you are a high school junior, you can delay up to 9 months (you can join in September and ship to basic training in June). If you are a high school senior or graduate, you can delay up to a year. (You could join now and not ship out until a year for now). During your delay period, you will attend weekend meetings with your unit and start making money immediately!

Q: Where will I attend basic training and AIT?
A: That's hard to say. It all depends on the job you select. Combat Engineers go to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri; Tank Crewman go to Fort Knox, KY; Infantrymen go to Fort Benning, GA.. Ask the Recruiter where the basic training and AIT is held for the job in which you're interested.

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Q: Do I have to pay for my uniforms?
A: No. All items will be issued to you and may be replaced it torn or worn out. You will be required to pay for uniform items lost.

Q: Is transportation provided to drills from my home?
A: No. But you may find other members to carpool with.

Q: What if I'm unable to attend a weekend meeting for some reason?
A: Most units are pretty flexible if you are unable to attend drills for a legitimate reason. You can usually make up the drill at another time, but this is at the discretion of the unit commander. You must contact your unit prior to the scheduled drill.

Q: How much will I make on a weekend drill?
A: $134.08 for a two-day drill weekend to start.

Q: How much will I make while I'm away at basic training and AIT?
A: $1,005.60 per month for each month of training.

Q: When will I begin making money with the Army National Guard?
A: You can begin drilling in pay status 9 months prior to going to basic training.

Q: What will I do at drills before I go to basic training?
A: You will be trained on basic soldiering skills, such as learning to march, how to wear the uniform, disassembly and reassembly of the M-16 rifle, first aid, and other tasks you will have at basic.

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Q: Do I have any medical coverage by joining the Army National Guard?
A: Yes, but with limitations. You are only covered by the National Guard on your way to drills, at drills, and on your way home from drills. You are covered any time you are on active duty for a pay purposes ( like basic training and AIT) and during the 2-week annual training.

Q: Is there any kind of dental coverage?
A: Yes. For a fee of $4.22 per month, you can purchase a dental plan. This plan covers the member only and not dependents.

Q: Will I go straight from home to basic training?
A: No. Our stat conducts a 4-day "mini-basic" called Pre-IET. It is conducted at our stat HQs at Fort Indiantown Gap north of Harrisburg. It is designed to better prepare you for basic training. You will be taught tasks that you will have at basic training. This has proven to give Pennsylvania Guard members a great advantage over other soldiers at basic training in the past.

Q: What if I get a full-time job in another state?
A: Simple. Just transfer to a unit of the National Guard of the state to which you are moving.

Q: What if I decide to join the active duty?
A: No problem. You can transfer to the active duty after serving a minimum of six months after completing AIT with the Army National Guard by completing a conditional release.

Q: If I take the ASVAB test, does it commit me to any service?
A: No. The ASVAB is only an aptitude test to let us know what jobs you qualify to train for.

Q: Can I take the ASVAB test before it is given at school?
A: Yes. There are local test sites where the test is given every Tuesday.

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Q: Does the National Guard have any programs to help me pay for college, trade or technical school?
A: Yes! Several excellent programs: The Montgomery GI Bill and the Pennsylvania Educational Assistance Program.

Q: What is the Montgomery GI Bill and how much does it pay?
A: The Montgomery GI Bill is a program of the Department of Veterans Affairs and your membership in the Army National Guard makes you eligible for it. It pays $263.00 per month for full-time students; $197.00 for 3/4-time students; $131.50 for 1/2-time students. You must be a high school graduate or the equivalent and have completed basic training and AIT to be eligible. You must also have entered at least a 6-year enlistment with the Guard. After you return from basic and AIT, you must see your unit about obtaining you Notice of Basic Eligibility form. That form then goes to the Veterans Representative at the school you are attending and payments are made directly from the VA to you. This is non-taxable income. If you use the full amount it comes to $9,180.00!

Q: Does the Army National Guard have any other VA programs available to me?
A: Yes! For selected jobs, the Army National Guard has the Montgomery GI Bill Kicker program. It pays and additional $200.00 per month directly to you (non-taxable) for 36 months for a total of $7,200 in addition to the $9,180.

Q: What is the Pennsylvania Educational Assistance Program and how much does it pay?
A: This is a program ONLY offered to Pennsylvania National Guard members. It is a grant and is non-taxable. It pays as follows: if you attend a Commonwealth Member Institution (such as IUP), it pays 100% of your tuition up front directly to the college. If you go to any other college, it will pay 100% of the tuition charged at a commonwealth Member Institution. Either way, it will pay a maximum of $3,618 per year to the school on your behalf. It is paid directly from PHEAA to the school you are attending. If you use it for the 5 years allowed it pays $18,090! If you use Pell Grants, PHEAA Grants, or Stafford Loans, it doesn't change the amount of the EAP. House Bill 1184 is currently in the legislative process and has 23 sponsors, this would relax the residency requirement and increase the tuition assistance to 100% at CMI colleges.

Q: Does the Army National Guard have a Student Loan repayment Program?
A: Yes! The Army National Guard Student Loan Repayment Program pays up to 15% per year on existing students loans ($1,500 per year maximum). This is only good for the initial 6-year commitment up to a total of $10,000.00 maximum.

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Q: Can I use the Montgomery GI Bill and the Educational Assistance Program at the same time?
A: Yes. These programs are in addition to your pay.

Q: Is there any bonus money available to me?
A: Yes, for selected shortage job, there are cash enlistment bonuses of either $5,00 or $8,000, depending on your ASVAB scores. GED holders and Glossary Non-Prior Service people (those who have been in before but never completed Basic Training and AIT) are not eligible.

Q: Is there any way I can enlist at a higher rank and make more money?
A: Yes, several ways:

- By participation in a Junior ROTC program at school for at least a year.

- Stripes for Buddies: referring others to join the Army National Guard.

- Other programs; ask your Recruiter.

Q: If I take advantage of the pay and educational benefits the National Guard offers, how much money do I stand to make for a 6-year enlistment?
A: Over $60,000!

Q: Can I be activated to active duty or be required to serve in combat as a member of the Guard?
A: Yes. The National Guard is both a federal and state agency. We have both a federal and state mission. The federal mission is to be prepared to perform our military jobs to augment the active duty soldiers in case of a national emergency or war. Our state mission is to be prepared in case of state or regional emergencies to react to save lives or property. State call-ups are used for mainly natural disasters like floods, blizzards, tornadoes, ect. We are particularly proud of this role as local people solving local problems and neighbors helping neighbors.

Q: Am I considered a veteran as a member of the Army National Guard?
A: Yes, after completion of basic training and AIT. As such, you qualify for veteran's preference on some civil service tests and governmental hiring. After 6 years, you qualify for VA home loans.

Q: By being a member of the Army National Guard, will I build a pension fund for retirement?
A: Yes. The pension pays the same as an active duty pension of 20 years of service. The difference is that active duty pension is received as soon as you retire. National Guard pension can not be received until you turn age 60.

Q: I've passed the ASVAB, carefully thought about it and discussed it with my parents or guardians, and have decided to enlist. What do I do now?
A: Contact the Army National Guard Recruiting Office at (724)-789-7546/7681. We will advise you of all your options, but will not make any decisions for you. You have many choices to make.