It’s our dual mission that makes us different. Unlike the other Armed Forces branches, we’re under the jurisdiction of both state and federal governments, so Guard Soldiers can be deployed by either the governor of their resident state, or the president of the United States, depending on where they are needed most.

Absolutely. Your Guard service is only part time—just one weekend per month, and one two-week period each year. Not only can you attend college full time while you serve, you can even have another part-time job, if you choose to. The Guard leaves you plenty of time for the rest of your life, while providing the financial means to enjoy that life.

Definitely. Our Education Support Center is a full-service education assistance station, offering not only one-on-one help with the administrative aspects of applying, but also degree planning, distance learning options and much more.

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.I. Bill will also be extended upon enlistment.

Your rank will be based on your level of training and your education degree. Physicians generally enter at a minimum grade of Captain (O-3).

There are four: Dental, Nursing, Medical Specialists and Medical Service.

There are several. You must meet prescribed medical and moral standards. You must be a U.S. citizen. You need to have graduated from an accredited U.S. school of medicine or osteopathy, or have a certificate from the Education Council of Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). There are several others.

All religions and belief systems are welcome in the Guard. To serve as a Guard chaplain, your faith group must have a federally recognized endorsing agency that can issue an ecclesiastical endorsement for you. Typically, you will work with Soldiers from your own faith.

Chaplains attend Chaplain Officer Basic Leadership Course, a three-month program at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. This course teaches you to apply your civilian chaplain skills to the Army environment, prepares you physically and mentally to be an officer in the Guard, and covers the complexities of the First Amendment, freedom of expression, counseling, mentoring and leadership. This course can be completed in one block or several phases over a 24-month period.

Yes. You don’t have to wait till graduation to join the Army National Guard chaplaincy. Training to be a Chaplain in the Guard while simultaneously training for the civilian ministry lets you earn a substantial pay check while greatly adding to your education and experience.

You must be a U.S. citizen by birth or naturalized, pass a physical exam, and be between 21 and 42 years old. There are several educational requirements as well—be sure to look over the complete list of requirements for Army National Guard chaplain candidates.

Depending on their rank, officers typically make between $2,000 and $7,000 per month. Not bad for part-time work!

It depends, if you received the Minuteman Scholarship, transferred GI Bill Benefits, and what branch you are. Normally 5-8 years.

You must be at least 18 and not more than 30 years old to become an officer in the Army National Guard. Waivers may be authorized.

No. But you do need to have 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university prior to enlistment or Officer Candidate School enrollment. To commission to 2LT you must have a total of 90 semester hours from an accredited college or university.

Warrant Officers (WOs) 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, WOs are specialists.

The benefits for Warrant Officers are stellar. In addition to your monthly pay check, there’s the Officer Accession Bonus (click here for current dollar amount), 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.

If a career in aviation is your goal, becoming a Warrant Officer is first-class ticket. Warrant Officers fly highly advanced aircraft like the UH-60 Black Hawk or the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior. Along with other requisite training, you’ll attend the Warrant Officer Flight Training (WOFT) program.