Make an Impact Close to Home
Pursue your passion to serve your state. As an Army National Guard Soldier, you’ll learn valuable skills and impact your local community, with the ability to continue your civilian career, education, or personal interests.
Serve a Dual Purpose
As an Army National Guard Soldier, you'll not only serve under the command of your state governor to respond to natural disasters or domestic emergencies, but you can also be called on to defend the nation when needed.
States, U.S. territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands), and the District of Columbia each have Army National Guard units.
Explore a Variety of Career Opportunities
The Army National Guard offers more than 120 jobs along with the appropriate training to get you started and keep you qualified. You can choose one related to your civilian career field or take a different career path to learn something new.
“I do get to travel all over the country and, hopefully, the world, but I like to be able to go home and see my family at the end of every day.”
- Sgt. Jennifer Smith
An aRMY LIFE THAT FITS YOUR LIFESTYLE
Serving part-time as an Army National Guard Soldier offers you work-life balance, flexibility, a paycheck, great benefits, and more. You'll serve both at a state level to protect local communities and federally alongside active-duty forces, when needed. Some of your duties may include:
- Providing aid, food, water, or shelter during natural disasters or other times of crisis where needed
- Carrying out rescue missions and rebuilding communities after a state of emergency
Live in the Community You Serve
The Army National Guard lets you stay close to home surrounded by what’s already familiar to you. You can go to college, continue a civilian career, or pursue other personal endeavors while you serve part-time.
Stay Close to Family
With the flexibility to live where you choose across the United States and certain U.S. territories, you can continue living at home with your family in the community you know.
Gain Skills to Enhance Your Civilian Career
From leadership skills and teamwork to the ability to adapt to various situations, the training and experiences you’ll receive in the Army National Guard will help you grow and excel in your civilian career. You can pursue your goals working in your regular job while serving your country and community when needed most.
TWO PATHS IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Understanding the different ways to join the Army National Guard can help you decide what’s best for your future.
- Enlisted Soldier: Works as an essential member of the team, performs specific tasks, and carries out missions
- Commissioned Officer: Serves as a leader who trains and guides their team to success
Common Questions
What are the benefits of serving in the Army National Guard?
Even though serving in the Army National Guard is part-time, you can still receive a number of great benefits, including a competitive salary, bonuses, and incentives, as well as excellent health care, retirement, and education benefits. Soldiers also qualify for a variety of opportunities, like the GI Bill, to get help paying for their education.
Do I need to attend Basic Training?
Before you can become a Soldier, you'll first need to complete a form of Basic Training—Basic Combat Training for enlisted Soldiers and the Basic Officer Leadership Course for Army Officers, as well as any additional training your job may require. Over the course of your training, you'll learn the skills, knowledge, and discipline needed to become a Soldier.
Will I be deployed while serving in the Army National Guard?
Though there's no way to predict deployment, Army National Guard Soldiers are trained and ready to be called upon by their state governor or the federal government to respond to things like natural disasters or defending the nation, when needed.
Deployment is when Soldiers are sent to a specific location to carry out a mission and are unable to bring their families. The average deployment length is nine months to a combat region and can be longer or shorter for a non-combat region, depending on the mission.
What is the time commitment?
As part of your service commitment as an Army National Guard Soldier, you are required to spend one weekend a month and two weeks a year in training. Your total service contract length may range from three to six years, depending on your Army National Guard job.
Can I be called for active duty?
Soldiers in the Army National Guard may be temporarily called to active duty when needed to provide their expertise in a specific career field to help defend the nation.
Other Ways You Can Serve
The Army National Guard, along with active duty and Army Reserve, are the three components that make up the United States Army. Each has a critical role in serving your community and your country.
Don’t worry, there’s no obligation if you reach out.
Thanks for reaching out,
Questions you may have right now
- Who will reach out to me?
One of our recruiters will either call or email you to set up time to talk.
- Who will reach out to me?
One of our ROTC recruiters will either call or email you to set up time to talk.
- What will you ask me?
Our conversation will likely begin with some basic qualifying questions, like your age and education level. From there, the conversation will be about getting to know you and your goals for the future. Expect us to ask about your interests and skills so we can suggest Army jobs that might interest you.
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
How can the Army help me pay for college?
Do I have to go to Basic Training?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
How can the Army help me pay for college?
What is the time commitment for part-time service?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
Can the Army help me pay for medical school?
Do I have to go to Basic Training?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
How do I apply for ROTC scholarships?
How do I join ROTC at the college I want to attend?
- Will I be expected to join if I talk to someone?
No. Our goal is to answer your questions and help you decide if the Army is a good option for you. We understand you may not be ready to join yet, or that we may not be the right fit, and that's fine. There's no obligation for talking to us.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore more topics that may interest you
Thanks for reaching out,
Questions you may have right now
- Who will reach out to me?
One of our recruiters will either call or email you to set up time to talk.
- What will you ask me?
Our conversation will likely begin with some basic qualifying questions, like your age and education level. From there, the conversation will be about getting to know you and your goals for the future. Expect us to ask about your interests and skills so we can suggest Army jobs that might interest you.
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
Do I qualify to join the Army?
Can I join as an Officer?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
Do I qualify to join the Army?
Can I join as an Officer?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
What type of health care jobs are available in the Army?
Can the Army help me pay for medical school?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
Can I join ROTC at my age
Can I join as an Officer?
- Will I be expected to join if I talk to someone?
No. Our goal is to answer your questions and help you decide if the Army is a good option for you. We understand you may not be ready to join yet, or that we may not be the right fit, and that's fine. There's no obligation for talking to us.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore more topics that may interest you
Thanks for reaching out, .
We admire you for considering such a big career decision at your age. Unfortunately, we're unable to directly reach out to you until you are at least sixteen years old and a junior in high school. However, the following ROTC info is something that may interest you now.
Questions you may have right now
- How old do I have to be to serve in the Army full-time?
To become an enlisted Soldier, you must be 17 years old. To become an Army Officer, you must be at least 18 years old and have a college degree obtained either through ROTC, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, or from another college or university program. Learn more about Army Eligibility Requirements and how to receive Officer training while in college.
- How can the Army help me pay for college?
There are a variety of options available to help you pursue education with flexibility, such as ROTC programs, the GI Bill, and other programs that help pay for college tuition, trade school, technical school, or trainings. View all of the Education Benefits available to you
- How do I apply for ROTC Scholarships?
Army ROTC has several scholarships available for college-bound high school students. Review your options at ROTC Scholarships, or immediately apply by creating an account at my.goarmy.com to get started.
- How old do I have to be to serve in the Army part-time?
To become an enlisted Soldier, you must be 17 years old. To become an Army Officer, you must be at least 18 years old and have a college degree obtained either through ROTC, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, or from another college or university program. Learn more about Army Eligibility Requirements and how to receive Officer training while in college.
- What are the ways to serve part-time?
You can serve part-time as a Soldier in the Army Reserve or the Army National Guard. By serving part-time, you are able to continue your college education or work a civilian job, while earning an extra paycheck and maintaining many of the benefits of military service.
- How can the Army help me pay for college?
There are a variety of options available to help you pursue education with flexibility, such as ROTC programs, the GI Bill, and other programs that help pay for college tuition, trade school, technical school, or trainings. View all of the Education Benefits available to you.
- How do I become a health care provider in the Army?
You can serve part-time or full-time as you train in our health care program. Upon graduation of the program, you will enter the Army health care team as a Commissioned Officer.
- What types of medical careers are available in the Army?
There are numerous health care careers available through the Army Medical Education Deparment (AMEDD), including physicians, dentists, nurses, veterinarians, and many more. View your career options.
- How can the Army help me pay for college?
There are a variety of options available to help you pursue education with flexibility, such as ROTC programs, the GI Bill, and other programs that help pay for college tuition, trade school, technical school, or trainings. View all of the Education Benefits available to you.
- What are the benefits of joining ROTC?
ROTC makes it possible to achieve your ambitions. Become a leader and serve your country in one of the nation's top leadership training programs. You can do this while maintaining your college curriculum and earning up to 100% tuition coverage. Upon graduation, you're guaranteed a career as an Army Officer.
- How do I prepare to join ROTC?
When you're at least 16 years old and at least a high school junior, you can reach out to us, or even talk to your high school counselor. Together, we'll talk options and decide if ROTC is the right path for you.
- Will I become an Officer if I complete ROTC?
Yes. After graduation, you are commissioned as a highly respected second lieutenant in the Army, entrusted with leading other Soldiers.