Enlistment in the United States National Guard is available to those who have never served in the military and those who have served before but have met certain requirements. For some recruits, one-year trial programs and accelerated promotion opportunities are available. Enlistees with skills in areas where the National Guard is lacking may be eligible for cash bonuses. When active duty is completed, these include National Guard enlistments in the reserves.
New recruits can join the National Guard for up to eight years, with some of that time spent as a reserve. Enlistment in the National Guard requires active duty for anywhere from three to eight years. A recruit may serve in the reserves for a portion of his or her time, which requires periodic training and readiness in the event of a national emergency.
Enlistees in the accelerated promotion program can use their college credits to gain a higher rank in the military. High school graduates who earn credit in a reserve officer training program as students can also enlist in the National Guard. Recruits who have earned a Boy Scout Eagle award or a Girl Scout Gold Palm award are also eligible.
National Guard enlistment can be for a shorter period of time under the trial program. It applies to those who join the military for the first time as well as those who re-enlist. Veterans who have served in the military for ten years or more are eligible for a one-year trial period in the National Guard. The trial period is three years if someone has less than ten years of active duty.
The National Guard offers monetary incentives to enlistees in hard-to-fill positions. Recruits with skills in a designated unit or the unit to which they are assigned may be eligible for a bonus. These bonuses are available to both new and returning enlistees. The positions that require qualified individuals and for which bonuses are available are determined by the states. After active duty, someone may be eligible for a monthly bonus for enlisting in the reserves with the National Guard.
The National Guard is the United States military’s oldest branch. It stems from the formation of militias to protect colonists from Indian attacks when they arrived in North America. The United States Constitution gave each state the authority to form armed militias in cooperation with the federal government when it was drafted.
The Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, and a portion of the Civil War were all fought with the help of militias. The name of the National Guard was changed to the National Guard in 1903, and the reserve program was established. In 1947, the Air National Guard was formed to support the United States Air Force. Terrorist attacks, crises, and natural disasters are all common occurrences for guard members.