GET FREE COLLEGE TUITION AND AN INTERESTING JOB. CHECK OUT ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Every day you grab lunch in the university union. It's the central hub on campus where students are constantly coming and going. Your roommate is sitting next you is complaining about the cost of tuition and you wish there was another option. As you look up, you notice a table where the Greek organizations usually set up their bake sales. As you read the banner above the table, you are suddenly intrigued by the sign FREE COLLEGE TUITION. You make the decision and head over to the table to learn more about the Army National Guard."Students learn about the Army National Guard while in high school or on college campuses," said Sgt. Gabriel Armstrong, Recruiting and Retention NCO, New Jersey Army National Guard.
Sgt. Armstrong, a 10 year veteran in the armed forces, is a New Jersey Recruiter in Burlington, New Jersey. "The Army National Guard works with individuals between the ages of 17 to 35," he said. "Those interested in the Army National Guard have the opportunity to have a full time job or to attend college while having the opportunity to guard their country".
The Army National Guard offers 100% tuition reimbursement from an Associate Degree up to a Doctorate degree. In addition to the college reimbursement, students can earn monthly stipends to help with living expenses. There are also enlisting bonuses, and different incentives based on entrance exam scores and occupational specialty chosen.
"The GI Bill is a monthly stipend one receives while attending college full time at any one of New Jersey's state funded schools. The individual gets a tuition waiver from the state to cover the full tuition and the GI Bill gives the student a monthly check for books,
gas, bills etc."
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
So how do you get started? You see the table on campus, you've had an opportunity to review the literature from the table and you are interested in taking the next step. The first thing you should do is to speak with a recruiter about the educational opportunities, requirements and commitment.
The Army National Guard requires an eight year commitment. The eight years can be broken into two segments which include active duty for four years and inactive duty for four years or active duty for six years and inactive duty for two years. The eight years can be broken down into two segments. The first segment you are actively participating in the monthly and annual drills. The second segment you go from drilling status to a roster that will be used to contact you in case of major world crisis. The following are the contractual options; 6x2, 4x4, 3x5.
"Once the student has showed an interest, spoken with a recruiter and has made the decision to take the next step, they can take a basic skills exam right from our office," said Sgt. Armstrong. "After the candidate has passed the test, we schedule a physical and set up a packet reviewing background, qualifications, birth certificate, finger prints etc. If the applicant passes all these areas he or she is then sworn into the NJ Army National Guard. The candidate is then scheduled to participate in the Recruitment Sustainment Program. New recruits are sent to Sea Girt, NJ for one weekend a month until their basic training ship date. This training provides a taste of what basic training will be like". Basic Training takes place out of state for 10 weeks. This is fairly flexible for new recruits as they can choose when to participate in the basic training. "High School students could complete basic training in the summer and then begin their skills training before they finish High School".
Once Basic Training is complete, new recruits begin studying in their field of choice. Skills training can vary from two months to ten months depending on the career focus. The AIT, or Advanced Individual Training, is a hands-on training program for your job in the military. These courses will certify you and help you earn your MOS (Militarily Occupational Specialty). There are several MOS's in the seven MOS areas, including Combat Arms, Combat Support, Combat Service Support, Military Police, Military Intelligence, Communications, Medical, Administrative and Logistics. Your duties in the National Guard include being responsible for the Homeland Security of your state and helping your nation during times of need and crisis. After completion of the AIT program, recruits are then required to train one weekend a month and two weeks every summer.
The Army National Guard provides several opportunities for students, but it is not for everyone. Recruits may be called to go overseas and participate in active duty. The promise of free school tuition is extremely tempting for any college student, but new recruits should consider the level of commitment before making a decision.
If you are interested in working in the military, but feel the Army National Guard isn't quite right for you, there are other options available. The ROTC (Reserves Officer
Training Corps) can put an individual on the path of becoming an officer. "The ROTC Program is a totally separate program for those choosing to become an officer in the military. They pay for your school as long as you give them a certain amount of time as an officer when graduated."
"When you leave the Army National Guard, you will have college paid off, work certificates in your field, and a resume full of accomplishments you can be proud of.
Date: June 15, 2009
Media Contact: Melissa Novak, MNovak@Usaintern.com
Chanin Coyle, Ccoyle@Usaintern.com
856-675-1288
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Students or recent graduates from the New Jersey Burlington County area can contact Sgt. Gabriel Armstrong at (609) 335-1557 or via email at
Gabriel.Armstrong@us.army.mil. If you are interested in joining the United States National Guard, you can find more online at www.nationalguard.com.