The US National Guard offers enlistment options for those with no prior military service and for those with prior service who meet certain guidelines, including one-year evaluation programs, accelerated promotion opportunities, and cash bonuses for certain skills. Enlistment options include part-time reserves and an accelerated promotion program for those with college credits or scout awards. The National Guard is the oldest branch of the US military, dating back to militias formed for defense against Indian attacks. Guard members often respond to crises and natural disasters.
The United States National Guard offers enlistment options for those with no prior military service and for persons with prior service who meet certain guidelines. One-year evaluation programs and accelerated promotion opportunities are available for select recruits. Cash bonuses may be available for applicants who have skills in areas the National Guard needs. This includes National Guard enlistments in reserves when active duty is completed.
New recruits can sign on for eight years in the National Guard, with part of the commitment serving as a reserve. The active duty requirement for enlistment in the National Guard ranges from three years to all eight. A recruit may serve part-time in the reserves, which requires periodic training and availability for a national emergency.
People who enlist in the accelerated promotion program can use college credits to join the military with a higher rank. This National Guard enlistment option is also available to high school graduates who earn credit in a reserve officer training program as students. The opportunity also extends to recruits who have earned an Eagle Boy Scout award or a Palm Girl Gold Scout award.
The trial program allows enlistment in the National Guard for a shorter period. Applies to someone joining the military for the first time and enlisting in the military. Veterans with 10 or more years of service are eligible for a one-year trial period in the National Guard. If someone has accumulated less than 10 years of active duty, the probationary period lasts for three years.
The National Guard offers cash incentives to attract enlistees in hard-to-fill areas. A bonus may be available for recruits who have skills in a designated unit or the unit they are assigned to. These bonuses apply to new enrollees and re-enrollers. States determine positions that need qualified individuals where bonuses apply. A monthly bonus can be paid to someone for enlisting in the National Guard in the reserves upon completion of active duty.
The National Guard is the oldest branch of the US military. It stems from the formation of militias that provided defense against Indian attacks when settlers came to North America. When the US Constitution was drafted, it gave each state the power to organize armed militias in cooperation with the federal government.
These militias helped armies that fought in the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, and part of the Civil War. Legislation in 1903 changed the name to the National Guard and created the reserves program. The Air National Guard was created to support the US Air Force in 1947. Guard members often respond to terrorist attacks, crises, and natural disasters.
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