National Guard

[FDF12389]

So there are some recruiters here at my tech school, I just talk to one for a few min, from what I understand if I join now, I have to go through their training, work for them one weekend a month for the next six years, and they will pay for my college at a four year university. Whats the catch?

My current plan is(Im 17) Get my A+ certification(comptia) and cisco certification, graduate, go to a four year university while using my certification to make a decent part time wage.

 

[FoBoT]

the catch is your unit can be called up to go on 'active duty' and sent to war in Iraq etc


i highly recommend military service for youngin's after high school

good luck

 

[CollectiveUnconscious]

"Guard" and "Catch"

And you will be deployed once you are done with training. That is the "catch."

 

[Ramma2]

No catch. I was an 11B (Mechanized, then Light, then Air Assault infantry. Unit was changed around a few times) for my 6 years. It was the best thing I ever did, both for myself as a person and for my college education. I was never deployed, either overseas or for emergency response. I suppose your chances of being activated depend on your MOS.

 

[huberm]

the catch is you will place your service above any other need or want you have, which includes maybe having to die for a cause you may or may not even support.

 

[1sikbITCH]

No catch if you're bulletproof.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: FDF12389
So there are some recruiters here at my tech school, I just talk to one for a few min, from what I understand if I join now, I have to go through their training, work for them one weekend a month for the next six years, and they will pay for my college at a four year university. Whats the catch?

My current plan is(Im 17) Get my A+ certification(comptia) and cisco certification, graduate, go to a four year university while using my certification to make a decent part time wage.

You will be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan within the next 2 years. Everyone guard unit is currently on the schedule. They will also dick you around and it'll take a lot of effort on your part to get the money you deserve. My roommate has had various problems with them and he just got his bonus after 4.5 years in the guard. You will more than likely also be deployed to other events inside of the country. My roommate has been deployed twice in the past 2 years, to a hurricane in VA, and to Katrina.

 

[FDF12389]

But I cant be deployed until after High School right?

 

[Ramma2]

Originally posted by: FDF12389
But I cant be deployed until after High School right?

Correct, until you have turned 18 and completed your training.

I joined when I was 17, went to basic training during that summer. The following summer after I graduated highschool I went back to Georgia to complete AIT, infantry school in this case.

 

[ultimatebob]

Yeah, you can also forget all the crap that they're telling you about "training you for your future career". You WILL get deployed wherever the Army needs extra manpower. If you were supposed to be a computer repair guy and the Army needs extra convoy drivers... You're going to be a convoy driver. Watch out for those IED's, private!

 

[gentobu]

Like everyone said, you WILL get deployed. I'm in the National Guard and I just got back from Iraq this month. A year ago we replaced the Washington National Guard, and we were just replaced by the Georgia National Guard...

 

[FDF12389]

So will they actually pay for my school or is that not entirly correct? I just like the idea of graduating from college debt free.

So overall it looks like a bad idea.

 

[murban135]

Originally posted by: gentobu
Like everyone said, you WILL get deployed. I'm in the National Guard and I just got back from Iraq this month. A year ago we replaced the Washington National Guard, and we were just replaced by the Georgia National Guard...

Thanks for your service, welcome back!

 

[FoBoT]

you can get the Montgomery GI Bill, there is no trick about that. you can use that to help pay for college

i got it when i went in the navy, but never used it. mine expired last week i think, ten years after i got out. but i used a different program (Tuition assistance) while i was active duty to pay for college, so it is ok

these days i don't think you should go into the military ONLy to get college money, but i still recommend military service, it is a great way to get started in life

 

[huberm]

i am in the national guard and i get 100% of my tuition paid plus a $650/mo stipend


it all depends what state you're in and what career field you enter (ie the ones where they need manpower really bad, you'll receive better incentives)

 

[FDF12389]

Whats the differences between the army and the guard?

 

[Apathetic]

Originally posted by: FDF12389
Whats the differences between the army and the guard?

Army: active duty army, run by the federal government
Army Reserve: reserve units run by the federal government. meet once a month
Army National Guard: similar to the reserve except they are controlled by the state governor. They get activated fairly often to assist with local natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, etc).

Both the Reserve and Guard can be "activated" for federal duty (in this case either Iraq or Afghanistan).

Dave