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I'm thinking about joining the Army National Guard?

I am low on money and I lost my job, plus I am a full time college student. My Mom is sick and tired of me and won't stop making my life a living hell until I leave her house. But I don't have money to do that. Is the National Guard a good way to pay for college and living expenses? Will I get deployed to Iraq or something if I join? Is there any other information that I should know about? If so, what?

Public Comments

1. Join the real army where you will get better training and respect from some parts of the world. I love the national guard but they are the red headed step child of the service. You will get deployed and are just better off with being active duty for alot of reasons. I'm sorry life hasn't been to good and i've had my share of problems and went back into the military. This time is for keeps and I just can't see myself being a weekend warrior anymore.
2. The National Guard is a reserve program. You won't get a regular pay check except for just the weekend work you do. If you are looking for living expenses and full college benefits I would go active Army, Navy, Marines or even Air Force. However, I do not have a problem with people that want to join the National Guard I do have a problem with the recruiters for the NatGuard. They are slimy and will say anything to get you to join. I'm a navy recruiter and I will support anyone's decision on whatever branch they want to join. I would just be careful before you sign a contract with them. Make sure your job is on your contract. Do not sign one if there is no job specified on it!
3. Check with a guard recruiter. Some states have the college first program while some don't. I joined the national guard when I was in highschool and have since spent over 2.5 years on active duty. So if you seriously want to finish college you should either consider the college first program or hold off joining until your done.
4. You might get deployed. I know people in the guard for 20 years yet to deploy. On the other hand I have been in the guard just over a year and I'm about to ship to the sandbox. If you are just now joining I doubt Iraq will be in your future. Maybe Afghanistan though. The National Guard will help pay for your college. Talk to your recruiter to see how much. As far as training goes you get the EXACT same training as your full time counterparts. However they will get more hands on experience of the daily life than you. Talk to a recruiter. They will have much more info on your state's options then we will. Look into the college first. 2 years college with a guarantee no deployment into current conflicts. Sweet deal if you can work it.
5. join the real army its ten times better i loved it
6. When your semester is complete, you should really consider joining Active Duty instead. Since you're in college, your mom can't stop you from joining the Army. You'll get more pay if you join AD vs NG. Both entities deploy at some point but the up side to it is that you'll still be able to attend an online university even while you're deployed. The Army will pay 100% of your tuition while on AD and when you get out, you'll still have your MGIB to use for college. Depending on how much college credit you have, you could come in as a higher rank other than a PVT/E-1. Deployment is a fact of being in the military and it's bound to happen at some point.