BENEFITS

National Guard Pay

Initial Entry Training-Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training Pay. While at Basic and Advanced Individual Training (AIT), Army National Guard members are on active duty. During this period they are paid active duty pay and allowances. Basic Training is 9 weeks long (plus a week of reception). AIT will vary from 3.5 to 26 weeks or longer according to the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) selected.

Training Assembly and Annual Training Pay. The Army National Guard pay scale is based on the current active Army pay scale. However, unlike active duty personel who recieve one day's pay for each day of duty, National Guard personnel receive one day's pay for each Unit Training Assemble (UTA) they attend. One UTS is granted for each 4 hours of training received. Therefore, during a typical 2-day weekend training session when 16 hours of training is conducted, the National Guard member will be paid 4 days' pay. During Annual Training (AT), usually conducted over a 15-day period, National guard members receive 1 day's pay for each day of active duty. Also compensation may be paid to a member for housing and meals. Over a typical training year where the Guard member attends the minimum number of required training assemblies and AT, he or she will receive 63 days' pay for performing 39 days of duty.

Pay Increases: Pay increases for Army National Guard members are based on promotions and length of time in Service. Promotions are usually based on length of service in current grade, job performance, and position availability.

2000 Military Pay Scale

Note: Pay is usually tied to inflation with increases occurring during January of each year.

Active Duty Pay Scale

Education Benefits/Services of the

Army National Guard

(Note: These numbers are current as of March 2000, they are subject to have changed. Please contact your local National Guard Recruiter for current information)

GENERAL:

The Army National Guard has more programs for civilian education than any other Service, Active, or Reserve Component. These programs pay for college, provide education and career counseling, and evaluations of military training and experience for college credits. These programs also span high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels of instruction.

PROGRAMS:

Montgomery GI Bill Chapter 1606: THis federally funded program pays up to $208.93 per month for various full-time education programs for traditional members. Soldiers may use these funds for resident college tuition, approved correspondence courses, apprenticeship, and flight training programs. Soldiers may use program for undergraduate and graduate studies, depending on eligibility. A limited number of members may be eligible for a Montgomery GI Bill "Kicker" program that will provide up to $200.00 per month additional.

Montgomery GI Bill Chapter 30: Tis is a federally funded program for Active Guard/ Reserve (AGR) members. Payments vary for education program in which soldiers enroll. Soldiers may use these funds for resident college tuition, approved correspondence courses, apprenticeship, and flight training programs. Soldiers may use the program for undergraduate and graduate studies, depending on eligiblity.

Army National Guard Tuition Assistance Program: This federally funded annual program is only for Army National Guard members. The program is prioritized to offer financial support to junior enlisted (Private - Staff Sergeant) and junior officers (Second Lieutenant - Captain), with the purpose to retaining soldiers in the Army National Guard. The emphasis is designed to allow members to achieve associate and baccalaureate (undergraduate) degrees. Up 75 percent of a soldier's tuition may be reimbursed for a maximum of 15 semester or 22 quarter hours per year. Members must be a satisfactory participant in the Army National Guard.

DANTES Distance Learning Tuition Assistance Program: Soldiers may enroll in any distance learning program offered through the Defense Activity for Non-Tradition Educational Suppiort (DANTES) approved schools. This program is for Army National Guard soldiers and active duty soldiers. Soldiers are provided Tuition Assistance (TA) o a maximum 75 percent of the course cost up to 15 semester hours or 22 quarter hours per year, not to exceed $2,000 per fiscal year.

DANTES One-Time Post Secondary Education Credit Evaluation for Army National Guard: THis program is a credit evaluation by a college or university to determine the number f credits a soldier may earn from their military training and experience. The soldier pays the fee up front and is reimbursed up to $75 for this service. The program will provide a degree plan that matches what the college or university offers, and if followed, will lead to a degree.

DANTES Testing Program: This program supports the voluntary education functions of the Office of the Secretary of Defense by providing a comprehensive examination program with more than 140 college level exams, numerous certification exams and proficiency tests. A soldier could earn a degree by taking these examinations, but a combination of course instruction and testing increases success. most of the exams are free. The types of exams include GED, ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, Praxis (NTE), CLEP, Regents College, DSSTs, and ASE.

Army National Guard Spouse Testing Program: Spouses of Army National Guard members may take and CLEP tests or DSSTs free.

Career Counseling: Using the Myers-Briggs, Strong Interest Inventory, or the Guidance Information System, the Education ServicesOffice (ESO) can assist a soldier, their dependents, or new enlistees in determining their career interests. This program can also identify an individual's level of education, strengths and weaknesses, and offer assistance in locating a program that will allow the soldier to obtain the knowledge they need to enter the job market successfully.

Education Counseling: Soldiers may have their military training and experience, college courses, and civilian training and experiences evaluated by the ESO. The evaluation process provides the soldier a degree map with suggested courses and/or DANTES tests to support the degree map. this counseling also involves financial aid and school selection. it may involve both traditional and nontraditional forms of education.

The Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS): The ARRTS documents military training and experience. It provides an explanation of courses taken, experience gained in Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs), skill qualification, and self-development test scores, special qualification identifiers, and additional skill identifiers. The transcript also documents CLEP, DSSTs, SAT, ACT, and precious ACT PRP and Regents College test scores. Colleges use the AARTS to determine what credit they may grant, and employers use them to determine what skills a "citizen-soldier" possesses that may assist on the job. This service is free and available to most soldiers of the Army National Guard and active Army only.

Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve

This program helps students pay their college tuition and expenses. After becoming eligible by completing Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT), the student will receive the following rates for college tuition or apprenticeship/job training/VA-approved programs.

Monthly Rates for Training

Retirement Benefits

Reserve Component Retirement Plan. In 1949, Congress established a Reserve Component (RC) Retirement Plan. Title 10, United States Code, provides entitlement to certain members of the RC to retired pay and benefits at age 60. In order to receive retired pay, soldiers must meet minimum requirements.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 1-800-GO-GUARD

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