As you climb higher,
so does your value.

How your pay adds up.

You can expect to earn excellent pay as a Guard Soldier. Specific pay level will be determined by your rank, job and education level. The higher you go, the more you make. And the more time you serve, the more you earn.

Simply put, you will be paid for every day you serve. This includes all time spent in training. You drill approximately two days a month, with two weeks of annual training each year. You are considered to be on Active Duty during job skill and annual training, and paid accordingly.

Weekend drill provides training on many different levels, and may take place at your local armory or another designated location. Areas covered include job-specific training, weapons qualification, physical fitness, equipment maintenance and more.

Specific length and timing of any additional training depends on your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). If you have dependents, you may also qualify for an additional housing allowance. More good news: you will only pay income tax on your base pay — any upgrades or bonuses received while serving overseas are exempt, meaning this money all comes straight to you.

You earn Active Duty pay any time you’re deployed for any reason.

Click the "Apply Now" button to begin your application process and get connected with a recruiter.

Start earning rewards from the moment you enlist.

If you’ve never served in the military, you may be entitled to a Non-Prior Service Enlistment Bonus, also known as NPSEB. To qualify, you must enlist in a critical Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Available critical skill positions vary from state to state. Learn more about eligibility requirements and bonuses below.

Eligibility:

  • If currently in high school, you must complete all required courses and be awarded a diploma.
  • You must score 50 or higher on your ASVAB.
  • You must ship to Basic Combat Training (BCT) within one year of your enlistment date.
  • Split Option Enlistees must ship to BCT and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) on or before your original ship dates.
  • You must complete AIT and become Military Occupational Specialty Qualified (MOSQ) within two years.
  • You are required to serve either eight years on active drilling status (8x0), or six years active drilling plus two years in the Individual Ready Reserve (6x2).

Amount:

  • Qualified applicants receive $7,500-$20,000.
  • You will receive 50 percent of the total bonus upon successfully completing AIT.
  • An additional 25 percent is paid on your three-year service anniversary.
  • You will receive the remaining 25 percent on your five-year service anniversary.
  • No combination of incentives may exceed the $20,000 limit set by federal law.

Click the "Apply Now" button to begin your application process and get connected with a recruiter.

A flexible life only the Guard can offer.

If your goals include achieving a better work/life balance, the National Guard provides more flexibility than any other service branch. One big difference: the Guard is a part-time commitment. You can maintain a civilian job while drilling just one weekend per month.

As a Guard Soldier, you can live and work wherever you choose within the United States and its territories. Your training takes up just one weekend per month, with a two-week commitment once each year. And all your active years of military service are combined with your Guard service. This keeps you on track for your 20-year retirement.

As a current or former member of the U.S. military, you may qualify for these benefits while enlisted in the Guard:

  • Re-enlistment or extension bonus*
  • Pay for college or earn an advanced degree
  • Move up in your current MOS, or under certain specific circumstances, shift into a new MOS
  • Learn new skills in our leadership schools
  • Earn retirement benefits
  • Military Service Obligation (MSO) reduction*
  • Stabilization policy*

* Benefits vary state to state; check with your local recruiter, Reserve Component Career Counselor (on Active Duty posts).

Click the "Apply Now" button to begin your application process and get connected with a recruiter.

See what you can earn with the Guard.

Whether it's your first job or the next phase in your military career, the Guard offers excellent pay. Your earnings depend on your rank, your job and even your education level. The higher your rank, the more you'll earn. Use our Pay Calculator to find out what you can earn in the Guard.

Joining the Guard really does pay. And pay. And pay.

As a Guard Soldier, you can take advantage of many unique ways to save money. Shopping discounts, flying privileges and life insurance are just some of the valuable perks you may receive for your service. To learn more about additional benefits the Guard offers, read below.

Fly for free:

As a Guard Soldier, you can fly free on military transportation within and between the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico, whenever space is available. This is known as Space-A travel. Availability is based on a priority system.

Shopping discounts:

Shop tax-free at any military exchange (department store) and commissary (grocery store). A wide range of additional retail and lodging discounts is also available.

Healthcare:

You and your family can purchase affordable health coverage from TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), which provides top-quality healthcare.

Life insurance:

Low-cost life insurance plans up to $400,000 are available to you as a Guard Soldier. Your immediate family is eligible for Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), which offers insurance to spouses and dependent children of Guard members insured under SGLI.

Veterans Affairs (VA):

You may be eligible for VA home loans with minimum or no down payment. Working through private lenders such as banks, savings and loans, and mortgage companies, the VA guarantees loans for homes up to a predetermined amount. The VA can also eliminate the need for private mortgage insurance, saving you even more money.

Re-employment benefits:

You may be deployed on short notice. If you must leave your civilian job to serve your country, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects your right to be re-employed in the same position upon returning from military service.

Federal retirement plan:

In addition to any civilian benefits, the Guard can continue to pay you every month after you’ve finished your service.

Click the "Apply Now" button to begin your application process and get connected with a recruiter.

Take advantage of special officer incentives.

Become an officer in the National Guard, and you may be eligible for monetary incentives and cash bonuses in addition to your regular monthly paycheck. Eligibility requirements vary. See below for examples of benefits.

These benefits are available to officers or those about to receive their commission.

Note: Army National Guard programs and benefits are subject to change.

Click the "Apply Now" button to begin your application process and get connected with a recruiter.

The Guard’s dual mission may mean dual benefits.

As a Soldier in the National Guard, you serve both our national government and that of your state or territory. This means you’ll earn benefits for serving both. Talk to a recruiter and find out more about your state’s benefits.

Enjoy all the retirement benefits you’ve worked for.

You must serve 20 years in order to receive retirement benefits. If you served in the military before joining the Guard, you will receive credit toward your Guard retirement for all active service time. Because you’re able to hold a civilian job along with your Guard service, your military retirement benefits will be paid in addition to any other retirement benefits you have coming to you. One more reason that your Guard service is a great way to build a solid future.

  • Receive active service credit for all years on Active Duty.
  • Your Guard benefits are not affected by any other retirement benefits you receive.
  • You will receive TRICARE coverage for the rest of your life once you reach age 62.

Click the "Apply Now" button to begin your application process and get connected with a recruiter.

Powerful incentives for re-enlisting.

Re-enlisting in a select critical skills area or unit could qualify you for incentives up to $15,000 in cash or $50,000 in student loan repayment. This is just one more way the Guard helps you move forward in your life. Eligibility requirements for these incentives vary. Learn more below.

  • Prior Service Enlistment Bonus (PSEB) — up to $15,000 if you have previously served in the military and possess an MOS that is considered critical for the Guard.
  • Re-enlistment Extension Bonus (REB) — up to $10,000 if you are a Soldier who re-enlists or extends your current term of service. This bonus is based on term, critical skill or unit. Incentive amounts vary. Contact your State Incentive Manager for details.
  • MOS Conversion Bonus (MOSCB) — $2,000 if you are a current enlisted Soldier and volunteer to re-train into a new MOS where there is a shortage of qualified personnel. Positions vary state to state. Check with your unit’s Readiness NCO or State Incentive Manager.

Click the "Apply Now" button to begin your application process and get connected with a recruiter.