Trying to choose a branch, questions :)

[dayday]

Hi, my bf wants to join the military. Thus far, he has met with army recruiters and coast guard ones. I heard something on the radio about the national guard being one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year and thought it may be a good fit. I have lots of questions. Would he be able to stay where we live now ( in FL) and just come to wherever the weekend training is or would he have to live on a base? His main reason for joining would be for school to be paid for, also for financial reasons. I don't know if he knows everything else that would be involved. Could the National Guard be a way to test the waters so to speak, to see how someone would like being in the military before jumping into something headfirst? Would he be able to work the job he has now while joining part time? He was telling me all the benefits of if he enlisted in the army fulltime, all the money he would get but I'm worried about him being gone for bootcamp, then A school, then being shipped overseas somewhere. We plan to get married after I finish college next May, and I would like him to be close to me for now. I don't know how I would go without seeing him for years or so. Would the weekend sessions be in FL if that's where we live? Would it be possible for us to see each other at least a couple days a week if he did the national guard? Is he able to attend a university of his choice while in the National Guard and still be a part of it? Could part time be strictly the 2 weeks a year, one weekend a month? And how much would he be paid with that? Also, after he's in the national guard, if he does like it a lot, what it entails, would he have to finish the whole 4-6 years( the video on this site says that's the average time ) as part time, or could he change to full time at some point during that time? Thank you for taking the time to listen to me and I await your responses. He's trying to make a decision before the end of February so I'm trying to get all the information I possibly can to make the best decision for "us", one we both could live with. Hope to hear from everyone soon :)

[schwen1]

First he has to talk to a recruiter- and take the ASVAB test. His score will determine what jobs he is qualified for. The recruiter will have him pick a job and then the recruiter will see if there is a " slot " open for the job at a base near you. Then he will go take his physical etc. at the nearest MEPS. If he passes all that then he will be set up with a ship date for basic which lasts 9 or 10 weeks and after basic he would go for the job training ( MOS ) that he qualified for- chose and slotted for by his recruiter. Depending on what that job is determines how long that he will be gone training -could be a month or maybe 9. After he finishes his MOS training he is now able to start college for FREE plus money every month to help with expenses ( GI bill, Kicker etc..) He should be able to go to any state university and most private colleges. Also he is deployable" unless he is enrolled in the college first program. This delays his deployment eligibility for 2 years. Also he will have to drill one weekend a month and the 2 weeks a year. Also after MOS he should get half hi$20000 bonus depending on if his MOS is considered " critical" oh yeah study anything you can for the ASVAB. I Think the scores will work for any branch of the military. I too it and I'm 40 years old, my score was a 88. Part of the scoring is called your GT score. That is what determines your eligibility for different jobs. 110 is Tthe minimum for the smart jobs. Mine was a 131 and I havent taken a test in over 20 years so it cant be that hard as long as he studies and takes it seriously

[exvet]

when u do BG is just part time one weekend a month and then once a yr for two weeks straight. for financial reasons, is about 200 dollars a months i dont know how much that helps but anyway. for the weekend training he goes to his unit and train, u do not live on base. for the 2 weeks he probably go with his unit to a different state or area at least. as for active duty, the pay is not that good, i dont know what the recruiter said but believe me i used to be active duty. u guys will def make more as a civilian specially with college degrees. active duty probably makes about 2500 a month before taxes.

[PARecruiter11B24]

Hi, my bf wants to join the military. Thus far, he has met with army recruiters and coast guard ones. I heard something on the radio about the national guard being one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year and thought it may be a good fit. I have lots of questions. Would he be able to stay where we live now ( in FL) and just come to wherever the weekend training is or would he have to live on a base? His main reason for joining would be for school to be paid for, also for financial reasons. I don't know if he knows everything else that would be involved. Could the National Guard be a way to test the waters so to speak, to see how someone would like being in the military before jumping into something headfirst? Would he be able to work the job he has now while joining part time? He was telling me all the benefits of if he enlisted in the army fulltime, all the money he would get but I'm worried about him being gone for bootcamp, then A school, then being shipped overseas somewhere. We plan to get married after I finish college next May, and I would like him to be close to me for now. I don't know how I would go without seeing him for years or so. Would the weekend sessions be in FL if that's where we live? Would it be possible for us to see each other at least a couple days a week if he did the national guard? Is he able to attend a university of his choice while in the National Guard and still be a part of it? Could part time be strictly the 2 weeks a year, one weekend a month? And how much would he be paid with that? Also, after he's in the national guard, if he does like it a lot, what it entails, would he have to finish the whole 4-6 years( the video on this site says that's the average time ) as part time, or could he change to full time at some point during that time? Thank you for taking the time to listen to me and I await your responses. He's trying to make a decision before the end of February so I'm trying to get all the information I possibly can to make the best decision for "us", one we both could live with. Hope to hear from everyone soon :)

OK you have a lot of questions so I will try and help. Here it is..... Go see a recruiter near your home and ask the same questions. Yes we are "1 weekend a month 2 weeks a year". You join the Guard in the state you live in so you do your drills in that state. No we dont require anyone to live on a post. Thats the Active component. Yes he can go to the college he wants to and still serve in the Guard.
So what am I saying in a nut shell? Don't worry your future husband will not be gone forever, just Basic and AIT, and yes you can live with him. You would have your questions answered better talking to a recruiter face to face than on this forum. Trust me go talk to them. We don't bite LOL.