Get the basics about the Guard.

Watch the video.

What is the Guard?

The National Guard is a military branch—America’s oldest—that serves both state and federal governments. The major difference between the Guard and other branches is that while Guard units are combat-trained and can be deployed overseas (depending on your unit and your job), Guard Soldiers are just as likely to serve in their home communities—just one weekend per month, and one two-week period each year.

Height and Weight Requirements

Guard Soldiers need to be in excellent condition to fulfill the physical demands of military service. They also need to fall within certain ranges of height and weight. To see if you’re a good fit for the Guard, fill in your information below.

See how you measure up:

Min. and Max. Weight Requirements

— lbs.

(Minimum)

— lbs.

(Maximum)

Allowable Body Fat:

— %

(Maximum)
 
 

 

How long will I serve?

calendar

The total enlistment period is eight years, but Guard Soldiers can serve as little as three or six years, and spend the remainder in IRR (Individual Ready Reserve)—which means they don't train with a unit, but can still be called up in the event of an emergency.

And unless your unit is deployed overseas, your commitment will usually be filled serving one weekend of drill per month and one two-week annual training period, usually in the summer.

 

The Enlistment Process

Not everyone qualifies for the Guard, so there are a few steps you’ll need to take in order to enlist.

process

 

 

1.  Contact a representative - You start the process by filling out a form and letting a Guard representative know you have questions. No obligation, no guarantees—it’s just a way of letting us know that you want to find out more. 

2. Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) - If you and your Guard representative agree that you’re a good fit for the Guard, you’ll take a standardized test called the ASVAB. It’s designed to discover your strengths, so we can find the best place in the Guard for you—the one where you’ll fit best and be most likely to succeed.

3. Enlist – Once you’ve determined that you want to become a Soldier in the National Guard, you’re ready to enlist. At this point, you’ll:

  • Schedule a physical examination with one of our doctors
  • Lock in your ship date for Basic Combat Training (BCT)
  • Confirm the job that you’ve selected
  • Approve any benefits and bonuses
  • Take your Oath of Enlistment

4. Attend Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP) - Your ship date—the day you leave for Basic—will depend on your Guard job and the school you’ll attend for that job. You might ship within just a few weeks, or it might be delayed for several months. Until you ship, you’ll attend RSP one weekend a month to learn Guard rules and structure, and start fitness and classroom training.

5. Ship to Basic Training - You’re ready to start becoming a Soldier. In just a little over nine weeks, you’ll be physically and mentally stronger than you’ve ever been, and ready to be part of the team that protects America.

 

Note: Army National Guard programs and benefits are subject to change. For the latest information, please contact your local recruiter.

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