Military Careers, Air Force Commissioning Programs - Air Force Times

Joining the National Guard

The National Guard is made up of both active-duty and Reserve Guard members. Each state and U.S. territory has its own National Guard.

The Army National Guard offers a large selection of military occupational specialties in three major categories: Combat (Infantry, Artillery, Armor, Aviation, Air Defense); Combat Support (Engineer, Chemical, Military Police, Signal, Military Intelligence, Civil Affairs); and Combat Service Support (Finance, Public Affairs, Personnel, Supply, Maintenance, Transportation).

Members of the Army National Guard enjoy exchange and commissary privileges, medical benefits, free space-available travel, life insurance and, in some cases, bonuses.

The Army and Air National Guard follow the regulations and requirements of their parent services. Guard members and units are available for recall by state governors in times of crisis or natural disaster.

Mission. The Guard has a federal and a state mission. It is called to assist in local emergency and disaster relief.

Residency. You can live in one state and be affiliated with a Guard unit in another. The only requirement is that you can reach your drill site.

Contact. For information on the Air National Guard, call (800) 864-6264 or visit www.ang.af.mil, which posts Guard and Reserve openings as well as information about the service.

For information on the Army National Guard, call (800) 464-8273 or visit www. 1800goguard.com, which has a state-by-state unit locator with contact numbers and a recruiter locator.

You also can visit the National Guard Bureau (Air and Army) Web site at www.ngb.army.mil, which currently is under redesign.

An unofficial Web site at www.latlong.com/guardbum has information on job openings for active or drilling reservists.