Question about National Guard and Reserves?

Question

My son will turn 17 this school year, couple of months actually. He wants to join the Guard or Reserves and do his Basic during summer between junior and senior year. Some of the literature he has received says he will receive $1000/month during his senior year. Is this correct and what does he do to get this. Will he attend monthly drills or is this a bonus, or does it get repaid when he goes to AIT......Help, concerned parent. Also, will the Guard or Reserves pay for college, he wants to use the money toward college, someone please explain to me how this works, as I am unsure as to whether or not he should make this type of commitment yet as I think he should wait until graduation........

Answer 1

Depends on what state your in. Each state has its own benefits.

I'm in the Army National Guard at Oklahoma. I didn't get $1,000 per month during school. Just some drill pay every month which is like $160. I got a $15,000 signing bonus. I picked my occupation to be a Radar repairer. You get paid over $1,000 per month during Basic and AIT. Depends on your rank pay grade.

The Guard pays for your college tuition. And pays you money per month for other college expense. With G.I. Bill and Kicker. It just depends on what Military occupation you pick and what state your in.

The Guard is the way to Go!

Here's a site that explains everything and shows everything. I didn't go Active First. If you go Active first you have to do it after you graduate I believe...

http://www.1800goguard.com/benefits/inde...

In Oklahoma. I did drill during school season. Only one weekend a month you go to drill. Then you get paid for that drill later. I have mypay direct deposit

Answer 2

i did it, but the information is incorrect.... you recieve $12,000 (adjusted for inflation at the time of realization) at the end of a full year of active duty when you allocate $100 a month from your full time paycheck.  make sure he doesn't sign anything unless he understands what he is signing.

Answer 3

He cannot go to basic until he graduates.  

Answer 4

Unliklely he can attend boot camp before graduating high school. If his unit got deployed, he would be required to go with them. I also believe he needs to be 18 before entering boot camp.