Education

No matter where you are in your educational journey, the Army National Guard has programs that can help you achieve your goals. From GED to graduate school, the Army National Guard helps make continuing education a reality.

High School -

Never finished High School? You are not alone. Let the Army National Guard help you obtain your GED.

General Educational Development (GED) Testing Service
General Educational Development (GED) Plus Program

Applying for college? The Army National Guard can help you prepare for the ACT® or the SAT®.
American College Testing (ACT®) Assessment® Program
SAT® (formerly Scholastic Assessment Test)

College -

If you have some college-level credit hours, and you’d like to earn your Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, but you work full-time you may be able to earn college credits for what you have learned and experienced. Would a flexible distance education program meet your needs? Find out how the Army National Guard can assist through these programs:

College Level Examination Program® (CLEP®)
DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST)
Excelsior College Examinations (ECE)

Need money for college? Already have a student loan obligation? The Army National Guard has a number of ways to help!

100% Tuition Assistance

Montgomery G.I. Bill

State Educational Benefits

Student Loan Repayment

Beyond -

Need a professional certificate? Applying for graduate school? You or your spouse thinking about a career as a teacher?

Certification Testing
Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®)
Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE ®)
The PRAXIS Series™ Tests (Teacher Licensing)
Troops-to-Teachers
Spouses-to-Teachers

Contact your local recruiter to learn more about these and other valuable continuing education opportunities in the Army National Guard.

100% Federal Tuition Assistance

The Army National Guard funds up to 100% of tuition costs and fees, not to exceed $250 per semester hour and will be limited to $4500 per person per fiscal year. Consult your local recruiter for the policy for the current fiscal year. Federal Tuition Assistance may be used in addition to the Montgomery G.I. Bill, Army National Guard G.I. Bill Kicker, Active Duty Montgomery G.I. Bill and Pell Grants.

Eligibility Requirements:

-Eligibility begins the day a person joins the Army National Guard, prior to boot camp or even while still in high school.
Students need to complete courses in which Tuition Assistance is provided before their Expiration Term of Service date.

-Commissioned officers must agree to remain in the Guard for at least 4 years following completion of the course in which Tuition Assistance is provided.

-The college or university attended must be a nationally or regionally accredited institution.

-Tuition Assistance funds will not be disbursed without verification of enrollment.

-The institution must provide the soldier with documentation clearly describing the cost of each course.

-Student must remain a satisfactory participant in the Army National Guard.

Contact your local recruiter to determine your eligibility for for Military Tuition Assistance.

State Military Tuition Assistance (Vary by state)
Most states offer tuition assistance beyond that covered by the 100% Federal Tuition Assistance Program and the Montgomery G.I. Bill. Some colleges and universities may also offer Guard members additional tuition waivers that are independent of the programs offered by the Army National Guard in their state.

The eligibility requirements and implementation of benefits differ in each state and territory. See the State Education Benefits for an overview or contact your local recruiter for exact details.

College First!

Does this sound like you?

-You’re a graduating high school senior or recent graduate...
-You want to go to college but you need money...
-You want to serve your community and your country...
-You’ve considered joining the Army National Guard, and you want to complete your first two years of college before possible mobilization/deployment...
The Army National Guard College First Program is for you!

What is the Army National Guard College First program?

The Army National Guard College First program is a new enlistment option which makes it possible to achieve your college goals while serving. This enlistment option provides qualified high school graduates and graduating seniors, with no prior military service, the opportunity to complete up to two years of full-time schooling, with no federal mobilization/deployment, while serving part-time in the Army National Guard.

Okay, I’m interested. What does the College First program offer?

1. Up to two years of non-deployment following completion of Initial Active Duty Training (IADT, which is where you learn the skills required for the military job, or MOS, you select when you enlist)

2. Up to a $20,000 Enlistment Bonus

EARN OVER $2,000 PER MONTH
In The College First Program

MGIB-SR $307
MGIB-SR Kicker $350
Drill Pay (E-3) $212
Recruiting Assistant Pay* $665
Federal College Tuition** $500
Total Monthly Earnings $2,024

3. Basic Educational assistance of $307 per month - Montgomery G.I. Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

4. Additional Educational assistance of $350 per month with the MGIB-SR Kicker (the Kicker is in addition to the MGIB-SR, and is available to those enlisting in a critical MOS and assigned to a qualified unit)

5. 100% College Tuition Assistance, up to $4,500 a year

6. Up to 100% State Tuition Assistance (varies by State)

How do I know if I am eligibile?

-You are eligible for the College First enlistment program if...
-You are a non-prior service high school graduate or graduating high school senior
-You score 50 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
-You agree to complete Advanced Individual Training (job training) immediately following Basic
Training (Note: the Split Training option is not authorized for College First enlistments)
-You are accepted at a college or university accredited by the U.S. Department of Education within 90 days of completion of Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and remain a full-time student in good standing for the duration of their non-deployment period
-You join an Army National Guard unit in a State or Territory participating in the College First Program
-You meet all other applicable enlistment criteria as required - your local recruiter can answer your questions

So what are you waiting for?

Enlist in the Army National Guard today and put college first!

Contact your local recruiter to learn more about the College First Enlistment Option plus other valuable educational opportunities in the Army National Guard.

* Recruiting Assistant Pay (Voluntary): This is a 100% optional, performance-based program, open to Guard members to assist in helping recruit for your unit. Recruiting Assistants (RAs) can earn additional income assisting Guard recruiting efforts, by identifying well-qualified men and women for service in the ARNG. RAs earn $2,000 for each new recruit who enlists and reports to Basic Training, or for each prior service member who affiliates with a unit for four months. Monthly dollar amount is based on one referral enlisting each quarter.

** The Army National Guard funds up to 100% of tuition costs and fees, not to exceed $250 per semester hour and will be limited to $4500 per person per fiscal year.