FAQs
If you cannot find the answer to your question here, view the Army
Guard FAQ or the Air
Guard Recruiting FAQ.
FAQ Contents:
Addresses:
What is the address for...
The National Guard Bureau
1411 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington VA 22202-3231
The Army National Guard Readiness
Center
111 S. George Mason Drive
Arlington VA 22204
The Air National Guard Readiness Center
3500 Fetchet Avenue
Andrews AFB MD 20762-5157
ASVAB Test:
I understand I have to take a test prior to enlisting. What
is the test and where do I take it?
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-choice
test that helps you better understand your strengths and is one of
the things that helps identify which jobs (Military Occupational Specialties)
are best for you. Most major bookstores carry ASVAB tutorial books
that you can purchase.
Benefits/VA Benefits:
I served in the National Guard for 10 years but did not retire.
What benefits am I entitled to?
If you were not medically retired from the service and did not serve
in a combat/war zone, you will have to contact the
Department
of Veterans Affairs to see if you are entitled to any benefits.
What Veterans Administration benefits am I entitled to as a
former member of the National Guard?
Benefits for former National Guard members have many variables that
must be individually addressed before benefits can be assessed. Contact
the
Department of Veterans Affairs directly
for information about any benefits you may be entitled to.
My spouse served in the National Guard and is deceased. What
benefits am I entitled to as the spouse?
It depends on whether your spouse retired from the Guard. If so, contact
your nearest military installation for information about claiming your
benefits. If not, you may be entitled to some benefits through the
Department
of Veterans Affairs.
If I’m a traditional reservist on active duty and I’m killed,
will my family receive the same benefits as an active duty family?
The family of a traditional reservist who dies while on active duty
is entitled to many of the same benefits as an active duty family,
including ID cards, medical services, commissary, exchange and morale,
welfare and recreation activities. Eligibility for other privileges
are covered in item #2. Privileges for children are until age 21 or
the eve of 23rd birthday if enrolled fulltime in an accredited institution
of higher learning. Spouse is eligible unless he/she remarries. If
spouse, remarries and subsequently divorces he/she will get back all
privileges except medical.
The member's family may also be eligible for the Reserve Component
Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) this plan differs from active duty SBP
because it is based on completion of satisfactory years of service
that qualify the member for retired pay at age 60.
Family is also entitled to:
- death gratuity
- unpaid pay and allowances
- Basic Allowance for Housing ( BAH ) if family is occupying government
housing on the date the member dies
- Service member's Group Life Insurance (SGLI),
- RCSBP a monthly annuity paid to surviving spouse or, in some
cases, eligible children of Reserve Component members who have
completed the satisfactory years of service that qualify the member
for retired pay at age 60.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, (DIC) VA may authorize
payment for surviving spouses who have not remarried, unmarried
children under 18, disabled children, children between the ages
of 18 and 23 if attending a VA-approved school, and low-income
parents of service members who die from a disease or injury incurred
or aggravated while on active duty or active duty for training
or a an injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty while
on inactive duty for training, or a disability compensable by the
Veteran's Affairs.
- There are other benefits (eligibility will have to be determined)
listed in Public Laws, Titles 5, 10, 12, 37, 38, and 42 such as
Educational Assistance, Social Security payments, VA Guaranteed
Loans, Government Employment etc...
I’m a traditional reservist. If I’m injured while on active
duty, what benefits am I and my family entitled to receive?
If injured, begin by processing a Line of Duty (LOD) determination.
The type of injury will determine benefits, further processing, etc.
Careers in the Guard/Recruiting/Recruitment:
I am interested in more information about the Army/Air National
Guard, but don't want to be contacted by a recruiter yet. Where can
I obtain information about joining the National Guard?
Both the
Army Guard and
Air
Guard have comprehensive Web sites with information.
Note: Browsing these Web sites in no way obligates you to join the
National Guard. Also, you will only be contacted by a recruiter if
you request it.
Where can I find an Army/Air Guard recruiter in my state?
Visit either the
Army Guard Web
site or the
Air Guard Web site
to find a recruiter in your state.
Does the Guard have full-time positions, or are they all part-time?
In addition to serving as little as one weekend a month and two weeks
a year, all states have full-time positions available for Guard members
in certain career fields. Check out the
Army
Guard and the
Air Guard
Jobs Web sites to find full-time jobs in your state.
ChalleNGe Program/STARBASE/Youth
Programs:
I would like more information about the ChalleNGe Program/STARBASE.
The
ChalleNGe Program and
the
STARBASE Program have
separate Web sites with more program information.
How can I find a point of contact for the ChalleNGe Program
in my state?
You can find a list of participating states and points of contact at
the
National Guard Challenge Program's
Web site.
How can I find a point of contact for the STARBASE Program
in my state?
What is the difference between the ChalleNGE Program and STARBASE?
ChalleNGe, a preventive -- rather than remedial -- youth-at-risk program,
targets unemployed drug-free and law-free high-school dropouts, 16
to 18 years of age. Core components of the program are citizenship,
academic excellence (GED/high school diploma attainment), life-coping
skills, community service, health and hygiene, skills training, leadership/followership,
and physical training. The five-month residential phase is followed
by a year-long mentoring relationship with a specially trained member
from each youth's community.
STARBASE, a program for youth ages 6 through 18, is aimed at improving
math and science skills. The program starts at the elementary school
level in order to attract and prepare students at an early age for
careers in engineering and other science-related fields of study. The
program principally exposes at-risk children and their teachers to
real world applications of math and science through experiential learning,
simulations, and experiments in aviation and space-related fields.
The program also addresses drug use prevention, health, self esteem
and life skills within a math- and science-based program.
Clothing/Equipment:
Are Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) personnel authorized a clothing
allowance?
AGR officers upon the initial tour are entitled to uniform allowance;
enlisted AGR personnel are not because it is ANG policy to provide "in-kind" issue
through unit supply.
Complaint/IG Complaint:
I'd like to speak to someone in the Inspector General's office
about a FRAUD, WASTE, & ABUSE complaint.
The
National Guard Bureau Office of the
Inspector General has a web presence within the National Guard
Bureau Web site. Depending on the type of complaint you are filing,
there are different points of contact within that office.
Do you have a good phone number/email address/physical address
for the IG's office?
Contact the National Guard Bureau IG at:
NGB/IG
1411 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 11600
Arlington VA 22202-3231
703-607-2539
Contracting:
I own a small company and am interested in
doing business with the National Guard. Where do I send information
about my company?
Contact the National Guard Bureau Small Business office:
NGB-ZC-SADBU
1411 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Arlington, VA 22202-3231
Phone: 703-607-1023
E-mail address: NGBSADBU@ngb.ang.af.mil
Differences in the Guard
and Reserve
How is the National Guard different from the Reserves?
Although the National Guard is a part of this nation's reserve forces,
there are a few differences between the Army or Air Force Reserve and
the Guard. The National Guard is by far the oldest component of any
of the uniformed services. It traces its roots to the colonial militia,
and claims a "birthday" of 1636. By comparison, the U.S. Army was founded
in 1775 (its first units all came out of the colonial militia) and
the U.S. Air Force was created in 1947. More importantly, the National
Guard maintains a unique "dual status" - both State and Federal - that
no other service or component has. This dual status is rooted in Article
1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which states that "Congress shall
have the power ... To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining,
the Militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed
in the service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively,
the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the
Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress."
The National Guard serves both the state and nation in times of need,
and soldiers and airmen in the Guard swear an oath to protect and defend
not just the Constitution of the United States, but also of the State
in which they serve. In peacetime, the Guard is commanded by the governors
of the respective States and Territories (the District of Columbia
National Guard is commanded directly by the President). We assist civil
leaders during natural disasters, state emergencies and civil unrest.
Civil laws, particularly the Posse Comitatus act of 1878, limit the
use of Federal troops (to include Federal Reserve components like the
Army Reserve and the Air Force Reserve) to enforce the law. The National
Guard, when acting in its capacity as State troops, does not fall under
these restrictions and thus can augment civil authorities in maintaining
law and order.
Guard members also enjoy educational benefits that are unique in each
state. Both National Guard and Reserve members are eligible for the
Montgomery GI Bill, but in many states, members of the National Guard
are offered reduced/free tuition at state supported colleges or university.
(This benefit varies from state to state, so contact your local National
Guard recruiter for information about benefits in your state.)
National Defense Service
Medal:
Do I qualify for the National Defense Service Medal?
If you were on orders, either Title 10 or Title 32 in support of Operation
Noble Eagle, and/or performing military duty in defense of one of our
nation’s airports, the criteria states that you are, in fact, eligible
for the NDSM. The criteria are slightly different for Army and Air.
Downloads:
Army Criteria [DOC],
Air
Force Criteria [DOC]
Records:
I'm no longer a member of the Guard. How can I get copies of
my service/medical/disability/awards records?
Once you leave the Guard you may get copies of your records by contacting the Military Personnel Office of the Guard headquarters in the state where you were last a Guardsman.
Rights:
What is the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment
Rights Act (USERRA)?
The
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton on
October 13, 1994. Congress amended the law in 1996, 1998, and 2000.
USERRA is codified in Title 38, United States Code, Sections 4301-4333
(38 U.S.C. 4301-4333).
I employ a member of the Guard. What are my rights as an employer?
The National
Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve FAQ can
answer your question.
I've been called to active duty for six months and my employer
has told me I will be fired if I leave. What are my rights?
The
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA),
enacted October 1994 and significantly updated October 1996 and 1998,
provides protection and rights of reinstatement to employees who participate
in the National Guard and Reserve. To find out what your rights are,
go to the
National Committee
for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve's FAQ website or,
you can contact ESGR Ombudsmen Services through your
local
ESGR Committee or the
National ESGR
Headquarters, or the toll-free number, (800) 336-4590 (ask for
Ombudsmen Services).
Veteran's Benefits:
VA officials estimate most of America’s 25 million veterans qualify
for at least some VA benefits, but many are unaware of their entitlements.
This
handbook (1.3 MB .pdf) includes
a listing of toll-free numbers, World Wide Web information resources,
and VA facilities.
Most veterans are eligible for healthcare and burial benefits. Many
are also eligible for home loan guarantees, educational assistance,
vocational rehabilitation, life insurance, and compensation for service-connected
disabilities.
This guide explains how to access many of these benefits online. For
instance, it provides a Web address and instructions for enrolling
via the Internet into the VA healthcare system. The book describes
in detail the priority for care and services available. Separate sections
describe specialized services available to Gulf War veterans and those
exposed to Agent Orange or radiation.
The Montgomery GI Bill and other education benefits are explained in
depth. Burial benefits and employment service are also covered, as
are rate charts for the various forms of compensation VA provides.
The book can be purchased through the Government Printing Office for
$5 for U.S.-based customers and $6.25 for those overseas by calling
toll-free (866) 512-1800. By providing it online at
http://www.va.gov/opa/feature/ ,
the VA hopes to make the information available to more veterans.
I’m a traditional reservist who is injured while on Active
Duty, what benefits am I and my family entitled to receive?
The family of a traditional reservist who dies while on active duty
is entitled to many of the same benefits as an active duty family,
including ID cards, medical services, commissary, exchange and morale,
welfare and recreation activities. Eligibility for other privileges
are covered in item #2. Privileges for children are until age 21 or
the eve of 23rd birthday if enrolled fulltime in an accredited institution
of higher learning. Spouse is eligible unless he/she remarries. If
spouse, remarries and subsequently divorces he/she will get back all
privileges except medical.
The member's family may also be eligible for the Reserve Component
Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) this plan differs from active duty SBP
because it is based on completion of satisfactory years of service
that qualify the member for retired pay at age 60.
Family is also entitled to:
- death gratuity
- unpaid pay and allowances
- Basic Allowance for Housing ( BAH ) if family is occupying government
housing on the date the member dies
- Service member's Group Life Insurance (SGLI),
- RCSBP a monthly annuity paid to surviving spouse or, in some
cases, eligible children of Reserve Component members who have
completed the satisfactory years of service that qualify the member
for retired pay at age 60.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, (DIC) VA may authorize
payment for surviving spouses who have not remarried, unmarried
children under 18, disabled children, children between the ages
of 18 and 23 if attending a VA-approved school, and low-income
parents of service members who die from a disease or injury incurred
or aggravated while on active duty or active duty for training
or a an injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty while
on inactive duty for training, or a disability compensable by the
Veteran's Affairs.
- There are other benefits (eligibility will have to be determined)
listed in Public Laws, Titles 5, 10, 12, 37, 38, and 42 such as
Educational Assistance, Social Security payments, VA Guaranteed
Loans, Government Employment etc...
If I get injured while on active duty, but I’m a traditional
reservist, to what benefits am I and my family entitled?
If injured, begin by processing a Line of Duty (LOD) determination.
The type of injury will determine benefits, further processing, etc.
Please send email regarding only our Web site to our
webmaster.
Never, ever send your social security number. For other questions view
our
staff contact list for an appropriate
contact.