The Army National Guard has physical, academic, and legal qualifications that you must pass to join. You must be in good health and have no major physical handicaps. The minimum age to join the National Guard is 17. Persons under age 18 must obtain the consent of a parent or legal guardian. You must be either currently in High School or have a High School Diploma or GED. You must also obtain a minimum qualifying score on the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Soon after you contact a recruiter, they will administer this test to see if you are qualified. Your ASVAB score will also determine which job, known as a Military Occupational Skill (MOS), you are qualified for. Your recruiter will provide you with more exact information and make recommendations regarding your qualification status.

You are eligible to join the Army National Guard if you meet the following requirements:

• Citizen of the United States
• A High School graduate or have your GED equivalent
• High School Juniors/Seniors as long as they meet the age requirements.
• Between the ages of 17 and 39
• Non-Prior Service person is now elligible to join up to the day before your 40th B-Day

Prior Military? Click here.

High School Program
To join the Guard, you must be 17 years old and be either a High School Junior, Senior or Graduate, or have a GED equivalent. However, the Guard realizes that individuals who are not yet 17 or high school graduates may be planning ahead for their future.

High School Juniors
If you are 17 and a high school junior, the Guard offers a program which allows you to join prior to your senior year. This program enables you to serve and earn pay all through your Junior year. When you enlist in the Army National Guard, you'll typically serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year (usually in the summer). Your initial training will be broken into two parts. First, you'll get basic instruction on how to be a soldier, like how to salute, march and shoot an M-16. Second, you will learn a special, individual occupational skill.

You can do Basic Training one summer and your job training the next summer. This program is call Split Training Option. High School Juniors who attend basic training in the summer can earn pay all through their senior year.

Split Training Option
The Split Training Option is offered to qualified students and seasonal employees.This is available to applicants who are unable to attend a continuous training cycle.You must enlist for a minimum of 6 years. You also must enter Basic Training within 270 days of enlistment. The training will begin following the junior year in High School or as soon as possible for seasonal workers. Upon successful completion of Basic Training the soldier will be released and returned to their unit and begin weekend training. Within one year of completion of Basic Training you will be required to enter into your Advanced Individual Training (AIT) to complete your required training.