mission

• Be between the ages of 17 and 35
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Be at least a junior in high school, or have a high school diploma or a GED certificate
• Achieve a minimum score on the ASVAB test
• Meet medical, physical and moral requirements

Once you and your Guard Recruiter agree that you’re a good fit for the Guard, your next step is to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which determines which jobs you qualify for. 

The test measures your knowledge in eight areas:

• General Science - Life, earth, space and physical sciences
• Arithmetic Reasoning - Ability to solve basic math and word problems
• Word Knowledge - Ability to grasp the meaning of words through synonyms
• Paragraph Comprehension - Ability to understand written material
• Mathematics - Math concepts and applications
• Electronics - Electrical current, circuits, devices and electronic systems
• Auto and Shop - Car maintenance and repair, and wood and metal shop
• Mechanical - Principles of mechanical devices, structural support, properties of materials

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SERVICES

• Age – Must qualify for non-regular retired pay by age 60.
• Physical – Must meet height/weight and current medical requirements.
• Education – Must meet education standards for the MOS or option for which you enlist.
• Background – Must have most current DD 214, NGB22 or discharge order and have an approved DD Form 368 Conditional Release.

At this point, you will lock in your Basic Combat Training ship date, confirm your rank and your Guard pay, and take your Oath of Enlistment.

SPLIT OPTION TRAINING:

You enlist while you’re still a junior (you must be 17 years old to enlist and have permission from a parent or guardian), finish that year and attend Basic Combat Training during the summer between your junior and senior years. 

BEFORE YOU SHIP:

Until you ship, you’ll attend something called the Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP) one weekend a month. RSP is all about getting you ready to excel at Basic Training, so you'll learn Guard rules and structure, and start fitness and classroom training.