Frequently Asked Questions - The National Guard

If injured, begin by processing a Line of Duty (LOD) determination. The type of injury will determine benefits, further processing, etc. Careers in the ... Skiptomaincontent(PressEnter). Home:Resources:FrequentlyAskedQuestions FrequentlyAskedQuestions Ifyoucannotfindtheanswertoyourquestionhere,viewtheArmyGuardFAQortheAirGuardRecruitingFAQ. Topics:AddressesASVABTestBenefits/VABenefitsCareers/RecruitingChalleNGeProgram/Starbase/YouthProgramsClothing/EquipmentComplaint/IGComplaintContractingDifferencesintheGuardandReserveNationalDefenseServiceMedalRecordsRightsVeteran'sBenefits   ASVABTest IunderstandIhavetotakeatestpriortoenlisting.WhatisthetestandwheredoItakeit?TheArmedServicesVocationalAptitudeBattery(ASVAB)isamultiple-choicetestthathelpsyoubetterunderstandyourstrengthsandisoneofthethingsthathelpsidentifywhichjobs(MilitaryOccupationalSpecialties)arebestforyou.MostmajorbookstorescarryASVABtutorialbooksthatyoucanpurchase.   Benefits/VABenefits IservedintheNationalGuardfor10yearsbutdidnotretire.WhatbenefitsamIentitledto?Ifyouwerenotmedicallyretiredfromtheserviceanddidnotserveinacombat/warzone,youwillhavetocontacttheDepartmentofVeteransAffairstoseeifyouareentitledtoanybenefits.WhatVeteransAdministrationbenefitsamIentitledtoasaformermemberoftheNationalGuard?BenefitsforformerNationalGuardmembershavemanyvariablesthatmustbeindividuallyaddressedbeforebenefitscanbeassessed.ContacttheDepartmentofVeteransAffairsdirectlyforinformationaboutanybenefitsyoumaybeentitledto.MyspouseservedintheNationalGuardandisdeceased.WhatbenefitsamIentitledtoasthespouse?ItdependsonwhetheryourspouseretiredfromtheGuard.Ifso,contactyournearestmilitaryinstallationforinformationaboutclaimingyourbenefits.Ifnot,youmaybeentitledtosomebenefitsthroughtheDepartmentofVeteransAffairs.IfI'matraditionalreservistonactivedutyandI'mkilled,willmyfamilyreceivethesamebenefitsasanactivedutyfamily?Thefamilyofatraditionalreservistwhodieswhileonactivedutyisentitledtomanyofthesamebenefitsasanactivedutyfamily,includingIDcards,medicalservices,commissary,exchangeandmorale,welfareandrecreationactivities.Eligibilityforotherprivilegesarecoveredinitem#2.Privilegesforchildrenareuntilage21ortheeveof23rdbirthdayifenrolledfulltimeinanaccreditedinstitutionofhigherlearning.Spouseiseligibleunlesshe/sheremarries.Ifspouse,remarriesandsubsequentlydivorceshe/shewillgetbackallprivilegesexceptmedical.Themember'sfamilymayalsobeeligiblefortheReserveComponentSurvivorBenefitPlan(RCSBP)thisplandiffersfromactivedutySBPbecauseitisbasedoncompletionofsatisfactoryyearsofservicethatqualifythememberforretiredpayatage60.Familyisalsoentitledto:DeathGratuityUnpaidPayandAllowancesBasicAllowanceforHousing(BAH)iffamilyisoccupyinggovernmenthousingonthedatethememberdiesServicemember'sGroupLifeInsurance(SGLI),RCSBPamonthlyannuitypaidtosurvivingspouseor,insomecases,eligiblechildrenofReserveComponentmemberswhohavecompletedthesatisfactoryyearsofservicethatqualifythememberforretiredpayatage60.DependencyandIndemnityCompensation,(DIC)VAmayauthorizepaymentforsurvivingspouseswhohavenotremarried,unmarriedchildrenunder18,disabledchildren,childrenbetweentheagesof18and23ifattendingaVA-approvedschool,andlow-incomeparentsofservicememberswhodiefromadiseaseorinjuryincurredoraggravatedwhileonactivedutyoractivedutyfortrainingoraaninjuryincurredoraggravatedinthelineofdutywhileoninactivedutyfortraining,oradisabilitycompensablebytheVeteran'sAffairs.Thereareotherbenefits(eligibilitywillhavetobedetermined)listedinPublicLaws,Titles5,10,12,37,38,and42suchasEducationalAssistance,SocialSecuritypayments,VAGuaranteedLoans,GovernmentEmploymentetc.I'matraditionalreservist.IfI'minjuredwhileonactiveduty,whatbenefitsamIandmyfamilyentitledtoreceive?Ifinjured,beginbyprocessingaLineofDuty(LOD)determination.Thetypeofinjurywilldeterminebenefits,furtherprocessing,etc.   CareersintheGuard/Recruiting/Recruitment IaminterestedinmoreinformationabouttheArmy/AirNationalGuard,butdon'twanttobecontactedbyarecruiteryet.WherecanIobtaininformationaboutjoiningtheNationalGuard?BoththeArmyGuardandAirGuardhavecomprehensiveWebsiteswithinformation.Note:BrowsingtheseWebsitesinnowayobligatesyoutojointheNationalGuard.Also,youwillonlybecontactedbyarecruiterifyourequestit.WherecanIfindanArmy/AirGuardrecruiterinmystate?VisiteithertheArmyGuardWebsiteortheAirGuardWebsitetofindarecruiterinyourstate.DoestheGuardhavefull-timepositions,oraretheyallpart-time?Inadditiontoservingaslittleasoneweekendamonthandtwoweeksayear,allstateshavefull-timepositionsavailableforGuardmembersincertaincareerfields.CheckouttheArmyGuardandtheAirGuardJobsWebsitestofindfull-timejobsinyourstate.   ChalleNGeProgram/STARBASE/YouthPrograms IwouldlikemoreinformationabouttheChalleNGeProgram/STARBASE.TheChalleNGeProgramandtheSTARBASEProgramhaveseparateWebsiteswithmoreprograminformation.HowcanIfindapointofcontactfortheChalleNGePrograminmystate?YoucanfindalistofparticipatingstatesandpointsofcontactattheNationalGuardChallengeProgram'sWebsite.WhatisthedifferencebetweentheChalleNGEProgramandSTARBASE?ChalleNGe,apreventive--ratherthanremedial--youth-at-riskprogram,targetsunemployeddrug-freeandlaw-freehigh-schooldropouts,16to18yearsofage.Corecomponentsoftheprogramarecitizenship,academicexcellence(GED/highschooldiplomaattainment),life-copingskills,communityservice,healthandhygiene,skillstraining,leadership/followership,andphysicaltraining.Thefive-monthresidentialphaseisfollowedbyayear-longmentoringrelationshipwithaspeciallytrainedmemberfromeachyouth'scommunity.STARBASE,aprogramforyouthages6through18,isaimedatimprovingmathandscienceskills.Theprogramstartsattheelementaryschoollevelinordertoattractandpreparestudentsatanearlyageforcareersinengineeringandotherscience-relatedfieldsofstudy.Theprogramprincipallyexposesat-riskchildrenandtheirteacherstorealworldapplicationsofmathandsciencethroughexperientiallearning,simulations,andexperimentsinaviationandspace-relatedfields.Theprogramalsoaddressesdruguseprevention,health,selfesteemandlifeskillswithinamath-andscience-basedprogram.   Clothing/Equipment AreActiveGuard/Reserve(AGR)personnelauthorizedaclothingallowance?AGRofficersupontheinitialtourareentitledtouniformallowance;enlistedAGRpersonnelarenotbecauseitisANGpolicytoprovide"in-kind"issuethroughunitsupply.   Complaint/IGComplaint I'dliketospeaktosomeoneintheInspectorGeneral'sofficeaboutaFRAUD,WASTE,&ABUSEcomplaint.TheNationalGuardBureauOfficeoftheInspectorGeneralhasawebpresencewithintheNationalGuardBureauWebsite.Dependingonthetypeofcomplaintyouarefiling,therearedifferentpointsofcontactwithinthatoffice.Doyouhaveagoodphonenumber/emailaddress/physicaladdressfortheIG'soffice?ContacttheNationalGuardBureauIGat:NGB/IG111S.GeorgeMasonDriveArlingtonVA22204(703)607-2539   Contracting IownasmallcompanyandaminterestedindoingbusinesswiththeNationalGuard.WheredoIsendinformationaboutmycompany?ContacttheNationalGuardBureauSmallBusinessoffice:NGB-ZC-SADBU111S.GeorgeMasonDriveArlington,VA22204Phone:(703)607-1023E-mail:[email protected]   DifferencesintheGuardandReserve HowistheNationalGuarddifferentfromtheReserves?AlthoughtheNationalGuardisapartofthisnation'sreserveforces,thereareafewdifferencesbetweentheArmyorAirForceReserveandtheGuard.TheNationalGuardisbyfartheoldestcomponentofanyoftheuniformedservices.Ittracesitsrootstothecolonialmilitia,andclaimsa"birthday"of1636.Bycomparison,theU.S.Armywasfoundedin1775(itsfirstunitsallcameoutofthecolonialmilitia)andtheU.S.AirForcewascreatedin1947.Moreimportantly,theNationalGuardmaintainsaunique"dualstatus"-bothStateandFederal-thatnootherserviceorcomponenthas.ThisdualstatusisrootedinArticle1,Section8oftheConstitution,whichstatesthat"Congressshallhavethepower...Toprovidefororganizing,arming,anddisciplining,theMilitia,andforgoverningsuchpartofthemasmaybeemployedintheserviceoftheUnitedStates,reservingtotheStatesrespectively,theappointmentoftheofficers,andtheauthorityoftrainingtheMilitiaaccordingtothedisciplineprescribedbyCongress."TheNationalGuardservesboththestateandnationintimesofneed,andsoldiersandairmenintheGuardswearanoathtoprotectanddefendnotjusttheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates,butalsooftheStateinwhichtheyserve.Inpeacetime,theGuardiscommandedbythegovernorsoftherespectiveStatesandTerritories(theDistrictofColumbiaNationalGuardiscommandeddirectlybythePresident).Weassistcivilleadersduringnaturaldisasters,stateemergenciesandcivilunrest.Civillaws,particularlythePosseComitatusactof1878,limittheuseofFederaltroops(toincludeFederalReservecomponentsliketheArmyReserveandtheAirForceReserve)toenforcethelaw.TheNationalGuard,whenactinginitscapacityasStatetroops,doesnotfallundertheserestrictionsandthuscanaugmentcivilauthoritiesinmaintaininglawandorder.Guardmembersalsoenjoyeducationalbenefitsthatareuniqueineachstate.BothNationalGuardandReservemembersareeligiblefortheMontgomeryGIBill,butinmanystates,membersoftheNationalGuardareofferedreduced/freetuitionatstatesupportedcollegesoruniversity.(Thisbenefitvariesfromstatetostate,socontactyourlocalNationalGuardrecruiterforinformationaboutbenefitsinyourstate.)   NationalDefenseServiceMedal DoIqualifyfortheNationalDefenseServiceMedal?Ifyouwereonorders,eitherTitle10orTitle32insupportofOperationNobleEagle,and/orperformingmilitarydutyindefenseofoneofournation'sairports,thecriteriastatesthatyouare,infact,eligiblefortheNDSM.ThecriteriaareslightlydifferentforArmyandAir.Downloads:ArmyCriteria,AirForceCriteria   Records I'mnolongeramemberoftheGuard.HowcanIgetcopiesofmyservice/medical/disability/awardsrecords?OnceyouleavetheGuardyoumaygetcopiesofyourrecordsbycontactingtheMilitaryPersonnelOfficeoftheGuardheadquartersinthestatewhereyouwerelastaGuardsman.   Rights WhatistheUniformedServicesEmploymentandReemploymentRightsAct(USERRA)?TheUniformedServicesEmploymentandReemploymentRightsAct(USERRA)wasenactedbyCongressandsignedintolawbyPresidentClintononOctober13,1994.Congressamendedthelawin1996,1998,and2000.USERRAiscodifiedinTitle38,UnitedStatesCode,Sections4301-4333(38U.S.C.4301-4333).IemployamemberoftheGuard.Whataremyrightsasanemployer?TheNationalCommitteeforEmployerSupportoftheGuardandReserveFAQcanansweryourquestion.I'vebeencalledtoactivedutyforsixmonthsandmyemployerhastoldmeIwillbefiredifIleave.Whataremyrights?TheUniformedServicesEmploymentandReemploymentRightsAct(USERRA),enactedOctober1994andsignificantlyupdatedOctober1996and1998,providesprotectionandrightsofreinstatementtoemployeeswhoparticipateintheNationalGuardandReserve.Tofindoutwhatyourrightsare,gototheNationalCommitteeforEmployerSupportoftheGuardandReserve'sFAQwebsiteor,youcancontactESGROmbudsmenServicesthroughyourlocalESGRCommitteeortheNationalESGRHeadquarters,orthetoll-freenumber,(800)336-4590(askforOmbudsmenServices).   Veteran'sBenefits VAofficialsestimatemostofAmerica's25millionveteransqualifyforatleastsomeVAbenefits,butmanyareunawareoftheirentitlements.Thishandbook(1.3MB.pdf)includesalistingoftoll-freenumbers,WorldWideWebinformationresources,andVAfacilities.Mostveteransareeligibleforhealthcareandburialbenefits.Manyarealsoeligibleforhomeloanguarantees,educationalassistance,vocationalrehabilitation,lifeinsurance,andcompensationforservice-connecteddisabilities.Thisguideexplainshowtoaccessmanyofthesebenefitsonline.Forinstance,itprovidesaWebaddressandinstructionsforenrollingviatheInternetintotheVAhealthcaresystem.Thebookdescribesindetailthepriorityforcareandservicesavailable.SeparatesectionsdescribespecializedservicesavailabletoGulfWarveteransandthoseexposedtoAgentOrangeorradiation.TheMontgomeryGIBillandothereducationbenefitsareexplainedindepth.Burialbenefitsandemploymentservicearealsocovered,asareratechartsforthevariousformsofcompensationVAprovides.ThebookcanbepurchasedthroughtheGovernmentPrintingOfficefor$5forU.S.-basedcustomersand$6.25forthoseoverseasbycallingtoll-free(866)512-1800.Byprovidingitonlineathttp://www.va.gov/opa/feature/,theVAhopestomaketheinformationavailabletomoreveterans.I'matraditionalreservistwhoisinjuredwhileonActiveDuty,whatbenefitsamIandmyfamilyentitledtoreceive?Thefamilyofatraditionalreservistwhodieswhileonactivedutyisentitledtomanyofthesamebenefitsasanactivedutyfamily,includingIDcards,medicalservices,commissary,exchangeandmorale,welfareandrecreationactivities.Eligibilityforotherprivilegesarecoveredinitem#2.Privilegesforchildrenareuntilage21ortheeveof23rdbirthdayifenrolledfulltimeinanaccreditedinstitutionofhigherlearning.Spouseiseligibleunlesshe/sheremarries.Ifspouse,remarriesandsubsequentlydivorceshe/shewillgetbackallprivilegesexceptmedical.Themember'sfamilymayalsobeeligiblefortheReserveComponentSurvivorBenefitPlan(RCSBP)thisplandiffersfromactivedutySBPbecauseitisbasedoncompletionofsatisfactoryyearsofservicethatqualifythememberforretiredpayatage60.Familyisalsoentitledto: DeathGratuity UnpaidPayandAllowances BasicAllowanceforHousing(BAH)iffamilyisoccupyinggovernmenthousingonthedatethememberdies Servicemember'sGroupLifeInsurance(SGLI) RCSBPamonthlyannuitypaidtosurvivingspouseor,insomecases,eligiblechildrenofReserveComponentmemberswhohavecompletedthesatisfactoryyearsofservicethatqualifythememberforretiredpayatage60. DependencyandIndemnityCompensation,(DIC)VAmayauthorizepaymentforsurvivingspouseswhohavenotremarried,unmarriedchildrenunder18,disabledchildren,childrenbetweentheagesof18and23ifattendingaVA-approvedschool,andlow-incomeparentsofservicememberswhodiefromadiseaseorinjuryincurredoraggravatedwhileonactivedutyoractivedutyfortrainingoraaninjuryincurredoraggravatedinthelineofdutywhileoninactivedutyfortraining,oradisabilitycompensablebytheVeteran'sAffairs. Thereareotherbenefits(eligibilitywillhavetobedetermined)listedinPublicLaws,Titles5,10,12,37,38,and42suchasEducationalAssistance,SocialSecuritypayments,VAGuaranteedLoans,GovernmentEmploymentetc. IfIgetinjuredwhileonactiveduty,butI'matraditionalreservist,towhatbenefitsamIandmyfamilyentitled?Ifinjured,beginbyprocessingaLineofDuty(LOD)determination.Thetypeofinjurywilldeterminebenefits,furtherprocessing,etc.PleasesendemailregardingonlyourWebsitetoourwebmaster.Never,eversendyoursocialsecuritynumber.ForotherquestionsviewourStaffContactListforanappropriatecontact.