How to Join the Air National Guard
The Air National Guard traces its roots back to the militia of colonial times. Now it a reserve component of the United States Air Force. The ANG is controlled by the states, unlike the Active Duty Air Force. Members of the Air National Guard may be called to service by the President with the governors' consent. The ANG serves as a great opportunity to join the military and get great benefits. It's just two weeks a year and one weekend a month. Learn more about the step by step process for joining the ANG.
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Instructions
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Learn about the ANG and its mission. This is very important and should always be your first step as you don't want to get yourself involved in something you're not familiar with. There are plenty of books about the history of the ANG and Air Force at your local library. Also, try talking with a friend or family member first. Don't get your first impression from a recruiter.
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See if you're qualified. You can't be under the age of 17 or older than 34. You also need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Additionally, you can't have too many law violations and must pass a background check.
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Talk to a recruiter. The Air National Guard provides service in every state and territory. The recruiters are usually located on base, and you can find the closest base by going online (see Resources). The good thing about the ANG is that you choose the base to work at. The recruiter will guide your way through the rest of the process.
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Schedule a trip to the Military Entrance Processing (MEPS). You and your recruiter will do this together. At MEPS, you will be required to pass a written examination called the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and the Entrance Physical Examination. The MEPS facility usually isn't too far away. At MEPS, there are members joining all branches of the military. Most processes at MEPS are required for all. If you're worried about getting a good score on the ASVAB, there are plenty of study guides at your local library.
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Begin the job selection process after MEPS. During the process, you and your recruiter will begin to discuss what you're interested in. Using the results from the ASVAB test and physical, your recruiter reviews jobs available within the unit to match your areas of interested with what is available. The recruiter just looks for jobs at your base so make sure it's the job you want. Don't let the recruiter talk you into anything you don't want to do. Check the job if it comes with benefits, like a bonus.
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Enlist. It's that easy once you have met all the requirements and have a job picked out. You just need to schedule a date to enlist. This is where you swear in and your commitment to the ANG actually starts. Everything prior to swearing in is just preliminary processing.
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Prepare for Basic Training. After you enlist, your recruiter will schedule your dates for basic training and your technical training school. All you have to do is get physically and mentally prepared.
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Resources
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