How to Get Into the Air National Guard
The Air National Guard, the reserve component of the U.S. Air Force, has more than 200 specific jobs. Air National Guard members are commonly referred to as airmen, regardless of gender. Airmen report for work with the Air National Guard one weekend per month; in addition to those weekends, airmen are temporarily activated for two weeks (usually in the summer) for training. Each service member in the Air National Guard is given drill pay commensurate with his rank.
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Things You'll Need
- Birth certificate
- Social Security card
- High school diploma or GED
- Marriage certificate, divorce decree or custody orders
Instructions
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Check the Air National Guard's website, GOANG.com, to learn about ANG careers that might be right for you. Since the ANG has more than 200 different career paths, you can narrow your choices by browsing through job categories. Write down all the jobs you are interested in, and rank them in order of preference. Compile a list of questions you have -- both those regarding specific jobs and those pertaining to other aspects of the ANG.
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Visit an ANG recruiter. Bring your list of job preferences and your questions. To save time, bring a government-issued photo ID, your birth certificate, your Social Security card and your high school or college diploma. If you are married, divorced, or the custodian of any dependents, bring the paperwork that says so.
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Ask the recruiter what other documents he will need. In some cases, ANG recruiters need to see copies of college transcripts, past judgments entered by a court or medical files. Bring the required documentation to your recruiter as soon as possible.
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Sign a form giving your recruiter permission to conduct a criminal background check and credit check. Your recruiter will provide you with this form on your first or second visit. The ANG is not permitted to enlist airmen with significant criminal records. Additionally, your credit score may be used to determine your eligibility for a security clearance.
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Visit your local Military Entrance Processing Station with your recruiter to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Your recruiter will designate the time and coordinate your transportation. The ASVAB is designed to determine your eligibility for different careers within the ANG, and you cannot enlist without taking it. In some cases, the ASVAB is given at locations other than MEPS; however, your recruiter will advise you on the time and location well in advance.
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Visit MEPS again with your recruiter to have a military doctor perform a physical examination. You will be required to disrobe and wear a hospital gown for part of the examination. Candidates must exhibit the ability to duck walk, be free from spinal curvature and have their hearing and eyesight tested. Female candidates will be visually examined to ensure they are female.
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Select a job within the ANG after you have received your ASVAB scores and passed your physical exam. Your recruiter will then draw up a contract that includes your rank, the term of your service obligation and the location where your training will take place.
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Sign the contract your recruiter presents to you. Take the oath of enlistment swearing allegiance to the United States, your state and the Air National Guard. After you have enlisted, you will ship out for basic training and job training on the date listed in your contract.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not like your recruiter, ask to work with another one; the ANG's goal is to get airmen in the service, not to alienate them because of personality clashes.
References
Resources
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