HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER GETTING STARTED

Young men and women interested in joining the Army National Guard should contact their local recruiter. The recruiter may be available through a local armory location, Armed Forces Recruiting Station, or by calling 1-800-GO-Guard for more information on opportunities and benefits.

FIRST STEP

The first step in joining is to find out if you are eligible. The initial screening verifies qualification such as Age, Prior Service (whether or not you previously served in any Armed Force of the United States), Physical Profile, Law Violations (Criminal Record), Education, Marital Status, and Dependency (APPLEMD). The APPLEMD is used to pre-qualify prospects for enlistment into the Army National Guard.

ARMED FORCES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY TEST (ASVAB)

Each potential recruit must take the ASVAB. The test provides career field choices from which a prospective enlistee may select. Also, an Army National Guard Recruiter would use the ASVAB test results to discuss the interests of the prospect based on needs of the Army National Guard.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

Once an applicant agrees on a specific career field the Recruiter schedules the applicant for a physical examination at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). All persons entering into the Armed Forces of the United States take a physical at the MEPS.

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ENLISTMENT

Upon successful completion of the physical examination, the MEPS Guidance Counselor then processes the applicant for enlistment into the Army National Guard. During the enlistment process, the Guidance Counselor will explain all benefits the new soldier can expect, the type of job training the soldier will receive, the unit of assignment, and military obligations of the individual.

UNIT OF ASSIGNMENT:

It is important that the new enlistee maintain contact with their assigned unit personnel before, during, and after the enlistment process. The full-time staff at the unit will provide assistance on joining the "Guard Family." They will usually offer the name of a current unit member to act as a "Sponsor' to make the transition easier from civilian to military life. Also, unit staff and/or the Recruiter should be available to answer basic questions about civilian education benefits. Specific questions may require the individual to request the unit to contact the State Education Services Officer. The concept of processing these questions through the assigned unit is called the "Chain of Command."

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 1-800-GO-GUARD