You don't have to put your life on hold as a member of the Army National Guard.
Best of both worlds
To join the National Guard without any previous military service, you must be between the ages 17 and 42.
Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Education: Be at least a junior in high school, or have a high school diploma or GED certificate
Medical & Moral Standards: Meet weight, medical, and moral qualifications
Test Scores: Achieve a qualifying minimum score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.
With the Guard grant, you can attend any Illinois state funded university or community college of your choice. TUITION FREE, for the equivalent of four academic years of full-time enrollment. The grant will waive eligible tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate study at Illinois for two or four year public colleges.
To qualify:
Military: Current member of the Illinois Army National Guard
Time in Service: Completed one full year of service
Education: Meet all necessary college or university entrance requirements
Black Hawk College
Carl Sandburg College
College of DuPage
College of Lake County
Danville Area Comm College
Elgin Comm College
Frontier Comm College
Harold Washington College
Harper College
Harry S. Truman College
Heartland Comm College
Highland Comm College
Illinois Central College
Illinois Valley Comm College
John A. Logan College
John Wood Comm College
Joliet Junior College
Kankakee Comm College
Kaskaskia-King College
Kennedy-King College
Kishwaukee College
Lake Land College
Lewis & Clark Comm College
Lincoln Land Comm College
Lincoln Trail Comm College
Malcom X College
McHendry County College
Moraine Valley Comm College
Morton College
Oakton Comm College
Olive-Harvey College
Olney Central College
Parkland College
Praire State College
Rend Lake College
Richard J. Daley College
Richland Comm College
Rock Valley College
Sauk Valley Comm College
Shawnee Comm College
S. Suburban Comm College
Southeastern Illinois College
Southwestern Illinois College
Spoon River College
Triton College
Wabash Valley College
Waubonsee Comm College
Wilbur Wright College
Chicago State University
Eastern Illinois University
Governer's State University
Illinois State University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
S. Illinois University- Carbondale
S. Illinois University- Edwardsville
Univeristy of Illinois- Chicago
University of Illinois- Springfield
University of Illinois- Urbana
Western Illinois University
Your skills and experience from any branch of service may transfer to the Guard.
Military Experience: Credit is given for total prior service. Keep the grade at which you separated. There are cases to be reinstated to a higher, previously held rank
Your MOS: Stay in your Military Occupational Specialty when a slot is open, or re-class into a high-demand field for a bonus
Age Requirement: Age is not a factor as long as you qualify for non-regular retirement pay by 60
Re-Enlistment Bonus: Cash incentives up to $20,000 for qualifying critical skill MOS' and contract lengths
Healthcare access: Low-cost TRICARE Reserve Select for your family and yourself. Previous VA benefits earned remain yours
Civilian Career: Part-time service means you keep your job, USERRA protects your civilian role during drills, training, and any deployment
For our transitioning active-duty Marines: We have a program called Marine to Guard (M2G).
Plan for you future success with dedicated counselors who are former Marines. They understand the unique culture of the Corps and can help you navigate that switch. This program offers:
Direct Job Translation: Over 60 Marine Corps MOS' translate directly into the Illinois Army National Guard, making it faster to get the job without the extra technical schooling
Rank Retention: You can typically maintain your current rank and date of rank upon transition
No Basic Training: Your Marine Corps boot camp graduation means you do not have to do Army's Basic Combat Training
Tailored Incentives: Marine to Guard Bonus
With the Montgomery G.I. Bill Selected Reserve(MGIB-SR), you may be eligible to receive up to $17,000 cash to help with education expenses while attending college full-time or part-time. The money is paid in monthly increments while you attend school.
COURSE HRS | MONTHLY BENEFIT| MAX MONTHS
12 or more HRS: $493.00: 36 Months
9-11 HRS: $369.00: 48 Months
6-9 HRS: $246.00: 72 Months
1-5 HRS: $123.25: 144 Months
*APPLIES TO A 6 YR CONTRACT*
https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-selected-reserve/
Get more from your education benefits.
The G.I. Bill Kicker is an additional education incentive available to Soldiers in certain critical Military Occupational Specialties (MOS') and certain deployable units. It is an incentive, not an entitlement. When eligible, the Kicker is paid in addition to your qualifying Montgomery G.I. Bill, giving you extra money each month while pursuing your education. How it works:
Paid alongside The Montgomery G.I. Bill
Available up to 36 months
ASVAB score of 50 or higher
High school diploma or GED
Enlist in critical skill/ critical unit vacancy
Includes Soldiers entering through the Civilian Acquired Skills Program (CASP) or Split-Training Option
This programs funds up to $250 per semester hour for up to 16 semester hours each fiscal year. Your college or university must be regionally or nationally accredited and an ArmyignitED participant.
This program repays up to $50,000 of your student loans. It is offered as an enlistment incentive to non-prior, prior, and current Soldiers of the Illinois Army National Guard.
The Credentialing Assistance (CA) programs helps eligible Soldiers earn professional certifications and develop valuable skills for their military and civilian careers. The program benefits include:
Financial Assistance: Receive up to $2,000 per fiscal year toward approved credential. However you can get 3 credentials for 10 yrs of service
Covered Expenses: Funding may cover approved training courses, textbooks, materials, supplies, and certification exams
Career Flexibility: Pursue credentials that align with your personal career goals even if they are unrelated to your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
Aviation Credentials: Select aviation-related credentials are limited to $1,000 annually
Additional Benefits: You may combine certain education benefits like State TA to cover total for tuition, however that is subject to program requirements.
*Discover approved certifications and explore opportunities through the Army Cool website at: www.cool.osd.mil/army
You earn a paycheck for serving in the Army National Guard. The pay for the one weekend a month is equivalent to four days of active duty pay. The following is based on the 2026 rates:
PAY GRADE| YEARS OF SERVICE| WEEKEND PAY| HOURLY RATE
E-1: < 2 Years: $309.20: Rate: $19.32/ Hour
E-2: <2 Years: $346.52: Rate: $21.65/ Hour
E-3: 2 Years: $387.52: Rate: $24.20/ Hour
E-4: 3 Years: $447.32: Rate: $27.95/ Hour
E-5: 4 Years: $506.96: Rate: $31.68/ Hour
E-6: 5 Years: $544.08: Rate: $34.01/ Hour
Build toward your future while you serve. You can earn retirement benefits through qualifying service, helping you create long-term financial security beyond your career.
Your service may help make homeownership more accessible. Eligible Soldiers can take advantage of the VA Home Loan, including competitive terms and options that may require no down payment.
Eligible Soldiers may qualify for enlistment or reenlistment bonuses based on factors such as: MOS, contract length, and current incentive programs.
This is your time to achieve a better work/ life balance.