Service Obligations

Terms of Enlistment: Everyone who joins a military component for the first time and has never been in any other military organization before has a statutory obligation of eight years. The Army National Guard provides several options in order to fulfill this obligation.
  • 8 by 0 Eight years performing in an Active Guard unit by attending training one weekend a month and two weeks of Annual Training each year. This option allows election of Split Training, Student Loan Repayment, G.I. Bill, and Cash Bonuses.

  • 6 by 2 Six years of service in an Active Guard unit (one weekend a month and two weeks Annual Training per year) followed by two years in the Inactive National Guard (no training requirements). This option also allows election of Split Training, Student Loan Repayment, G.I. Bill and Cash Bonuses.

  • 4 by 4 Four years of service in an Active Guard unit as described above followed by four years in the Inactive Guard. This option does NOT allow election of the Incentives such as Split Training, etc.

  • 3 by 5 Three years of service in an Active Guard unit followed by five years in the Inactive Guard. This options does NOT allow election of the Incentives.

  • Prior Service Members Those with previous military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States join for the remainder of their initial statuatory obligation or a one year minimum.

    • National Guard Soldiers also have the following military obligation:

  • Twelve weeks active duty for training (Basic training and AIT) or the award of a military occupational specialty, whichever is longer, with the remainder of an 8-year obligation in an ARNG unit.

  • The Split Training feature allows new members to schedule Basic Training (BT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) into two phases. Members may attend Basic Training, return home to serve with their Guard unit, and then go to do their AIT within one year of returning from BT. This allows students to take advantage of their summer breaks and is suitable for certain seasonal workers as well. However, the G.I. Bill and other incentives are not paid until the completion of AIT. This feature is available only to those enlist for the "6 by 2" or "8 by 0" options.
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