Which branch, National Guard or Army Reserves, provides the most help for college students?

2018-06-17T04:49:29-04:00

My goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree which service branch would help pay for my in state tuition ? I'm from Az. I want to go Army active duty once I obtain my bachelor's degree & go through OCS. I dont want to do ROTC/SMP for my personal reasons.
I will be calling my national guard recruiter monday morning for more info, I wanted to see if someone here could help me out.

Thank you!

Response by Larry Fajardo made Jun 17 at 2018 4:52 AM

2018-06-17T04:52:40-04:00

I should have said which service branch will cover more of my tuition since they both offer education benefits

Response by Larry Fajardo made Jun 17 at 2018 4:55 AM

2018-06-17T04:55:39-04:00

I go sign my 6 year commitment to the reserves next week but im looking at my options before I sign off. My recruiter will probably be pissed lol he's been working with me for 2 months.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2018 5:21 AM

2018-06-17T05:21:15-04:00

Primarily, National Guard. However it depends on which state you`re part of. I love the reserves as opposed to NG because I travel all over the world and there are reserve units in Japan, Korea, Germany among other places.I know Texas, Oregon, New Jersey and Illinois are very TA friendly when compared to other states.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 17 at 2018 6:12 AM

2018-06-17T06:12:50-04:00

Here's the thing...first, what major? Next, any high school AP credits? Any assocs level stuff thus far? Must it he Army? Would you want other svcs? Have you looked at other svcs? What are your interests, hobbies, reading you do, sports, !aerial arts, if any? Would you want flight at all? Would you want to do a full20-30 yrs at all or you're unsure get? Would you want senior enlisted? Warrant? Commissioned? If warramtz would you want the Army high school to!flight program for WO1 warrant, for rotary wing, since that needs only high school minimum, as the name suggests, though I've heard it's a rough program? I ha e to send frequently, as this tablet I'm on conks out a good deal....

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2018 8:00 AM

2018-06-17T08:00:12-04:00

I’d recommend the National Guard. Both branches will provide you with federal assistance but the Guard also gives you state assistance. Each state offers different tuition assistance though, so it’s important you look into what your state provides.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jun 17 at 2018 12:38 PM

2018-06-17T12:38:42-04:00

The tuition coverage is the same. The important question is what do you want to do in the Army? There are jobs in the Army Guard that the Army Reserves don’t have. Also, the Guard environment is different than active duty or the Reserves. The Reserves tend to be more aligned with the Active side than the Guard. The Guard tends to be a bit looser on the rules, but it’s a fun environment.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2018 5:46 AM

2018-06-18T05:46:21-04:00

We have been researching this for my daughter who will be enlisting in the fall. Best we were able to determine was that the NG had more in our state due to 100% tuition waiver.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2018 2:48 PM

2018-06-18T14:48:24-04:00

If you are speaking just monetary benefits, the Guard is probably the better option for college financing. I am AGR with the Army Reserve here in Alabama. The Alabama NG offers their Soldiers, a $10K ALABAMA NG Scholarship, other states may do the same.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have done enlisted/Active Duty first; in a State that offers Veterans free tuition (Illinois, Texas, etc.). Enlisted from that State & then returned to the State after Active duty. You'd get to pocket, whatever the GI Bill didn't pay, which if it's a Yellow Ribbon School- is everything. And take home the $1000+ for housing that people get nowadays from the Post-911 GI Bill. You'd be living high on the hog (probably in a nice condo)- when other Students are scrounging to get money for some Top Ramen.

Response by 1stSgt Nelson Kerr made Nov 4 at 2020 12:46 PM

2020-11-04T12:46:45-05:00

It depends on which state you join the Guard in.