The Army National Guard has initiated a new program designed to fill up its ranks with prior service Soldiers. The the new program, dubbed "Active First," targets new recruits who would like to serve on active duty for a period of time, and then transfer to the Army National Guard. Participants can receive bonuses of up to $60,000, depending on the length of their commitment.
Recruits who enlist under this program serve in the National Guard until they complete their initial entry training (basic training and job training) and are then transferred to the Army for active duty for the time period specified in their enlistment contract (30, 36 or 48 months). After their active duty period, then can either re-enlist on active duty, or serve the remainder of the obligated service in the Army National Guard. Recruits are paid up to $20,000 when they complete basic training and job training, and as much as $20,000 more when they complete their active duty period and transfer to the National Guard. This is in addition to up to $20,000 the recruit could receive from the active duty Army as an enlistment bonus, if they enlist in an MOS (job) that the active duty Army considers to be under-manned.
Because bonuses are based on length of enlistment and are not job or qualification specific, recruits who don’t mind finishing their initial military service obligation in the Guard can earn big bucks. The average bonus for an active-duty enlistment in 2006 was $16,500, officials told the American Forces Press Service.
In the past, many Soldiers traditionally enlisted in the Army National Guard after serving on active duty. In fact, in years past, the Army National Guard got more than 60 percent of their new enlistees from prior service Soldiers. However, in the past five years, this percentage has dropped by half, most likely because National Guard units deploy much more often these days.
In fact, the Guard now is giving the active component more than it is getting. In 2006, the Guard received 3,378 soldiers from the Army, but released 4,309 soldiers to active duty, according to the American Forces Press Service web site. National Guard officials hope this new program will recruit as many as 2,000 Soldiers, and expect to see as many as 1,400 of them return to the Guard after their active duty period. The Guard benefits because soldiers enter their Guard units trained, experienced and ready to fill leadership positions. The Soldier benefits because up to $40,000 of the bonuses are based on length of enlistment and are not job or qualification specific.
For more information about this program, contact your local Army National Guard Recruiter, or visit the National Guard's "Active First" web page.
