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Pros and Cons of the National Guard

Considering a military career? You might want to consider the pros and cons of the National Guard before you join.

By Mike MavenfulPublished 7 years ago 4 min read
Top Story - September 2017
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A military career is something many of us have considered in passing. We've wondered if it's the right choice for us, if it can provide as well as people say it will, and possibly if it's actually something that would mesh well with the personalities and values we have.

Though some may consider joining the military to be the best decision they ever made in their lives, many don't find the military life to be what they'd hoped it'd be.

That's why many people tend to consider joining the National Guard as a middle ground between full military life and being a civilian. However, there are many pros and cons of the National Guard to consider before you join. After all, only you can determine whether or not it's right for you.

Pros: Prestige. Lots of it.

When weighing the pros and cons of the National Guard, one of the most obvious perks you might want to consider is that it's a prestigious job. There's a lot to be said about the valor you get, the respect you get, and the fact that people will be throwing parades in your honor.

Even though joining the National Guard is a part-time thing, you're still a soldier — and many people respect that.

Cons: You might actually have to go to war full time.

There are many pros and cons of the National Guard that people often will know about, but for civilians, this isn't one of them. The National Guard is still a branch of the army — and it operates on both the state and national levels.

This means that the president, if he so chooses, can send the National Guard to fight a war abroad. You also can't negotiate on this, and will have to go regardless of whether you have a job on a civilian level.

This means that you will have to quit your civilian job and go abroad at a moment's notice. Around 50 percent of all National Guardsmen have already seen war, so the chances of you going are a lot higher than you might be led to believe.

Pros: You get a stable part time income that you can switch to a full time income if you want it to be.

Let's just be real here. One of the biggest problems in today's economy is the fact that stable income just isn't that common anymore. It'd be so nice to be able to just rely on a certain amount of money every month, wouldn't it? Well, joining the National Guard will give you that option.

National Guardsmen make a very minimum of around $200 per month when they join, with as much as $900 per month if they rise through the ranks during drills. This is for part time, once-per-month work — and that doesn't include annual two-week training bonuses or other goodies, either.

In the event of war or in the event of a national crisis, you may be deployed full time, which will get you a minimum salary of around $1,400 per month. Should you choose to switch to a full-time position, you can earn up to $7,000 per month by climbing up the ranks.

This pay doesn't include the benefits, which can include health insurance, free education, and of course, awesome military discounts from a variety of stores and services.

Cons: It can turn into a scheduling nightmare, and finding a civilian job isn't easy.

Assuming that you end up joining the Army Reserve or the National Guard, you will end up having to spend one day per month training every single month... for years. You also will have to spend two weeks of your days training, too, for years.

A single day per month doesn't sound like much, but it really is. It will eat into your schedule, and it may make having a military girlfriend or social life harder than you'd expect.

Additionally, many employers are leery of hiring National Guardsmen because they may end up having to find emergency backups in the event that they get deployed somewhere. So, in some cases, you might feel like you're stuck with the National Guard once you get in.

Pros: There's a lot of camaraderie to it.

A common thing you'll hear people who join the National Guard say is that their army buddies are their new family. You will meet new friends, and they will understand you on a level that most others will not.

People there will push you up, because they will eventually rely on you to help them. You will have people who will have the same lifestyle as you, the same kind of morals, and the same kind of crowds around you. So, if you're looking for a new life, it's a great option.

Cons: Training is tough, and you might not have much control over your life anymore.

When measuring the pros and cons of military life, you have to really think about your personality and your body. For some, the rigorous training and the ability to let go of control is a perk. For others, it's a dealbreaker and a huge source of regret.

Do you have the strength you need in order to actually pass basic training and basic requirements? Moreover, are you the type of person who would be okay with that kind of brutal training work. Joining the National Guard is a heavy commitment — and if you're up to the challenge, it might be one of the best decisions you ever made as long as you know yourself well enough.

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About the Creator

Mike Mavenful

Baby boomer, Pharmacologist, Movie reviewer and proud grandfather.

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