As you can imagine, you don?t join the National Guard today and fight for your country tomorrow. Instead, you must go through the proper training. This is needed to keep you safe, while also ensuring the National Guard that you can be an asset.
There are two types of National Guard training: Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training.
If you want to learn more about the National Guard, including the type of training, you can do so in a couple of ways.
First off, you can request information online. This is a great way to learn more without having to speak with anybody in person. If you have specific questions, though, and don?t mind talking with somebody, contact a local recruiter. By doing both you will have plenty of great information which should help you make an informed final decision.
As noted above, you will have to go through Basic Combat Training. You, as well as everybody else who joins the National Guard, is required to complete this training. Even though it may not be the most exciting time in your life, one thing is for sure: you are going to learn quite a bit. In short, you will get both your mind and body into shape.
What about Advanced Individual Training? Again, this is something that you will need to complete. The only difference is that this training does not have a set time. Instead, how long you train will be based on many factors including your specialty.
Infantry jobs, for example, only require training of 5 to 8 weeks. On the other hand, if you want to be an interpreter or translator you may have to train for a year or longer. Are you ready to devote this much time to your specialty?
If you don?t enjoy training you are not going to enjoy life in the National Guard. On the other hand, if you feel that you can learn a lot you will definitely like this time of your life. It will be hard work, but when complete you will know your career path inside and out.
On the surface, you may think that your National Guard training is only good for your time in the service. Fortunately, this is not the case. Instead, the training that you receive can and will be put to good use as you move into a civilian job.
When you learn more about National Guard training there is a good chance that you will be more excited than ever about joining. Not everybody gets to receive a high level of on the job training. But when you join the National Guard that is exactly what you get!