 |
3rd Battalion 116th Infantry
Regiment
|
 |
| |
3rd Battalion 116th Infantry
Regiment
|
|
click
here to return to the Battalion Homepage
- Guaranteed pay and benefits
- Money for college
- Adventure to fill a lifetime
- Guaranteed training in one of over 250 skills
- Be a part of over 200 years of a proud service to the country
- Provide emergency service to your local community and state
The Virginia Army National Guard will provide you with adventure, excitement, leadership, and skills. Our units have trained at the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin CA, Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk LA, Combat Readiness Training Center in Germany, Camp Dawson WV, Fort Bragg NC, Fort A.P. Hill VA, and Fort Pickett VA. Our unit has met the need to provide manning for a peacekeeping mission in the Sinai and we currently have a unit deployed to Bosnia. You will certainly find the training you will receive in the Army National Guard both interesting and personally rewarding.
Our Unit Recruiters: (tell them you found them on the Internet)
Headquarters Company in Winchester, SSG Jim Richardson at (540) 722-3440
A Company in Manassas, SFC Roger Krause & SFC Maurice Hines (703) 369-2407
B Company in Woodstock, SFC Charles Gentry at (540) 459-9532
C Company in Leesburg, SFC Tabar Malek at (703) 771-2504
Other Area Recruiters Available:
SFC Jim O'Farrell (703) 781-0021
Area Recruiting Supervisor, MSG Jim Glascock (540) 722-3437If you can, talk to a friend who is already in the Army Guard. They are one of the best sources of information. Below are listed other contacts you can use.
State Educational Services Office at (804) 775-9290
Call the Army National Guard toll-free number at (800) 572-3019 or catch the Army Guard online recruiting site at http://www.1800goguard.com/
The United States Army Recruiting Command site on the Internet
These benefits can be used together to form quite a substantial package. The specific programs are described below. More information is, as always, available from your local recruiter. Benefits cannot be used in an overlapping fashion but can be combined for different purposes.
FULL TIME
If you are a full-time student, these are the educational benefits available.
Once you have completed Basic Training, you are eligible for the State Tuition Assistance Program. This is a yearly program that pays up to 50% of your tuition not to exceed $500 per semester and $1,000 per year. This program is limited to available yearly funding. Again, note that you must have completed Basic Training already.
Once you have completed Advanced Individual Training (AIT), you become eligible for the Montgomery G.I Bill. Under the New GI Bill, individuals attending a Veteran's Administration approved school will receive a monthly check paid directly to them during those months they attend the Institution. Funding for both Undergraduate and Graduate degrees are available. This program provides up to $203.24 per school month based on the number of credit hours you are taking. Full-time students receive $203.24 per month for up to 36 months, three-quarter time students (9-11 hours) receive $152.43 per month for up to 48 months, and part time students receive $101.62 per month for up to 72 months or $50.81 per month for 144 months.
You can also obtain college credit for military experience. Many colleges will award from 4 to 16 credits for various military courses including those you will attend, Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training. Obviously if you receive credit for your military training, this is saving you money as compared to having to take other elective courses to meet those requirements of your degree program.
PART TIME
If you are a part-time student, there are other educational benefits available as well as the State Tuition Assistance and Montgomery G.I. Bill etc.
The Army Continuing Education System (ACES) provides tuition assistance to eligible members of the Army for part-time study only. The amount of tuition and assistance, and the individuals covered, depends on the amount of funds available. Basically ACES is designed for the soldier that is working but desires to go to school as a part-time student. Funding is based on the following priorities:
- Soldiers completing their High School Diploma.
- Officers completing their Bachelor's Degree.
- Enlisted personnel completing their Bachelor's Degree.
- Soldiers pursuing Graduate study.
Tuition reimbursement is currently offered at the following rates and guidelines:
- Provides up to 75% for college courses up to the tuition caps.
- Undergraduate courses, up to $125 per credit hour.
- Graduate courses, up to $170 per credit hour.
- High School completion, 100% of tuition costs.
- College courses must be in a degree program, Associate or Bachelor's level.
- Benefit is for tuition only, no expenses such as books.
- Courses and educational institutions must be approved by the State Educational Services Office (ESO).
- To repeat, this benefit is for part-time study only.
TESTING
Free examinations are available through the Distance Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).
- High School completion programs (GED).
- College Admissions, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.
- College Credit by Examination (CLEP).
- Certification Programs.
DISTANCE LEARNING
DANTES also offers options for distance learning. This is mainly intended for those not able to attend regular classroom instruction. Many programs are funded that provide distance learning, such as college courses taken through correspondence. Funding is provided for Associate, Bachelors, and Graduate degree programs.
Tuition reimbursement is currently offered at the following rates and guidelines:
- Provides up to 75% for college courses up to the tuition caps.
- Lower level undergraduate courses, up to $60 per credit hour.
- Upper level undergraduate courses, up to $85 per credit hour.
- Graduate courses, up to $170 per credit hour.
- High School completion, 100% of tuition costs.
- Non-College courses are eligible for 75% tuition reimbursement not to exceed $750 per individual per fiscal year.
- College courses must be in a degree program, Associate or Bachelor's or Graduate level.
- Benefit is for tuition only, no expenses such as books.
- Courses and educational institutions must be approved by the State Educational Services Office (ESO).
- Benefit is for part-time study only.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Both the State Officer and Enlisted associations offer yearly scholarships up to $2,000. Other professional associations also offer such scholarships. Information is available from your unit association representatives.
The Retired Officers Association (TROA) offers interest free loans for undergraduate study. Approximately 1,000 students will receive $3,000 interest-free loans from The Retired Officers Association Educational Assistance Program for the 1998-99 school year. Of those, about 400 students will be first time recipients. For applications and more information, visit TROA's web site at www.troa.org or e-mail edassist@troa.org or write to TROA Educational Assistance Program, 201 N. Washington St., Alexandria, Va. 22314-2539 or call 1-800-245-TROA(8762) Ext. 146.
Excellent pay for part-time work.
A soldier receives 4 days pay for 2 days work. This provides supplemental income for you and your family. The Army National Guard is a part-time job that provides retirement pay and many other benefits.
At the rank of Private, pay grade E1, under 4 months of service earns $111 per weekend drill. Your yearly pay is $1,333. You will attend basic training and advanced individual training while earning $845 per month with all food/clothing/housing provided.
At the rank of Private, pay grade E1, with over 4 months of service earns $120 per weekend drill. You earn $450 for a 2-week annual training (AT). Approximate annual pay is $1,900.
At the rank of Private, pay grade E2, under two years of service earns $135 per weekend drill. You earn $510 during AT. Approximate annual pay is $2,130.
At the rank of Private First Class, pay grade E3, with two years of service earns $148 per weekend drill. You earn $555 during AT. Approximate annual pay $2,331.
At the rank of Specialist, pay grade E4, with three years of service earns $166 per weekend drill. You earn $623 during AT. Approximate annual pay is $2,615.
At the rank of Sergeant, pay grade E5, with six years of service earns $202 per weekend drill. You earn $758 during AT. Approximate annual pay is $3,182.
Retirement
At age 60, after at least 20 years of satisfactory service, you may begin to collect retirement pay. Your 20 years of service can include any combination of active, reserve, and National Guard duty, as long as your last eight years is spent in the National Guard or any reserve component.
The amount of your starting retirement pay will be in proportion to the length of your total service, the highest pay grade you held in the service, and the Army pay tables in effect at the time you retire. Retirees also receive periodic cost-of-living pay increases, based on the consumer price index.
- Free training in a career field - resume builder,
- Possible conversion of military to civilian skills,
- Military Post Exchange (PX) and Commissary use,
- $200,000 of low cost life insurance, Servicemen's Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
- Space Available Travel on Military Aircraft
- Veterans Administration Mortgages with no downpayment required
- Use of recreational services at military installations,
- Military discounts at many commercial locations, stores, etc.
To be promoted in the National Guard to the rank of Sergeant or above, you must have your records evaluated to assign STPA (Select-Train-Assign-Promote) points. You compete with other soldiers with the same MOS for a unit vacancy. Once in the vacancy you will attend some type of NCOES training for your promotion. You can be promoted from Private E1 to Specialist E4 as the unit level without the use of the STPA program providing you meet the minimum time in grade and other normal requirements. You also have the ability to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS). If you are a college student, another alternative is the to become an officer is the ROTC Simultaneous Membership Program.
If you are an out-of-state student (not legal resident of Virginia) you could be eligible for in-state tuition while you are a member of the Virginia Army National Guard. For anyone that is familiar with tuition costs, that is a huge benefit. For instance, out-of-state tuition for George Mason University for full-time status and two semesters a year is $12,240 as compared to $4,296 for in-state. Being able to pay in-state tuition would mean a savings of $7,944 yearly. How can you pass-up that deal? Check with the unit recruiter for more information.
The National Guard has physical, academic, and legal qualifications. You must be in good health and have no major physical handicaps. The minimum age to join the National Guard is 17. Persons under age 18 must obtain the consent of a parent or legal guardian. You must be either currently in High School or have a High School Diploma or GED. You must also obtain a minimum qualifying score on the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery exam (ASVAB). Soon after you contact a recruiter, they will take you to where this test is administered to see if you are qualified. Your ASVAB score will also determine which MOS's you are qualified for. Finally, you must have no major criminal convictions. This information is only a basic outline of the qualifications. Before enlisting you will be receive a detailed medical examination and background check. Your recruiter will provide you with more exact information and make recommendations regarding your qualification status.
- Attend Basic Training and Advanced Initial Training (AIT)
- One weekend 'drill' per month
- Two weeks 'Annual Training' (AT) in the summer
- Pass a yearly Physical Fitness (PT) test and weapons qualification
- Maintain a good attitude
Basic Training. Known as 'basic', this is where you learn your basic skills of being a soldier.
Advanced Individual Training. Known as 'AIT', this is where you learn your
particular MOS (Military Occupational Skill).Annual Training. Known as an 'AT', this is your yearly two-weeks (15 days) of training, usually at a major Army installation or other training facilities around the world. It is a continuous two weeks usually with some recreational time off.
Enlistment. If you have never served in any branch of the military, you can enlist on the "6 & 2" option, which entitles you to serve in the National Guard for 6 years and then in the Inactive National Guard for 2 years (While in the Inactive National Guard you do not have to attend drills or Annual Training; but you may be called to serve in a National Emergency).