“I joined the military to pay for college.”
As service members, we hear it so much we’ve become accustomed to it.
Of course, joining the military to pay for vocational training or college education makes sense.
The New Mexico National Guard offers 100% in-state tuition assistance and is an excellent route to avoid the financial burden of a college degree or vocational trade certification.
But why do service members specifically join the Army National Guard?
year, thousands of service members leave active duty and transition into the National Guard. The National Guard recruits service members from all branches of the Armed Forces—Army, Navy, Air Forces, Marines, and the Coast Guard. In time, we’ll likely see transfers from the Space Force.
What is it about the National Guard that attracts transitioning service members? There are other routes to pay for college and other routes to continue service, possibly up to retirement.
What makes the National Guard unique?
The National Guard is unique because of its dual mission:- It serves as an Operational Reserve Component of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.- It also serves as the Militia for its state, territory, or federal district.
In addition to operational support to active duty forces, National Guard members provide directly serve the citizens of 54 states and territories.
NMNG Soldiers and Airmen mobilize and deploy around the globe.
Our members complete rotations at national training centers and participate in combined exercises at home and abroad.
What makes service in the National Guard appealing to many are the opportunities to serve our communities.
Every year, NMNG members answer the governor’s call in responding to wildfires, winter storms, flooding, and more.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck New Mexico, our Soldiers and Air delivered medical supplies, food, water, and Personal Protective Equipment to communities around the state and the Navajo Nation. Aided by the Civil Air Patrol, NMNG members tested citizens for the virus and transported those tests to laboratories.
Once vaccines became available, NMNG medical personnel participated in numerous vaccination events around the state.
More recently, NMNG members answered the governor’s request to serve as substitute teachers in our public schools.
At this very moment, NMNG are involved in responding to wildfires ravaging our state and threatening our communities.
The State Active Duty mission is unique to the National Guard and is a way that Guard members can positively impacted their communities. An upcoming series of articles will explore how the New Mexico National Guard’s State Active Duty missions protect the lives property, and wellbeing of our state’s citizens.
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