Explore the Guard.
College.
Within reach.
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Your skills.
Your next step.
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where to start?
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Your goals.
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1 of 5 · College
2026 / OFFICIAL DFAS ENLISTED RATES
See what service pays.
Choose your rank. Your pay updates automatically.
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Not sure of your entry rank? Choose Connect from the topic cards to ask me.
View the official 2026 pay table ↗Before taxes and deductions
See the annual estimate
Estimate assumes 12 four-drill weekends and 15 annual-training days at the selected rate. Actual schedules vary. Excludes allowances, bonuses and special pays.
COLLEGE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
College, within reach.
Pick your school. See how the Guard could help.
ONE SCHOOL YEAR · TUITION ONLY
Planning example, if eligible and approved. Fees, housing, meals and books are extra.
See the tuition breakdown
Your school’s tuition estimate will appear here.
MONEY PAID TO YOU WHILE STUDYING
Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve
Full-time enrollment, if eligible.
A qualifying kicker can add up to $350 a month.
Use it for tuition, rent, food, books or everyday expenses.
See payment details
Illustration only. Future rates may change. VA prorates partial months and pays less for reduced enrollment. Breaks without enrollment are not paid. You must have enough benefit months remaining.
A kicker supplements your GI Bill; it does not add another 36 months. Your signed contract determines the rate ($100, $200 or $350). Selecting this example does not confirm eligibility.
What should I know?
Tuition help: EAP and FTA can work together. FTA pays approved tuition first; EAP helps with eligible costs remaining. The school and Guard education office confirm your awards and coordinate other aid.
The school estimate: Full-time 2026–27 tuition for PA residents. We use a 30-semester-credit school-year example, with 18 approved FTA credits and an unused $4,500 federal fiscal-year budget. FTA is capped at $250 per semester credit and the course’s tuition cost. Flat-rate tuition is averaged by credit for this illustration. Drexel uses three first-year quarters and semester-credit equivalents.
The EAP example: Up to the $8,338 annual state-university base-tuition component toward tuition remaining after FTA. The eligible technology-fee component is excluded. State-university prices are base estimates; individual programs may differ. Other approved schools can use EAP too, but higher tuition does not increase its limit. Unused tuition assistance is not automatically cash.
Student payments: The current full-time MGIB–Selected Reserve rate is $508 a month (October 2026–September 2027). A qualifying kicker can add up to $350. Each offers up to 36 benefit months while you remain eligible. Monthly payments can accompany school assistance; they are separate from the tuition estimate.
Getting started: Talk with SFC Christopher about graduation, Basic Training, job training and when benefits begin. Apply for college, FAFSA and scholarships. EAP requires qualifying service and approval; MGIB–Selected Reserve also requires a qualifying six-year obligation, a diploma or equivalent, completed initial training, good standing and an approved program. FTA and MGIB–Selected Reserve can cover the same course at half-time or more.
School names: California, Clarion and Edinboro are PennWest campuses. Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield are Commonwealth campuses. Cambria is Pennsylvania Highlands. Bucks and Reading include residency-based tuition estimates.
Reviewed October 12, 2026. Ask for updated prices and benefits for the year you start college.
FIVE QUESTIONS / AT YOUR OWN PACE
Warm up for the ASVAB.
Five random questions each round. Choose an answer and learn why.
Questions, answered.
Tap a question to learn more.
Who can join the Army National Guard?
For applicants without prior military service, the published requirements include ages 17–42, U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, and qualifying education. You also need a qualifying ASVAB score and must meet medical, physical and character requirements. Prior-service applicants have a separate path. Ask me to review your situation.
How long is Basic Training?
Basic Combat Training is about 10 weeks. It teaches soldiering fundamentals, fitness, weapons skills and teamwork. Job training comes next; your full training timeline depends on the job you choose. Ask me about the timeline for your specific career field.
How much time will Guard service take?
The usual baseline is one drill weekend each month and about two weeks of annual training. That is not a maximum: initial training, additional unit training and mobilizations can require more time. Ask about your potential unit’s actual schedule before planning around it.
Could I be deployed or called to active duty?
Yes. Guard Soldiers can be called by their governor or the federal government for missions such as disaster response or national defense. Deployment cannot be ruled out or predicted by this site. Where you serve and how long you are away depend on the mission.
How can the Pennsylvania Guard help with college?
Pennsylvania’s Education Assistance Program supports eligible Guard members at approved Pennsylvania schools. Awards depend on tuition and enrollment, with a limit tied to the state-university tuition rate plus the technology fee. Federal education benefits may also be available. The Guard education office confirms what applies to your school and situation.
Will I get paid during training?
Yes. Guard Soldiers receive pay for drill, annual training, job training and deployment. Basic pay depends on rank and time in service. Allowances and other pay depend on your duty status and eligibility, so a basic-pay estimate is not the same as your final take-home pay.
Does everyone get an enlistment bonus?
Bonuses are for qualifying applicants and opportunities; they are not automatic. Availability and amounts depend on factors such as your job specialty, service commitment and training ship date. Ask me to check the incentives available for your specific situation.
Can I ask questions without committing to enlist?
Yes. You can speak with a recruiter to understand jobs, benefits and service expectations without an obligation to enlist. Use the Connect card when you are ready to talk through your own goals.
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE
SFC William Christopher.
Your Pennsylvania Army National Guard recruiter.
Tell me what you want your future to look like.
Let’s talk through your options.
