What Are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For National Guard Jobs
Weve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a National Guard job is above the national average. Topping the list is Santa Clara, CA, with San Francisco, CA and Fremont, CA close behind in the second and third positions. Fremont, CA beats the national average by $7,841 , and Santa Clara, CA furthers that trend with another $10,172 above the $48,477 average.
Importantly, Santa Clara, CA has a moderately active National Guard job market with only a few companies currently hiring for this type of role.
With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a National Guard appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top ten cities varies very little at 9% between Santa Clara, CA and Santa Maria, CA, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a National Guard role.
| City |
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| $25.73 |
National Guard Vs Active Duty Military
There are many that may like to consider the thought of having the U.S. Military cover most, or all of their college tuition yet are hesitant to sign up for something that may put them on the front lines.
It is important to note that while the National Guard is a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, it is starkly different from other types of active duty.
The National Guard is part of the U.S. Army Reserves. It is different from active duty military in that members are not committed full-time to their service.
In fact, most members of the National Guard hold a civilian job full-time while serving part-time with a unit. They are able to carry on normal lives working, going to school, or helping raise a family while also serving their country.
Special And Incentive Pay
In addition to basic pay or IDT pay, many National Guard and reserve members are eligible for additional special pays for a wide variety of special skills or duties. A member who meets the eligibility requirements for an incentive or special pay is entitled to this pay in addition to basic pay or IDT pay . Some examples of these incentive or special pays include pay for duty associated with aviation, diving, hazardous duty, hostile fire and imminent danger, air weapons control, sea duty, submarine duty and health care professions. Your finance office can provide more information.
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More Sources Of College Aid For Active
In addition to the special programs described above, both active-duty members of the military and veterans are eligible for the same types of financial aid as any other student. Those includePell grants, subsidized and unsubsidized federal student loans, and federal work/study programs.
They also are eligible for numerous state, institutional, and private scholarships, some specifically for current and former members of the military.
To apply for financial aid, prospective students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid . The FAFSA is used by both the federal government and other dispensers of aid to determine a student’s eligibility based on their financial resources. For FAFSA purposes, members of the military are considered “independent students,” which means they dont have to supply information about their parents’ finances.
Active-duty military members and veterans are also eligible for special student loan benefits and repayment options that are not available to other borrowers.
Identification Cards For Military Family Members
The Department of Defense issues eligible dependents an identification card authorizing them to receive certain uniformed services benefits and privileges. The DOD ID card issuance process consists of several steps to ensure the correct ID card is issued and the appropriate benefits and privileges are assigned. An important step is the verification of a customers identity by reviewing the two required forms of identification and their information in the Defense Enrollment and Eligibility Reporting System.
The DOD uses a system referred to as the Real Time Automated Personnel Identification System to issue ID Cards. Family members and eligible dependents are required to report to a RAPIDS ID Card issuing site in order to be issued the appropriate ID card. Children under the age of 10 can normally use the ID card of their parent, but they must be registered in DEERS. At the age of 10, children should obtain their own ID card. Not all military installations have the ability to use RAPIDS so, you may need to ask your command or unit administration office for a list of ID card issuing locations in your area or visit the RAPIDS Site Locator online.
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Start Out As An Officer
Individuals who have completed a bachelors degree prior to enlisting get the chance to become a military officer after completion of Officer Candidate School or Officer Training School and basic training. Officers lead and supervise platoons of 15 to 40 service members, and they are essential to the structure and function of the military. There are many benefits of being an officer including higher pay, more privileges, better treatment, being a leader, and more. Those who are on the officer track also gain more formal education, which leads to gaining more skills that can be applied to civilian jobs if they choose to leave the military.
Complex Work And Life Balance
Balancing work and life is a challenging task for many people.
However, if you are in the National Guard, you face another challenge with your scheduling.
Those in the National Guard attend training one weekend a month and two weeks out of the year.
This obligation leaves you to work around your training weekends when you want to schedule your downtime with family or friends.
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Where Can You Pursue Your College Degree
The Army National Guard offers a variety of education options, including their own online courses. You can learn more about these opportunities on the Army National Guard website. Higher education courses can be taken at colleges and universities, seminary schools and divinity schools.
In the Air National Guard, you can pursue an associates degree through the Community College of the Air Force and earn college credit, which will cut down the time and money you spend on a degree program.
The Coast Guard Foundation Scholarships
The Coast Guard Foundation offers scholarship programs for enlisted Coast Guard members, children of enlisted coast guard members, children of fallen coast guard heroes, spouses of enlisted coast guard members, Coast Guard reserve families, and qualified active-duty Coast Guard civil service employees or their immediate families.
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Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
Other Resources
WANT TO KEEP ON TOP OF THINGS?
If youre interested in knowing whats going on in college planning and preparation, sign up for the monthly Your KHEAA College Connection. Well email you a link to the latest edition of this electronic newsletter each month.
Youll find stories about planning, preparing and paying for college for students of all ages, as well as general education news that you can use. Check out the latest edition to see what its like.
The Montgomery Gi Billselected Reserve
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Montgomery GI BillSelected Reserve program offers education and training benefits for members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine, or Navy Reserve, as well as the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.
In limited instances, service members may also be able to receive benefits after leaving the Selected Reserve.
The maximum benefit is currently $384 a month for up to 36 months of college or other education.
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College Credit For Training > >
During your time as a Soldier, you will attend many training courses starting with Basic Combat Training. Some courses are designed to help you gain proficiency in your chosen military occupation, while others are designed to help you develop the skills you need to lead Soldiers.learn more…
Almost every course you attend throughout your career in the military is worth college credits. The number of credits depends largely on your field of study, your educational institution, and the length and nature of the course. Obviously, some military courses are worth more credits than others.
The National Guard Education Office can help your college or institution determine the number of college credits that should be awarded by offering your complete military transcript at your request.
The Army Emergency Relief Scholarships
Spouses and children of soldiers, who are on active duty, retired, or active on Title 10 orders for the entire academic year, are eligible to apply for their corresponding scholarship programs: the Spouse Education Assistance Program and the MG James Ursano Scholarship Program for dependent children. Both scholarships provide financial assistance for students who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree.
Scholarship applications are available on the Army Emergency Relief website and are accepted January 1 through April 1 for the following academic year unless the deadline falls on a weekend, in which case the due date will be the following Monday.
The Army Emergency Relief Scholarship program was established in 1976 as a secondary mission when the Army Relief Society disbanded. The Scholarship program provides funding for undergraduate college expenses to Army Spouses and children.
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Pursue Your Education With Flexibility
While you may be familiar with the GI Bill, its just the beginning of the education benefits available to you. Whether you want to pursue your education before you serve, while you serve, or youve already graduated college with student loan debt, the Army offers a wide range of education benefits throughout your service.
Army Tuition Assistance Program
Am I eligible? Complete one year of service and graduate from Advanced Individual Training and youll be eligible as an undergraduate.
If youre looking for graduate-level tuition assistance and you already used the program to pay for part of your undergraduate degree, youll only be eligible after 10 years of service.
How much does it cover? The Army TA program covers 130 semester hours of undergraduate credit, and 39 hours of graduate credit. This is how it breaks down:
- $250 per semester hour
- 16 semester hours per year
- Maximum of $4,000 per year
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The Yellow Ribbon Program
If youre planning on going to a private university, a college out-of-state, or graduate school, then the Yellow Ribbon Program is for you. It covers tuition fees in institutions that the Post 9/11 GI Bill does not cover.
Certain schools enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and part of the agreement is to allow vets to attend more expensive private schools at a lower cost. The amount that they waive depends on two factors: first, the students status , and second, the type of school .
A Patriotic Way To Pay For School
Radio.comLooking for more military-related information?Contact a recruiterMilitary.comIf youre a military veteran, check out these Veteran Scholarships that will help you pay for school.Are you a spouse or child to a current or veteran military member?College Scholarships for Military Children & Spouses
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Earn Your Degree Through Rotc
If you are interested in joining the Army as an Officer and you do not already have a college degree, then the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps is for you.
ROTC is a scholarship program that allows you to complete all of the requirements of Army Officer training while attending college. In return for a service commitment after you graduate, the Army will pay for your college tuition, books, and other expenses.
ROTC programs are available at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the United States. You can join the ROTC after graduating high school or at any point during your first two years of college.
How To Get The National Guard To Pay For College:
In order to apply for college tuition assistance, please consider the following steps:
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College Benefits For Veterans
The original GI Bill of Rights sent millions of World War II veterans off to college in the 1940s and ’50s. Since then, generations of vets have benefited from that program and its successors.
Today there are multiple versions of the GI Bill:
- The Montgomery GI BillSelected Reserve , described above
- The Montgomery GI BillActive Duty
- The Post-9/11 GI Bill
Still in the process of being implemented is the Forever GI Bill , which further expands many benefits.
Veterans who were honorably discharged may be eligible for either the Montgomery GI BillActive Duty or the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Department of Veterans Affairs states that veterans with multiple periods of service who are eligible for both must choose one or the other and that their decision is irrevocable.
However, a recent court ruling says eligible vets do not have to choose between the two bills. If that decision holds, it could allow a qualifying veteran to receive benefits from one GI bill for the maximum of 36 months and then use the other GI bill to receive additional months of benefits. The decision is pending a possible appeal by the VA, so stay tuned.
Us Armed Forces Benefits
Federal Tuition Assistance Program & Other Education Benefits – Each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces offers its own education benefits to service members, including Federal Tuition Assistance Programs:
Montgomery GI Bill and Post 9/11 GI Bill – The Montgomery GI Bill and Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits are available for service members and veterans to help with education and training costs. The GI Bill can be used for college, business technical or vocational courses distance learning and correspondence courses apprenticeship and job training flight training and licensing and certification exams. There are some differences in eligibility and benefits between the two GI Bills, so please compare carefully before choosing one program or the other.
ROTC Stipend – ROTC is an elective curriculum you take along with your required college classes. It prepares you with the tools, training and experiences that will help you succeed in any competitive environment. Along with great leadership training, ROTC can pay for your college tuition, too. Sophomore cadets receive a $350 monthly stipend that increases to $450 for juniors and $500 for seniors.
Educator License Fees Eliminated The Ohio Department of Education is eliminating fees for educator license to recognize the contributions of military families.
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Morale Welfare And Recreation
MWR activities include arts and crafts facilities, bowling centers, golf courses, libraries, outdoor recreation, recreation centers, youth services activities and recreation membership clubs. Occasionally, local MWR facilities may offer significant discounts on popular local and national family attractions. In most instances, Guard and reserve members and their dependents are eligible to use all facilities on the same basis as active-duty personnel. Local installation and facility commanders do have the authority to establish priorities for MWR activities that are in high demand and unable to accommodate all who desire to participate. Be sure to call ahead and confirm hours of operation and eligibility for the activity you and your family are interested in.
Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty And Dedicated Army National Guard Scholarship
The high price of tuition doesn’t have to stand in the way of a great education. The Army National Guard provides financial assistance to students who wish to attend college and enlist in the Guard with two major scholarships: the Dedicated Army National Guard scholarship and the Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty contract .
GRFD and DEDNG scholarships are for full-time students. These scholarships pay full tuition and mandatory fees, or can pay room and board . In addition, cadets will be paid a monthly stipend. Following graduation, cadets begin a new Military Service Obligation contract and serve eight years in the Guard, which includes training.
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Are Military Dependents Eligible For Education Benefits
Individuals enrolled under the Post 9/11 GI Bill can transfer their benefits to their dependents. If youve served at least 90 days of active duty since September 10, 2001, then you or your dependent can already receive tuition and fees, in addition to a stipend for housing and books.
Family members who have survived a military members passing after September 10, 2001, may also be eligible for the Fry Scholarship, which offers the same benefits.
The Montgomery Gi Bill
The MGIB sends monthly checks directly to eligible students for their schooling however, students under this program do not qualify for housing allowance or book stipends. They cannot apply for additional funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program either.
MGIB Active Duty
For vets who have served at least two years of active duty, the military pays for college through the MGIB-AD. If you qualify, youll receive up to 36 months of education benefits. The amount you receive depends on:
- Length of service
- The amount paid into the $600 Buy-Up program
The $600 Buy-Up program is an opportunity for active-duty service members to increase the benefits from their MGIB-AD. You can make additional contributions in $20 increments, with each $20 increment resulting in a $180 increase to your total 36-month benefit. This could increase your total benefits by $5,400!
MGIB Selected Reserve
Vets who have chosen the MGIB-SR can receive up to $384 per month for tuition, up to 36 months. This path is open to members of the reserve and National Guard forces who have met the following criteria:
- Finished a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve or Guard
- If you are an officer, agree to serve six years in addition to your original obligation
- Complete your initial active duty for training
- Receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing the IADT
- Remain in good standing throughout your service in an active Selected Reserve unit
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