The National Guard has several education-based incentives for those who enlist. As of February 2011, if you're looking to obtain a four-year college degree, the Guard has a 100 percent tuition program that provides up to $18,000 toward a bachelor's degree. Other money provided toward your degree includes the Montgomery GI Bill, the Army National Guard Kicker and Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships, all of which provide monthly stipends. Finally, the Post 9/11 GI Bill covers up to 100 percent of your tuition, depending on the length of time you've served.
Medical Service Corps represents several career fields within the National Guard, including Medical Administration, Behavioral Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Preventive Medicine, and Aviation. All soldiers in these fields become officers but each role has different training and education prerequisites. Medical Service Corps officers are highly educated and the only career where a bachelor's degree is not required is aviation.
Chaplains are ordained spiritual leaders within the National Guard. They maintain the rank of officer and represent diverse faith groups. In order to qualify as a chaplain candidate, at a minimum you must have a bachelor's degree and be currently pursuing a graduate degree.
JAG's Corps members are legal officers within the National Guard charged with defending, prosecuting and investigating military crimes. JAG officers also deal with legal paperwork such as contracts and advise officers and soldiers in legal matters. JAG officers are fully trained lawyers serving in the military and so a bachelor's degree and a law degree are required to follow this career path.
Officer Candidate School (OCS) is the National Guard's training program designed to turn soldiers into leaders. Recruits have three tracks of OCS to choose from: State, National and Federal. Traditionally, only an associate's degree was required in order to be eligible for OCS however, as of November 30, 2010, applicants interested in attending Federal OCS are required to have a bachelor's degree or higher.