Contact a National Guard mentor about the Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program, which helps high school dropouts from the ages of 16 to 18 improve their lives through a renewed sense of structure.
Enroll in the Youth ChalleNGe progam if you are serious about joining the National Guard. The program will help you get back on track academically, and will also get you ready for the National Guard’s physical training. The program also helps you prepare for GED (general equivalency diploma) testing, and will be paid for entirely by the government.
Take the test to get your GED. According to the National Guard’s website, you must either have a high school diploma or a GED to enlist. Many of the people who enroll in the ChalleNGe program take the GED test during the first five and a half months, or the Residential Phase. If you are not interested in the program, however, you can still get your GED, which will qualify you for a spot in the National Guard, although there are many more requirements to fulfill. To sign up for a test date, visit the American Council on Education website, www.acenet.edu.