By: Kai Payne

Have you ever thought that college isn’t the best choice for your life path? Maybe you haven’t decided what you want to do, maybe you’re going into college undeclared not knowing what you want to do yet. Maybe you’re unable to pay the high tuition fees that some colleges offer. Well I have a solution for you the reader of this article! The Georgia National Guard wants you to help defend your states homeland! Fun fact, they’ll also pay you to be smarter at it.

My dear Juniors, if you remember on 4/20/26 we had our Junior meeting in the auditorium of which a panel of 8 seniors was presented to you. 7/8 of those seniors we’re going to some type of college but 1 of them chose to enlist in the United States Army, Grayson Morrsion chose to go into a career of Military service rather then go to college.

Now of course not every branch is different in the process but today we will be discussing the Georgia Army National Guard (GANG) and Army Active Duty (AAD). If you are considering to go to college but aren’t very sure how you are going to pay for it, or all of your scholarships that would help a lot got denied, then the GANG is for you. If you were to contact a GANG recruiter and talk to them they’ll tell you 3 things the GANG offers for college assistance. The GI Bill, the GI Kicker, and Service requirement. Straight off if you join the GANG your tuition is fully paid for by the GANG, as a form of loan, if you do 2 years of service with the GANG that loan is wiped clean as if you never took it, you then also get the GI bill which is roughly $760 a month. Then if you score a 50 or above on your Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) you gain the GI Kicker grant. Which is additional ~$500 in the pocket every single month. Now of course to gain access to all of these you will have to do at least 2 years of service in the GANG, I personally would recommend taking ROTC in college which not only gives you college credits, it helps builds your resume and teaches you additional life skills.

If you have any additional questions or are considering joining the GANG speaking with Ms.McKenzi in flight school, or going to a local AAD or GANG recruitment center should be your next steps!