I have a question. I have met with a recruiter a few times to discuss my interest in joining the NJ National Guard. Once I have completed basic training, I will take advantage of the free tuition waiver offered by the Guard by pursuing my MBA. Does this affect my enlistment bonus? The recruiter has been a little vague on what, if any, enlistment bonus I will receive. I want to make a sound decision on this and know exactly what incentives/benefits I will receive upon enlisting. If anyone can shed some light here it would be greatly appreciated. It may or may not be a make or break call for me, as although I want to pursue this, I have a few strikes against me (girlfriend, family, finances)
Thank you.

stay home with your girlfriend

They will be vary vague during the whole recruiting process. However, no matter what your recruiter says, everything will be spelled out verbally and on paper for you to sign before you are official when you are on the floor at MEPS. NOTHING is official until you swear in and sign these papers. Your bonus depends on your MOS, among other things. I enlisted last week in aviation as a UH-60 helicopter repairer. I get the college first, a signing bonus of two installments, and college paid for along with housing from the G.I. Bill, however I could not receive the kicker for some minor reason. School should be covered regardless of state, at least according to my paperwork (which I'm looking at)guaranteed as long as you have not received your bachelors degree. Also, I'm sure your recruiter would advise you NOT to list "finances" as a "strike against you"... Hope that helps, you sound like you are in the exact situation I was. KY-ARNG

Thank you for your response, it is greatly appreciated. I am still getting familiar with some of the terms and lingo. I do have a bachelor's degree, so does the free tuition apply to my situation? What is the kicker? I am 26 with a live-in girlfriend and have wanted to serve for quite some time now. With a steady job and a plan to pursue my MBA this coming fall, I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to enlist now. I would just like all of the facts before I sign on the dotted line. I don't want to take the test, physical, and be ready to sign to find out that the bonus is reduced, if any at all, that I won't be able to obtain my MBA free of tuition, that my current student loans won't be paid off. I was hoping to have these questions answered and solidified before i go through the process.

Thanks again for anyone who can help me here, especially apachechamp

Its actually a computerized lines that you sign really fast b4 they time out ! Its like playing a game trying to sign your name fast enough and good enough they can tell it was you.

The NJ free tuition program is a state incentive and is good for undergraduate and graduate studies; but they must be done at a NJ public college/university. Read more here: http://www.state.nj.us/military/education/NJNGTP.htm. One caveat: If you qualify for Federal financial aid you do not get free tuition. And this is a benefit for as long as you are a drilling NJNG member and is not affected by any other federal incentive/bonus programs.
Student Loan Repayment Program will only pay for loans you have at time of enlistment; not for loans after then (although you may be able to extend at the end of your first enlistment for SLRP but that's getting ahead of things).
Either way you will have to move fast if you expect to start school this fall. Basic training & AIT will take anywhere from 4 month to beyond a year to complete depending on what MOS you sign up for. Plus ship dates for summer are filling up fast.

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