Just curious if this programs still around. Being a student that can no longer afford school, this program is highly appealing to me.

Also, would this program be eligible for the buddy program?

Me and my bud want to join up, just a bit hesitant to talk to a recruiter since I backed out of dep for the AF (more than a year ago) and don't want to waste their time.

I am certain this time around its what I want, just narrowing down reserve vs. nation call before I try and convince em to take me.

quote:

Originally posted by Forscythe87:
Just curious if this programs still around. Being a student that can no longer afford school, this program is highly appealing to me.

Also, would this program be eligible for the buddy program?

Me and my bud want to join up, just a bit hesitant to talk to a recruiter since I backed out of dep for the AF (more than a year ago) and don't want to waste their time.

I am certain this time around its what I want, just narrowing down reserve vs. nation call before I try and convince em to take me.

Why NCS??

Everything I have read about it, it really isn't all that great. There are a few out here who did enlist under NCS, and told they could extend for a 4 yr enlistment, only to get discharged.

Perhaps your best bet would be to sign up for an actual 4 years and do at least a full enlistment and get all the associated benefits. Really research the reason you want to go in the military, is it just because you can no longer afford school? Is it because you actually want to serve this time? What do you want to get out of it? You should really answer those questions first to determine the reason you want to go in.

I suggest you look through the topics here and put National Call to Service in the find feature. Hoy Hoy has an exceptional thread going on just that subject that explains exactly what it is and does and doesn't do.

Check out this entire thread and you'll have some great info on the program.

http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/933192012...871001#4900047871001

quote:

ptional thread going on just that subject that explains exactly what it is and does and doesn't do.

Thanks guys. It's not just to pay for school. I've had a calling to serve, the fact I cant afford school anymore just gives me another excuse to start looking into it again.

I want to make something for myself, and while I know navy life or military life in general isnt easy. It will change who I am, which at this point would be a good thing!

I appreciate the advice given here. I wont be pulling the trigger this time around until im 100%.

Forscythe87-

Gerry and other regulars probably roll their eyes when a NCS question comes up because they know it's going to mean another rant from me. Not this time, because you sound like you know what you're getting into ahead of time--a Reserve contract.

NCS is a Reserve program which requires the sailor to go through bootcamp, A School, and serve 15 months of active duty following A School. Under most circumstances, with the variables being the length of one's A School and how much time is lost waiting for an A School to "class up" and start, the total time elapsed before the 15 months is up is between 20 and 23 months. At that point, a mandatory 24 months of regular drilling Reserve duty begins. The Reserve drilling takes place at a Reserve center nearest to your home of record and few junior enlisteds have to travel any great distances to drill. There is also the two weeks of training each year.

New to the mix since last week is the New GI Bill. I've read nothing to suggest NCS sailors would not be covered. The NGIB would not provide full benefits for typical NCS sailors since the full benefits require 36 months of active duty, and the prorated benefits affect NCS people from the point of view of time spent on active duty following training. The way I read it, a 60% of full benefits amount should be available to NCS people, and that means 60% of in-state tuition + fees, plus 60% of the BAH amount for E-5 paygrade in your home community. Plus, assuming you'd re-start school soon after active duty is over with, you'd be getting your drill pay each month, as well. Nobody's going to get rich from any of this, but it's a great benefit which all who receive it will have earned every nickle of.

Everything I've read said NCS ended 31 December 2007, but at least one poster here says he/she signed a NCS contract back in March 2008, so I dunno what the real deal is. I haven't a clue as to buddy program applicability.

My rants about NCS are from the point of view of there seeming to be many (most?) who didn't know what they were getting into, people who never intended to be Reservists. It's counter-intuitive to a career civilian like me, but the reality is once you're in the Reserve, it's difficult to get into active duty status. If, instead, Reserve duty is what you want, NCS seems to be a great way to jumpstart a Reserve career. The 15 months of active duty would take a regular Reservist many years to accumulate, and there is an expectation that NCS people will advance quickly in the Reserve.

Good luck with your deliberations. If you contact the recruiters, find out what the status of NCS is nowadays, and make sure the NGIB will cover you, too. Then post your findings here, please.

HH