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The Air Guard welcomes qualified applicants from the active duty Air Force, as well as all other US military branches. The Air Guard also accepts transfers from other Reserve/Guard components. Whether you're preparing to leave active duty, participating in the Inactive Ready Reserves (IRR), returning from a break in service, or considering early departure from the Air Force, you can transition into the Air Guard easily. As a member of the Air Guard, you'll experience the camaraderie and pride of serving your country and your community in uniform, and you'll retain all your military retirement points and other military benefits as well.

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Active Air Force To Air Guard The Palace Front and Palace Chase programs allow Active Duty Air Force to transition into the Air Guard. Open Tab Button Active Air Force To Air Guard There are two ways for Air Force members to transition into the Air Guard: If your commitment is ending and you don’t plan to re-enlist, the Palace Front program allows you to make a seamless transition into a part-time military position with the Air Guard, with no break in military service. The Palace Chase program allows eligible Air Force members to honorably exit the Air Force early and serve part-time in the Air Guard. Whichever route you take, you'll most likely be able to keep your rank, and your military time will carry over. You can expect to work 1 weekend per month and accomplish 15 days of annual training per year as well. You will still enjoy BX and Commissary privileges at military installations, receive a monthly paycheck for your service, and be able to take advantage of valuable benefits including Service Members Group Life Insurance, health and dental coverage. One of the best features of joining the Air Guard is the ability to choose where you want to live and the freedom to go to college, be near your family, and put down roots without giving up the camaraderie and sense of patriotism that comes with being in uniform. Other Military Service Other Military Service The Air Guard welcomes members from a diverse background of other military backgrounds. Open Tab Button Other Military Service At any of the more than 140 Air Guard units in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, you will find yourself in the company of prior service Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Army and Air Force members. Applicants must have a DD 214 or NGB 22 reflecting an honorable discharge and good re-enlistment code (RE code), and meet physical, age, and citizenship requirements. Cross-training may be an option depending on unit needs and your preferences and availability. All your previous military time will count towards your retirement, and, in most cases, you will be able to retain your military rank. Our diversity makes us better and stronger, so regardless of your military background, you’ll fit in, and wonder what took you so long to get here. Guard to Guard Transfers Guard To Guard Transfers The Air Guard offers unit-to-unit transfer choices. Open Tab Button Guard To Guard Transfers In the Air Guard, there is often an opportunity to transfer between units based on preference and availability. Unit members should contact a Retention Office Manager for more information. Will I Be Deployed? Will I Be Deployed? Deployment is always a possibility, however every effort is made to use volunteers first. Open Tab Button Will I Be Deployed? As you already know, there is always the possibility of being tasked for deployment. When trouble strikes your state, your Governor may call up the Air Guard to do a number of things, including but not limited to performing air rescue or medical response missions, or assisting the local authorities during a natural disaster. Likewise, the President may call up the Air Guard to support our country's homeland defense mission. Every effort is made to use volunteers first, and in some cases you may be tasked to deploy when volunteers are not available to meet the mission’s requirements.	CAREER FINDER BENEFITS Find an In-Service Recruiter: Find Find by AFSC code: Find State Education Benefits Up to 100% tuition assistance. 50% tuition waived for all partner schools through graduate programs. 50% off tuition and related fees for undergraduate programs at partner schools. Tuition assistance for vo-tech courses at MD public colleges/univ and private institutions if the latter provides a 50% tuition waiver. Group Insurance $1,000 at no cost.$10,000 for $3.66 /mo; $15,000 for $5.33/mo; $20,000 for$7/ mo; $25,000 for $8.67/ mo; $30,000 for $10.34/ mo; $50,000 for$17.01/ mo Family plan: $5,000 for $3.33/mo(spouse/child); spouse only: $5,000 for $2/mo; $10,000 for $3.66/ mo; $25,000 for $8.67/mo Injury Death Benefits State Active Duty: Workers' Comp. If guardmember killed while on Active Duty or Title 32 duty, $100,000 death benefit to family if not eliG.I.ble for DIC. Medical Benefits State Active Duty: Workers' Comp. Miscellaneous Exempt from arrest while going to/from or on active duty. Free passage through tollgates, roads to/from duty. Exempt from jury duty. Distinctive auto plates. Interest-free emergency loans through relief funds. Reimbursement None State Tax Advantage None Workers Compensation State Active Duty

Active Air Force To Air Guard

The Palace Front and Palace Chase programs allow Active Duty Air Force to transition into the Air Guard.

Open Tab Button

Active Air Force To Air Guard

There are two ways for Air Force members to transition into the Air Guard:

If your commitment is ending and you don’t plan to re-enlist, the Palace Front program allows you to make a seamless transition into a part-time military position with the Air Guard, with no break in military service.
The Palace Chase program allows eligible Air Force members to honorably exit the Air Force early and serve part-time in the Air Guard.

Whichever route you take, you'll most likely be able to keep your rank, and your military time will carry over. You can expect to work 1 weekend per month and accomplish 15 days of annual training per year as well. You will still enjoy BX and Commissary privileges at military installations, receive a monthly paycheck for your service, and be able to take advantage of valuable benefits including Service Members Group Life Insurance, health and dental coverage. One of the best features of joining the Air Guard is the ability to choose where you want to live and the freedom to go to college, be near your family, and put down roots without giving up the camaraderie and sense of patriotism that comes with being in uniform.

Other Military Service

The Air Guard welcomes members from a diverse background of other military backgrounds.

Open Tab Button

Other Military Service

At any of the more than 140 Air Guard units in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, you will find yourself in the company of prior service Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Army and Air Force members. Applicants must have a DD 214 or NGB 22 reflecting an honorable discharge and good re-enlistment code (RE code), and meet physical, age, and citizenship requirements. Cross-training may be an option depending on unit needs and your preferences and availability. All your previous military time will count towards your retirement, and, in most cases, you will be able to retain your military rank. Our diversity makes us better and stronger, so regardless of your military background, you’ll fit in, and wonder what took you so long to get here.

Guard to Guard Transfers

Guard To Guard Transfers

The Air Guard offers unit-to-unit transfer choices.

Open Tab Button

Guard To Guard Transfers

In the Air Guard, there is often an opportunity to transfer between units based on preference and availability. Unit members should contact a Retention Office Manager for more information.

Will I Be Deployed?

Deployment is always a possibility, however every effort is made to use volunteers first.

Open Tab Button

Will I Be Deployed?

As you already know, there is always the possibility of being tasked for deployment. When trouble strikes your state, your Governor may call up the Air Guard to do a number of things, including but not limited to performing air rescue or medical response missions, or assisting the local authorities during a natural disaster. Likewise, the President may call up the Air Guard to support our country's homeland defense mission. Every effort is made to use volunteers first, and in some cases you may be tasked to deploy when volunteers are not available to meet the mission’s requirements.

CAREER FINDER
BENEFITS

Find an In-Service Recruiter:

Find

Find by AFSC code:

Find

State

Education Benefits

Up to 100% tuition assistance. 50% tuition waived for all partner schools through graduate programs. 50% off tuition and related fees for undergraduate programs at partner schools. Tuition assistance for vo-tech courses at MD public colleges/univ and private institutions if the latter provides a 50% tuition waiver.

Group Insurance

$1,000 at no cost.$10,000 for $3.66 /mo; $15,000 for $5.33/mo; $20,000 for$7/ mo; $25,000 for $8.67/ mo; $30,000 for $10.34/ mo; $50,000 for$17.01/ mo Family plan: $5,000 for $3.33/mo(spouse/child); spouse only: $5,000 for $2/mo; $10,000 for $3.66/ mo; $25,000 for $8.67/mo

Injury Death Benefits

State Active Duty: Workers' Comp. If guardmember killed while on Active Duty or Title 32 duty, $100,000 death benefit to family if not eliG.I.ble for DIC.

Medical Benefits

State Active Duty: Workers' Comp.

Miscellaneous

Exempt from arrest while going to/from or on active duty. Free passage through tollgates, roads to/from duty. Exempt from jury duty. Distinctive auto plates. Interest-free emergency loans through relief funds.

Reimbursement

None

State Tax Advantage

None

Workers Compensation

State Active Duty