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Your Education Benefits At A Glance

This handy guide provides you with a list of education benefits offered to the Service Member as well as links for applying for each benefit.

State Tuition Assistance

The State TA program is funded by the State of Texas and intended to help Texas Service Members cover tuition costs at Texas colleges and universities.

Federal Tuition Assistance

Tuition assistance provides financial assistance to Soldiers pursuing an academic certificate, baccalaureate, and master's degrees.

Credentialing Assistance Program

The Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) program provides funding for sources and/or exams leading to an industry-recognized academic or vocational credential.

GI Bill

The GI Bill is designed to assist Soldiers and Veterans with education expenses and job training skills.  Unlike other programs, the GI Bill pays a check that goes directly to you.

Student Loan Repayment

The National Guard values higher education and offers many types of assistance to help you stay on track while you serve.

Hazlewood Act

The Hazlewood Act provides qualified Veterans an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition and fee exemption at Texas state-supported colleges or universities.

Scholarship for Veterans, Spouse, and their Children

Conduct a comprehensive search for scholarships tailored for service members, veterans, and military family

Earn while you serve your country.
The Texas Army National Guard offers excellent pay, whether it’s your first job or the next phase in your military career. Your earnings will depend on your rank, job as well as your education level. The higher you go, the more you make.

Every day you serve, you'll be adding even more to your paycheck. Take a look at all the different ways you'll earn with the Guard:

• Active Duty Pay - During training or any time you're deployed
• Drill Pay - Two days, one weekend per month
• Annual Training Pay - Two weeks every year
• Enlisted and Officer Pay - Move up in rank and watch your paychecks get bigger—and make even more as a Guard officer.
• Guard Pay Calculator - See how much you can earn.

Texas Army National Guard Incentives Help is only a click away!

Please use the TXARNG incentives link below to contact the incentives manager for questions about bonuses, unresolved issues, other services, or basic eligibility for bonuses.   Staff are available 8:00 to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday except state and federal holidays to answer your questions and address your concerns.  If you prefer to speak to the incentives manager, please call the Incentives Office Phone at  512-782-5515, option 6.  The Incentives Office Group Email is ng.tx.txarng.mbx.incentives@army.mil.

Soldiers and Veterans — and their families — enjoy even more real benefits, such as inexpensive healthcare through the TRICARE system; low-cost life insurance that pays up to $400,000; Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans that can save service members a bundle when buying a home; and something that might not seem like a big deal now, but definitely will later: a generous retirement package. The Guard also offers an array of resources aimed at helping Soldiers find careers — which is especially important for men and women who serve part time but maintain readiness full time, at home and on the job.

Get discounts, privileges, insurance and more.

Fly for Free

Guard Soldiers can travel free on military planes when space is available. You can fly within and between the Continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico. Availability is based on a priority system. Learn more about flying for free. 

Discount Shopping and More

Guard and Families can enjoy privileges at military installations around the world, including tax-free discount shopping at any Military Exchange (department store) and commissary (grocery store). Other retail and lodging discounts are also available. Find out more about discount shopping.

Healthcare

The Guard cares about the health of Soldiers and their Families. Military members and their Families can purchase inexpensive health coverage from TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), for the top-quality healthcare they deserve. Your recruiter can offer additional details, or you can find out more through TRICARE.

Life Insurance

Low-cost life insurance plans are available for Guard Soldiers—up to $400,000. Family members are eligible for Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), which offers insurance to spouses and dependent children of Guard members insured under SGLI. Learn more about life insurance plans.

Veterans Administration (VA) Home Loans

Guard Soldiers may be eligible for VA home loans with minimum or no down payment. Working through private lenders, such as banks, savings and loans, and mortgage companies, VA guarantees loans for homes up to a pre-determined amount and can also eliminate the need for private mortgage insurance. Get more information about VA home loans. 

Re-employment Benefits

As a member of the Guard, you can be deployed on short notice. And by federal law, when you have to leave your job to serve your country, you’re assured of being able to come back to work when you return. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects your right to be re-employed in the same position upon returning from military service. Find out more about re-employment benefits. 

Federal Retirement Plan

You probably won’t be thinking about retirement for many years, but think about this: The Guard can continue to pay you every month after you’ve finished serving. This is on top of any benefits from your civilian career and any other retirement funds you may have coming. Learn more about the federal retirement plan. 

Note: Texas Army National Guard programs and benefits are subject to change. For the latest information, please contact a recruiter.

Camp Mabry offers testing on the following:

• AFCT-4187
• DLPT/DLAB-4187

Testing Flyer

All tests must have 4187s signed by the unit commander and must be submitted prior to the test date. No walk-ins. By appointment only.

                                                                 FY 25 Testing Dates

Please contact dominique.m.gill.civ@army.mil for more information on test dates/times. Once your 4187 is received, that confirms your seat.

You can contact the education centers below for alternate testing locations:

Fort Cavazos Testing Office 254-287-7605

Joint Base San Antonio 210-221-1738

Test Prep Information

• Preparation for ASVAB (prior to service) or AFCT (during service)
• DLPT- Language Assistance
• GMAT Information Guide

ABOUT ROTCReserve Officer Training Corps

Texas Army National Guard Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is an elective curriculum you can take along with your required college classes. More importantly, ROTC is an elite leadership course that provides the tools, training, and experience that will help you succeed in any competitive environment. During classes and field training, you learn firsthand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups, and conduct missions as an Officer.

Cadets are commissioned as Second Lieutenants upon graduation, starting a career in a wide range of branches and specialties. Being an Officer means you're a leader, counselor, strategist, and motivator - like a vital manager in a corporation. Officers lead other Soldiers in an array of situations and environments, achieving success with their team on every mission.

Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD): Scholarships available through Army ROTC that guarantee that commissioned Cadets serve in the Texas Army National Guard. GRFD scholarships are available for up to two years and allow simultaneous use with the Select Reserve Montgomery GI Bill, chapter 1606 or 1607.

Dedicated National Guard Scholarship: Available for up to three years, but does not allow simultaneous use with the Guard GI Bill. Qualifications include: US citizenship, 2.5 GPA, under 31 years of age for the entire year of commissioning, pass the Army Physical Fitness Test, meet Army height/weight standards, full-time student, and be of good moral character.

Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP): A two-year program whereby cadets serve in the Texas Army National Guard and attend ROTC classes simultaneously.

Minuteman Scholarship

Continuation Pay: Basic Information

Service members who are currently enrolled in the Blended Retirement System (BRS) may qualify for a one-time mid-career bonus payment in return for committing to additional obligated service. It is payable after completing eight years of service but before completing 12 years of service (calculated from a service member's Pay Entry Base Date). This is a one-time bonus payment provided in addition to any other career field-specific incentives or retention bonuses.

Eligibility

• This one-time payout is available to active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members enrolled in the BRS who can enter into an agreement to perform additional obligated service.

• To secure benefits, the service member must fill out and submit the BRS-CP Payment Request Form within the 8 to 11 years and 364 days of service window. (If requested exactly at the 12-year mark or after, it will require an ABCMR (Army Board for Correction of Military Records).
• Service Member must have a minimum of four years left in Contract/Agreement or MRD.

Verification of Eligibility and Request Process

• Service Member can verify eligibility by using their LES  (See block labeled "RET PLAN" in your LES, it should say "Blended").

• Service Member’s Unit Representative can verify eligibility by using the BRS-CP Eligibility roster found in the Education and Incentives ELSP Page. EDUCATION & INCENTIVES - BRS - CP - All Documents (ng.mil)
• Service Member must complete the BRS-CP payment request form and submit to unit representative for processing.
• Unit representative will follow the BRS-CP checklist and submit all required information via the Incentives tracker. TMD J1 - E_&_I Action Request Tracker - E&I Action Request (ng.mil)
• State will conduct Audit, assign control number, and submit for payment.

For CP Rates please reference the BRS-CP Policy Chapters 5-6. (see below)

Additional Links & Information

• Military Compensation – Blended Retirement System

• My Army Benefits – BRS Continuation Pay

Checklist and Forms

• BRS - CP Policy CY 24-25

• FAQ Sheet - Continuation Pay

• BRS Checklist

• BRS - CP Payment Request Form