Texas State Guard — Basic Eligibility

A quick checklist of baseline requirements and helpful qualifications.

• Residency: Texas resident for 180+ days.
• Age: 17–65 at enlistment (may serve through age 70).
• Health: Generally good health; VA-rated disabilities reviewed case-by-case.
• Background: Must pass a criminal background check.
• ID: Valid Texas driver's license.
• Prior service: Not required. If prior service, honorable discharge required.
• Skills welcomed: JAG / military-experienced attorneys; search & rescue; medical (physicians, nurses, dentists, dental assistants, paramedics, EMTs); civil affairs; chaplaincy; communications; IT; CPAs; education; historians, Cyber, and Database Admins.
• Education: High school diploma, homeschool certificate, GED, or college transcripts.
• Officer candidates: Additional education and age requirements apply.
• Federal retirement: Not affected.
• Deployments: No overseas deployments.