Some comments from Guardsman:

“I was tring to earn money for college and it’s tough to get a decent paying job when your only 18.  I realized the Guard would pay for my College Tuition all the way through Grad School. Now instead of working my tail off every day and weekend after school I work just one weekend a month get free tuition AND THEY PAY ME! Sure beats longer hours saying “you want fries with that”.“

“I used to have a really hard time getting the keys to the family car – parents didn’t think I was “responsible enough”. Now I drive a 3 Million Dollar Tank – go figure.”

”This is a re-up for me. I served in the regular Army before. I missed the comradeship so I reenlisted in the National Guard. Now I have my civilian life and my Army too.”

“I needed some real job skills, so instead of me paying a technical school I joined the Guard to get the skills I need and they pay me.”

“September 11th – I think that’s reason enough”

“I wanted to serve my country in the worst way but was the only son of older parents and was afraid I would get transferred to Tim-buck-too or Alaska or some far away place. I found out that the Guard is a part time gig and it can usually keep you within 50 miles of your home so I joined.  I know if things ever got really bad I could get called up and made active, but for the most part I’m looking at Homeland Security right here in Jersey.”

“I wanted to prove I wasn’t a dweeb”

I wanted a part time job to supplement my regular job and I liked the idea of “helping people” in times of disaster, you know, floods, storms, fires and stuff. There’s just something about helping and saving people that really charges me up!

” I always wanted to fly a helicopter”

“Being the smallest kid in class was always tough. Now after combat training let’s just say nobody picks on me any more 😉 ”

“I went from pork chop to lean and mean in 9 weeks. No one recognized me. (Except my mother -she wanted to know why they weren’t feeding me)”

“I wanted to become a doctor so it was the best way to go with free tuition and all”

“Somebody has to protect us ……..  I’m somebody”

“I grew up in a neighborhood full of losers headed for a deadend. I knew I had to get out somehow. The Guard gave me a whole new life. On a Guard Drill when your buddy says “hey, who’s got the smoke” it has a whole different meaning”

“I wanted to build my character – George Washington was a Guardsman – nuf said!”

”I wanted to become “an officer and a gentleman”.

“Some of my best friends as a civilian are my Guard buddies!”