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Veterans Benefits Administration »
National Guard and Reserve
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Your Benefits: Traditional & Technician
National Guard and Reserve
Your Benefits: Traditional & Technician
Traditional and Technician National Guard and Reserve members typically serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year, and are eligible for some VA benefits. Serving on active duty under Title 10 or full-time National Guard duty under Title 32 may qualify you for additional VA benefits.
A state or territory's governor may activate certain National Guard members for State Active Duty, such as in response to a natural or man-made disaster. State Active Duty is based on state law and funding and does not qualify as active duty for VA benefits. However, National Guard members may also qualify for additional benefits through their state. Contact your state's Veterans agency office for more information.
Home Loans
VA Home Loan benefits help Servicemembers and Veterans purchase, retain, or adapt a home. National Guard and Reserve members may qualify for a VA-guaranteed home loan by meeting one of the following conditions:
- Six years of service in the Selected Reserve, AND
- Were discharged honorably, OR
- Were placed on the retired list, OR
- Were transferred to the Standby Reserve or an element of the Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve after service characterized as honorable, OR
- Continues to serve in the Selected Reserve longer than six years, OR
- Served for 90 days or more on active duty during a wartime period, OR
- Were discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected disability
Our Loan Guaranty Service administers this program. Learn more about general rules for eligibility and how to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility.
Education
VA Education benefits provide financial support for undergraduate and graduate degrees, vocational and technical training, licensing and certification tests, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. Traditional and Technician National Guard and Reserve members may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). Eligibility requirements for the MGIB-SR include:
- A 6-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve, AND
- Having completed Initial Active Duty for Training, AND
- Having served in a drill unit and remain in good standing, AND
- Having a high school diploma or equivalency
Additional VA education and training benefits are available to National Guard and Reserve members who served on active duty or full-time National Guard duty.
Learn about how to apply on our Apply for Benefits page.
Life Insurance
VA Life Insurance programs consider the extra risks involved in military service to provide you and your family with added financial security at competitive rates. Each of the following insurance programs has different eligibility requirements; however, coverage enrollment is automatic for SGLI, FSGLI, and TSGLI.
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
- National Guard or Reserve member scheduled to perform at least 12 periods of inactive duty training per year OR
- Individual Ready Reserve member who volunteers for a mobilization category
Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI):
- Servicemember separating, retiring, or being released from Reserve or National Guard assignment and already covered by SGLI OR
- Change text of second bullet to: National Guard or Reserve member covered by part-time SGLI who incurred a disability or aggravated a pre-existing disability while performing inactive duty training or traveling to/from duty OR
- Member of the Individual Ready Reserve or Inactive National Guard
Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)
- Spouse or dependent child of an active duty Servicemember covered by full-time SGLI, OR
- Spouse or dependent child of a member of the National Guard or Reserve of a uniformed service covered by full-time SGLI
SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI)
- Member of the uniformed services and have SGLI, OR
- Suffered an injury that resulted in a qualifying loss between October 7, 2001 and November 30, 2005
Disability Compensation
Disability compensation is a monthly tax-free benefit paid to Veterans who are at least 10% disabled because of injuries or diseases that occurred or were aggravated during active duty or active duty for training. VA also pays Disability Compensation for disabilities from injury, heart attack, or stroke that occurred during inactive duty training. The disability must not be a result of your own willful misconduct, or alcohol or drug abuse.
Veterans with a service-connected disability may also quality for other benefits, including: Automobile Allowance, Clothing Allowance, and Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) or Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant.
You can apply for this benefit through eBenefits.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)
VA provides vocational counseling, job-search assistance, and other education and training services to certain Veterans with a service-connected illnesses or injuries.
Learn more about VA's employment services for Veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Burial
VA provides memorial services and allowances to help reimburse burial costs for a Veteran and/or his or her dependents. Burial benefits include burial at a national cemetery, an inscribed headstone, marker, or medallion, an allowance to partially reimburse the burial and funeral costs of a Veteran, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and an American flag to drape over a Veteran's casket.
Eligibility requires that the Veteran was serving on active duty, or his/her death was due to an injury or disease that developed during, or was aggravated during, active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.
