Weekend Warrior isn’t as good as it sounds…

I’m a 20 y/o PFC in the Army National Guard and feel like I’ve been constantly misled or screwed over by the ARNG.

I joined as an E-1 PVT, September 12th, 2022. I joined as a 88N with no bonus. I initially had a contract that had me going AB and headed to the SF group in my state. This also had a 20k bonus. I was excited to get to MEPS and sign my contract. Well, I get there and when I speak to my liaison about the contract I’ll sign he states that there wasn’t a bonus or AB available anymore and I’d be attached to a QM unit instead. I was devastated. The money would’ve helped out a lot and the Airborne opportunity was one I was aiming for ever since I found out about paratroopers. So, foolishly I signed the barebone contract with nothing but my MOS that I wanted. It’s a 6AD-2IRR. So I would qualify for the GI Bill, ANGEAP, and TA.

Come time to head to BCT, I finalize all my paperwork for my BAH to be completed. (I rented a property) Head off and what not, it’s my first pay check in BCT and I had no BAH so essentially I was training for free. I had all or most of money going to my landlord. I told the drills about it and they just said it’ll take time. It did not ever get resolved until AIT where the drills actually cared. I got some BAH but, definitely not enough and NO back pay. I was also in Airborne training with one of the HIGHSPEED drills at AIT. He had like 20 soliders waiting for their slot. Half of them went and then the whole barracks was sent home if they graduated or if they were holdovers. Atleast that’s what I was told. So no Airborne for me. Yet, I’m still trying to find a slot for me at the SF group in my state.

After training wasn’t any better. I get home from IET around May ‘23. And I’m applying to colleges to get my degree started. I get accepted and complete my FASFA and everything looks good. I sign for ANGEAP at the school’s VMA office and also my GI Bill and kicker. It comes to the first day of class and I have my dorm and meal plan. (6K) for one semester. And I’m expecting to pay for that using FASFA. Well, I’m going back and forth with the VMA office and FA about why I’m not getting my balance paid. The VMA requests a copy of my DD-214 member 4 to prove my eligibility. Well I get them the copy and then the next day they say it wasn’t saved correctly. I call them to double check what I just heard so that same day I head to the director of the VMA office to fix it. He said he needs it again, I say ok. Call my RNCO. She picks up the phone, goes on my IPERMS and pulls it up. Sends it to his Email and he said it’s the incorrect one. Well, there’s only the Service 2 on IPERMS, yet it’s the same information on the form. I’m pissed, my RNCO is pissed and the Director is blaming me for not having it in there.

I ended up having to drop out for the Spring semester. Because of the balance for the fall wasn’t covered. It came to $13,479.98 for me to pay. I’m working Full-time at this point and wondering what went wrong. It eventually gets handed off to another company or something and I’m paying the minimum amount I can on the balance. I’m struggling financially and my unit won’t help me out no matter how much I complain. My PSG is the only one that seems to care but, higher command won’t. My PSG recommended a IG complaint on the university and a letter to the governor. So I’m in the process of that.

I plan to go to another University next spring and I’m making sure everything is right before I move in. It’s closer to my parent and i know I can find work in this city. But, regardless I’m still stressed out of my mind trying to pay that balance, along with other bills and find time to relax.

Like I said, I need money and feel like the end of the tunnel is far from near. So, I joined the Honor Guard! It’s been great and I love to honor our vets. That helps but, I also want to have an ADOS or AGR job as well as school. But I haven’t found any openings. I use TOD to see what I can see

TLDR: Didn’t get a bonus like I was told. No BAH during IET. No TA/ANGEAP was paid to the university Told it was my fault Forced to drop out and I owe $13k+ IG complaint/ Letter to governor in process PSG is only leadership helping me out Learned my lesson for schooling Joined Honor Guard Looking for ADOS/AGR jobs atm using TOD E-4 now.