Kyle Kingery, an RHS senior, stands calmly as he answers questions, patiently waiting out the interview. Kingery is part of the National Guard. He was recruited in early Oct. and is currently a Private (E1).
“I went to a recruiter at the National Guard office, and he gave me the paper work. After which I went to the military processing center and took the ASVAB test [Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery] which is the placement test for your MOS [Military Occupation Codes]. It was really simple,” said Kingery.
The National Guard website (www.nationalguard.com) states, “In the National Guard, you’ll build character. Explore your potential. Find out what you’re made of. If you left high school without graduating, you can earn your GED through us. If you’re still in high school, keep going and train with us part time.”
Kingery has opted for the second option. “Training is only one weekend a month since I’m not full time.”
As far as pay is concerned, Kingery’s Two Day Drill Pay Scale states that he could make between $172.60 to 186.60. Annually, as a Private (E1), Kingery makes between $604.10 and 652.96 a year. When in Active Duty however, he’ll make, $1,399.50. It’s more likely that he’ll gain in rank before he recieves any Active Duty pay.
Before enduring Basic Training, recruited individuals enter the Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP). RSP introduces recruited persons to military life and education. In the RSP there are five different phases in the program: Red, White, Blue, Green and Gold.
The ‘Red’ phase takes place during the intensive first few days, basics like Army Values, Army structure and ranks, saluting and forms of address, and military time.
According to the National Guard website, “Military life has rules. You’ll get ahead of the game if you learn them early.”
Every phase from White and up includes intensive physical training, military mentality and history, preparation for Basic Combat Training (BCT), and Split Training Options (STO). By the final phase, National Guardsmen are placed with a unit sponsor.
Currently, Kingery continues on the path to graduate and after which, explore the world from the National Guard’s point of view. For the time being, Kingery is more focused on friends, music and games than the future. “I’ve got time, and my outlook is good.”