Originally Posted by
emma69
I am not sure where you are getting your numbers from - this is what I found:
"An E-1 in the Army National Guard is called a Private; in the Air National Guard it is an Airman Basic. An E-1 is paid at the active-duty rate of $1,467.60 per month during basic training. Once basic training is finished, an E-1 in the Army or Air National Guard earns $195.68 for each National Guard drill weekend.
Read more : http://www.ehow.com/info_8118151_national-guard-basic-training-pay.html"
Out of that you may or may not need to pay Federal / State taxes (US tax laws confuse me - I believe it varies state to state)
Even if you kept every single penny, no taxes, no other deductions, that is only $17k.
You also need money to spend during that time - deodorant, toothpaste, shaving cream, snacks, sodas, socializing during your downtime, extra kit to make your life more comfortable (my first year with the military was extortionately expensive, as I purchased the 'gucci' kit - lighter weight warmer sleeping bag, extra t shirts for PT / to be worn under uniform, gloves, hats, Maglite torches, chinagraph pencils, boot polish and brushes, brasso, dusters, a decent iron, goretex waterproofs, a warm jacket, etc etc). I would plan on spending a fair amount at the PX to be honest, not saving it all. Yes, room and board may be taken care of, but there are some things that are going to make that year much more bearable.
As others have mentioned, your regular day job once you have completed your training will likely dictate your travel ability (time off, but also things like what they are going to pay you). $195 / weekend is not a lot, and you will be back to the real world paying for rent, food, car, insurance, and all the other things that add up.