You've read about the incentives and obligations and want to serve in the ARNG?
To direct commission takes quite some months. You will need to contact an ARNG recruiter, but NOT a regular one. They are not often familiar with the process.
Call 1-800-Go-Guard and explain your goal to join as a Physician, Lawyer, etc. You can ask specifically for an AMEDD recruiter, for instance. They will likely have to call you back.
At this time confirm your understanding with your state's recruiter about the incentives and obligations (make sure you are all on the same page from the beginning!) This stuff changes fast, so don't be alarmed if your recruiter doesn't know a particular exception you know about. Just get everything straight up front.
There are memorandums in the DOCUMENTS posts for various policies that may assist you in confirming your understanding. These documents are good at the recruiter phase and going forward. IF ANYTHING ISN'T IN A MEMORANDUM WRITING, GET IT IN WRITING FROM YOUR RECRUITER. GET IT IN YOUR CONTRACT. DO NOT GO ON "I THINK..." OR GOOD FAITH. Recruiters are human and make mistakes too. They may not be there years later and you will be left with a signed contract that was not what you understood. Just use common sense like any other sort of job agreement.
Once you both are on the same page, you will fill out mountains of paperwork and go to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) for a physical. Then more paperwork. The officer role in the Army carries many obligations and as such you are vetted.
You must pass a physical and blood tests to join. The process is less than enjoyable to be honest. The MEPS physical will occur at an Army base and involves a comprehensive exam to include duck walking in your underwear...don't worry, you'll see.
The paperwork is also detailed. DC officers come with their own security clearance when finally sworn in. You will fill out information to every place you've lives, attended school, traveled. You'll be asked about any history of sexual affairs that are secret, drug use, criminal use. BE HONEST. This process is to make sure you will tell the truth and not be vulnerable to blackmail. You will potentially have access to patient records or legal documents. It is of course crucial that you do maintain professional secrecy of this information. If you are later deployed, you might be sent to a location that is TOP SECRET. If that happens, you will be more thoroughly screened without your knowledge. This could include the FBI contacted your childhood friends to confirm your denial of marijuana usage as a teenager. BE HONEST. I am told the number one thing that will keep professionals out of the military is financial problems like bankruptcy. If you have money problems, you are more likely to be manipulated for personal gain. BE HONEST. It's better to just not be let in (their loss! They need you doc!) than it is to get dishonorably discharged later.
After the paperwork and physical, if you had any number of YES answers you will have to get a waiver. This is usually given if you are a needed professional, the incident was long ago, and your statement towards it is satisfactory.
Eventually you will be approved and have to go in front of your state board (meets once a month usually) to swear in.
Cut your hair clean-cut(guys)/pull it into a bun(women), wear a suit, shave your face. Show up early. The board will grill you a little bit about your understanding that the ARNG deploys over seas, why do you want to join, etc. It's intimidating. These men/women are seasoned Army Professionals and want good people. BUT you're in luck. If you made it this far you are 99% in. Just don't say/do something stupid at this point ("No, I was told the ARNG never deployed! I just wanted some cash").
You swear in.
And you go home while your information is processed in the ARNG computers for a few weeks. Welcome, Sir/Ma'am. You just joined the Army!
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