Join the Army National Guard as a Fire Support Specialist and you’ll find out just how exciting computers and communications can be. As part of an elite field artillery team, you will support infantry and tank units in combat operations while learning highly sought-after skills that will help you in your civilian career.

 

Also known as the Forward Observer, the Fire Support Specialists act as the eyes of an artillery unit and are primarily responsible for target acquisition and relaying that information to artillery units at all levels. In this role, you will become an expert communicator as you establish, maintain, and operate communications equipment; encode and decode messages; assist in preparing and distributing fire support plans, documents, and lists; as well as determining target locations using computers or manual calculations.

 

And as your skills increase, so will your responsibilities. Advanced team members supervise and train other Soldiers, prepare observer target lists, initiate suppressive fire, and select and man observation posts. Plus, the skills you learn as a Fire Support Specialist can prepare you for a rewarding civilian career in computer consulting, information technology support, or data processing.

 

Earn while you learn

Get paid to learn! Join the Guard and you will learn valuable job skills while earning a regular paycheck and qualifying for tuition assistance.

 

After nine weeks of Basic Training, where you will learn fundamental Soldiering skills, you will attend approximately seven weeks of Advanced Individual Training (AIT), which will include a combination of hands-on and classroom training where you will learn how to decisively compute target locations, proper ammunition handling techniques, system operations, and artillery tactics.

 

Benefits

·                   Paid training

·                   A monthly paycheck

·                   Montgomery G.I. Bill

·                   Up to 100 percent Tuition Assistance for college or vocational training (up to $4,500 per fiscal year, 1 October – 30 September)

·                   Retirement benefits for part-time service

·                   Low-cost life insurance (up to $400,000 in coverage)

·                   401(k)-type savings plan

·                   Student Loan Repayment Program (up to $50,000, for existing loans)

 

Requirements

·                   Fire Support Specialists must have the physical stamina to perform strenuous activities for long periods without rest and have normal color vision.

·                   High School Diploma or GED (If you do not have a diploma or GED, you may still apply – ask a recruiter about how the Army National Guard can help you earn your GED.)

·                   Must be between the ages of 17 and 35

·                   Must be able to pass a physical exam and meet legal and moral standards

·                   Must meet citizenship requirements (see www.NATIONALGUARD.com for details)

With more than 370 years of service, the Army National Guard is the largest reserve component, as well as the oldest branch of the U.S. military. In the Guard, you get the training from us, serve in your own community, and enhance your marketability for the higher paying jobs you are now seeking. We provide our members with college tuition assistance and offer attractive benefits on top of paid training in all of our career fields. The Army National Guard has career opportunities in every State and U.S. Territory, more than 3,600 training locations, and more than 350,000 members. Visit the Army National Guard Web site at www.NATIONALGUARD.com.