My son is considering joining the National Guard as a reservist. I am interested in any advise or insight or experiences anyone might have to share about this responsibility/opportunity. I understand they are typically only deployed in the US, but that in recent years many have been deployed to support the regular army in the middle east. I am also interested in knowing more about educational benefits of joining in terms of payment of student and parent plus loans. Like, will they pay off loans already taken out? The website mentions student loans and parent plus loans, and also that instate public school tuition is covered but I wasn't clear on whether they will retroactively cover loans the student has already incurred. My son is 20 and a sophomore in college, taking a break. He is considering joining the reserves, working part time and also going to school part-time - possibly taking online courses in case he is deployed, so he wouldn't have to drop out. Any thoughts?

Yes, NJ National Guard. 1963-1969. Great experience. However, they did not pay any school loans at that time. Got called up for the Newark riots, got the NJ Good Conduct medal.. 3 miserable days in a miserable place. I have never regretted joining BUT times have changed so make sure he is very aware of the possibilities of being called up.

All I can say about any branch of the military is that less and less is spent on the soldier so that more and more can be spent on billion dollar weaponry and on cyber warfare.
That was true even when my nephews joined the marines in the 80s. Old, shabby equipment, etc., at basic training. Probably better when they were sent out.
Decisions to deploy overseas can change on a dime. I'm not sure what good it is to know what the odds are. If you are deployed, you go.
And if you are injured? The VA is a mess. It's a union run greedy bunch dragging everyone down the drain just to save their next pay raise.

Both of my oldest sons are in the NG. I don't know about paying student loans retroactive, but they were both eligible for the Mongomery GI Bill. My oldest used it for Criminal Justice and is now a police officer.

Both of them have been deployed to Iraq, and the oldest was deployed for a second tour to Afghanistan.