ASVAB Scores for the National Guard and Reserves
What ASVAB score do you need for the National Guard and Reserves? It depends on the component, and as of October 2026 the official pages do not all say the same thing. The Army lists an AFQT minimum of 31 to enlist. The Air Force lists 31 for high school graduates and 50 for GED holders, while the Air National Guard publishes additional conditions for GED holders, so confirm those with a Guard recruiter. nationalguard.com says to “Achieve a minimum score on the ASVAB test” but publishes no number. Ask your Guard or Reserve recruiter for the current number before you plan around any cutoff. Every Guard and Reserve applicant takes the same ASVAB as active duty applicants. What differs is the cutoff, the jobs open near you, and the state or unit that does the hiring. Scores can be used for enlistment for up to two years, and retests follow a one calendar month, one calendar month, then six calendar month schedule. Minimums shift with recruiting needs, so verify before you test.
Army Minimums and the Army National Guard
The Army’s recruiting site says that to enlist you need an ASVAB score of at least 31 and that a 90 day Future Soldier Preparatory Course is an option for applicants with a minimum score of 21. The Army National Guard runs its own recruiting site, which has a dedicated ASVAB page. nationalguard.com says to “Achieve a minimum score on the ASVAB test” and does not publish a number, so we are not claiming the Guard’s cutoff equals the Army’s. The safest reading is to treat 31 as the published Army reference point and ask your Guard recruiter whether the same figure applies today.
Guard jobs, like active Army jobs, are matched using line scores, not only the AFQT. See ASVAB line scores and military jobs to understand how subtests combine.
Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve
The Air National Guard’s eligibility page says all applicants must complete the ASVAB. The Air National Guard publishes additional conditions for GED holders; confirm with a Guard recruiter, and we do not quote a GED figure here. The Air Force lists a minimum of 50 for GED holders on its own ASVAB page, which is a reference point, not necessarily the Guard rule. The Air Force Reserve page says applicants must take the ASVAB and complete a physical, but it does not print a minimum score.
| Component | What the official page says, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Army (active) | Minimum ASVAB score of 31 to enlist (goarmy.com) |
| Army National Guard | ASVAB required; “Achieve a minimum score on the ASVAB test,” with no number published (nationalguard.com) |
| Air Force (active) | Minimum AFQT 31 for high school graduates, 50 for GED holders (airforce.com) |
| Air National Guard | ASVAB required for all applicants; additional conditions apply for GED holders, so confirm with a Guard recruiter (airforce.com/goang) |
| Air Force Reserve | Take the ASVAB and complete a physical; no minimum score printed (airforce.com) |
What the table tells you
The Guard and Reserve do not all follow one rule. Where an official page prints a number, we report it. Where it does not, we say so, because guessing at a cutoff can send you into a test unprepared or talk you out of applying when you were qualified. The GED difference is the biggest trap: an applicant with a GED could clear the Air Force minimum of 50 and still face extra Air National Guard conditions, so confirm the Guard rule before you assume the active duty number applies.
Part time service still depends on line scores
Guard and Reserve contracts are for specific jobs, and each job has its own line score requirement, so a strong AFQT is only half of the picture. Your line scores decide which jobs you can contract for, and openings vary by unit. A higher overall result gives you more choices near home, which matters when you cannot relocate. For the education side of serving part time, see military education benefits, and for the active versus part time decision, how to choose a military branch.
Scores, validity, and retesting
The score rules are the same for every component because the ASVAB program is run by the Department of Defense. Scores can be used for enlistment for up to two years from the test date, and retests follow the one month, one month, six month schedule. Read how long ASVAB scores are good for and ASVAB retake rules for the details. If you are within a couple of points of a cutoff, a focused retake plan can change the outcome; start with the ASVAB study plan.
Not sure the Guard is your best fit? Questions to ask your recruiter covers what to raise in your first conversation, including pay, training time, and what part time service requires.
How to compare your options
Make a short list of the components you are considering. For each one, write the published minimum for your education level, the jobs you want, and the line scores those jobs need. Then bring the list to a recruiter and ask them to confirm each line. Where an official page prints a number, you have a starting point. Where it does not, you have a precise question to ask. This keeps you from relying on secondhand numbers, which are often out of date.
You can also compare against the active duty standard of the same service as a sanity check, as the table above shows, while remembering that Guard conditions, such as those for GED holders, can differ from active duty. When in doubt, the recruiter has the final answer for your unit and the current month.
Ready to raise your number? Try a free ASVAB practice test to see where you stand today, or get full access to 2,400+ ASVAB practice questions and drill the four subtests that feed your AFQT.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ASVAB score do you need for the Army National Guard?
The Army lists a minimum ASVAB score of 31 to enlist as of October 2026. Confirm with a National Guard recruiter that the same minimum applies to your application.
Is the Air National Guard minimum different from the Air Force?
For GED holders it can be. The Air National Guard publishes additional conditions for GED holders, so confirm them with a Guard recruiter, while the Air Force ASVAB page lists a minimum AFQT of 50 for GED holders.
What score does the Air Force Reserve require?
The Air Force Reserve page says applicants must take the ASVAB and complete a physical but does not print a minimum. Ask a Reserve recruiter for the current number.
Do Guard and Reserve applicants take a different ASVAB?
No. Everyone takes the same ASVAB. Cutoffs, available jobs, and units differ.
