Air National GuardSanta Barbara, CA

Your closest base is Channel Islands

If you are in Santa Barbara, the closest California Air National Guard base is the 146th Airlift Wing at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in Port Hueneme, about 45 minutes away. That is where you would drill.

The California Air National Guard has units across the state, and members are assigned to the base nearest to where they live. For Santa Barbara, that is Channel Islands, where the wing flies C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and runs the airlift and aerial firefighting missions California depends on.

Service is one weekend a month plus about two weeks a year. You stay in Santa Barbara. You keep your job, your school, and your life exactly as they are.

Why people from Santa Barbara join

Cost of living here is steep, and the tuition benefit plus part-time pay is often what makes staying in the area possible for people in their twenties. SBCC and UCSB students make up a good share of the applicants from up north.

What you actually get

• Tuition help. The California National Guard Education Assistance Award can cover up to 100 percent of tuition at CSU, UC, and California Community College campuses. Coverage depends on eligibility and funding.
• Health coverage. TRICARE Reserve Select is low-cost coverage for you and your family.
• Paid training in a trade. Over 80 career fields. You get certified and paid while you learn.
• A VA home loan with no down payment requirement after qualifying service. In this county, that matters.
• Part-time pay on top of whatever you already earn.
• Retirement after 20 qualifying years.

Schools we work with near Santa Barbara

We work with students and counselors at Santa Barbara High, San Marcos High, Dos Pueblos High, Santa Barbara City College, and UC Santa Barbara. High school seniors can enlist before they graduate. You start attending drill and getting paid during your senior year, then leave for Basic Military Training the summer after you finish.

What the process looks like

1. Prequalification questionnaire. About 60 seconds on this site. It shows whether there is anything that would stop you.
2. A recruiter follows up. Usually within 3 business days.
3. Documents and a virtual appointment. Everything gets walked through together over video so there are no surprises.
4. MEPS. Practice ASVAB first, then the official ASVAB and a physical.
5. Pick your job from the list of openings you qualify for.
6. Enlist and swear in. Then Basic Military Training and tech school.

Common questions from Santa Barbara

Can I stay in Santa Barbara?

Yes. That is the whole difference between the Guard and active duty. After training you come home.

What if I am still in school?

Most people are. Plenty of members enlist while finishing high school or community college and use the tuition benefit to pay for the rest. Seniors can join before graduation and start drilling right away.

What if I think I might be disqualified?

A lot of people rule themselves out before ever asking. Eligibility comes down to specifics, and those are worth checking properly. Fill out the questionnaire and get a real answer instead of guessing.

Zip codes covered here

93101, 93103, 93105, 93109, 93110, 93111, plus everywhere else in Ventura County and the surrounding area.