An official Army National Guard article covers the story of Idaho Army National Guard Spc Bryce Beard, who joined the Guard so he could serve “not only his community but also his church.”

Beard, who enlisted into the Idaho Army National Guard in 2014 when he was 17, spent two years in Buenos Aires as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and returned in January.

The commander of the Idaho Army National Guard “strongly” supports Soldiers taking advantage of the Inactive National Guard for religious reasons [emphasis added]:  Read more