Reserve & National Guard Drill Pay Explained (2026)
Reserve and National Guard pay works differently from active duty. Instead of a monthly salary, you're paid by the drill period — and each period is worth 1/30 of a month's basic pay.
How drill pay is calculated
One 4-hour drill period = 1/30 of your monthly basic pay. A normal drill weekend is 4 periods (two on Saturday, two on Sunday), so a weekend pays about 4 days of basic pay. A typical year includes about 48 drill periods (one weekend a month) plus ~14 days of Annual Training.
Example: a 2026 E-5 with 4 years has monthly basic pay of $3,947, so:
- One drill period ≈ $132
- One drill weekend (4 periods) ≈ $526
- 48 drill periods/year ≈ $6,315
Drills pay basic pay only — no BAH or BAS. Annual Training, however, is paid like active duty (basic pay + BAS + BAH).
Switch to reserve mode and estimate your drill pay + retirement points.
Calculate my pay →Annual Training and BAH
During Annual Training (AT) you're on active-duty orders and earn daily basic pay plus BAS and BAH. For orders under 30 days, a non-locality rate (BAH RC/Transit) applies; 30+ days uses your local BAH rate.
Retirement points and "good years"
Reservists earn retirement points, not just pay: 1 point per drill period, 1 per AT day, plus 15 membership points per year. A year with 50+ points is a "good year," and 20 good years generally qualify you for Reserve retired pay starting around age 60. Your total career points ÷ 360 approximates your equivalent years of service for the pension formula.
Frequently asked questions
How is drill pay calculated?
Each 4-hour drill period pays 1/30 of your monthly basic pay. A normal drill weekend is 4 periods.
How much is one drill weekend?
For a 2026 E-5 with 4 years, a 4-period weekend is about $526. It scales with your rank and years of service.
What is a good year for reserve retirement?
A year with at least 50 retirement points. You earn 1 point per drill period, 1 per Annual Training day, and 15 membership points per year.