What do you do during weekends in the reserves or national guard for drill?

Answer 1

You do your job. Sometimes that included actually working or training in the field you signed up for. Sometimes it's got absolutely nothing at all to do with what you signed up to do. You have to do all of the administrative and testing things that the active duties can't get done in an entire year and you're only there 36 days a year.

In those 36 days, 14 of which are usually NOT at the home duty station, you have to do everything administrative that is required. Gear inspection, annual physical, physical fitness testing, swim qual, safety training, NBC training, HAZMAT training, rifle range, hearing test......there is WAY too much crap to get done.

Don't worry, you'll be busy but you'll have fun. Just don't sweat it when they "pencil whip" all the paperwork they can.

Answer 2

It all depends on which branch and your MOS (your job).
My husband was Army, 11B (infantry). His Guard duty always consisted more than a weekend a month and 2 weeks during the summer. I laugh every time I hear that. He spent far more time out in the field, going to schools, etc.
They spent a lot of time out in the field training. Setting up ambushes, throwing grenades, close quarter combat, fast roping, rapelling, dealing with injured men, etc, etc.

Real life scenarios were set up. Platoons would fight against each other. The MILES system (think laser tag) indicated whether you were hit-injured or dead... or you made it out alive.

They did all the same stuff as when he was active duty.
Since he was a senior NCO, he did have a lot of paperwork but that's with all responsibilities. He was in charge of his platoon's well-being.
National Guard is held to the same standards as active duty Army yet the soldier usually has a civilian job and his military job. Promotions are the same. You have to earn points, go to schools, go before Boards, etc.
Some Guard units are a joke but the hooah ones are amazing. My husband's last unit, the parent company was active duty Army. When they deployed (they frequently deployed for various reasons- pre war), if the active duty unit had non-deployable soldiers, they would pick up soldiers from the Guard unit.

Many people confuse Guard and Reserves. Reserves is completely different. From my understanding, Reserves are mainly support- helicoptor pilots, doctors, nurses, signal, engineers, JAG, quartermaster, etc

Hope this helps
Nicole

Answer 3

The National Guard has 12 monthly drills.

1 is spent doing annual briefings covering such things as keeping paper work and wills up to date. Also there is a legal briefing on rights & responsibilities. We usually combined this drill with an anual party for the troops & their families.(usually at Christmas)

1 is spent in Common Task training. Every year each soldier has to be tested on the basic stuff everyone learns in basic.

1 is spent in NBC training (Nuclear, Biological, & Chemical warfare).

2 are spent in weapons qualification (usually spring & fall).

1 is spent on the "state mission." My unit trained one week-end each year in Riot Control.

1 is spent in load out prep for the 2 week annual training.

1 is spent in maintenance of gear & equipment (& inspection) on return from anual training.

1 is usually spent in ARTEP (a test of your unit's ability to do its mission).

Which leaves 3 to train on your actual job. Sometimes you could combine things into a single week end instead of two.

Answer 4

Honestly? lol I was in the Army Guard in Kansas in the mid nineties. Started out great, we did good hands on training (MP) combat and garrison, we'd go out to "the field" and set up ambushes, just a continuation of basic training almost, went to Germany twice for our 2 weeks to do garrison work. Then, we started running out of money, and didn't have enough $$ for fuel to go to the places we used to train. So, we started just "hanging out" around the armory, and the training was pathetic. It just got worse and worse. Then I moved to Florida. That was even worse. I'm not even going to get into that part, but that was several years ago, and times have changed dramatically. I'm just glad I didn't have to go and serve anywhere with that Florida group, that would've been scary. Hopefully, with all that's going on now, they conduct decent training as they're supposed to, consistent with their jobs.

Answer 5

Semper Fi E 6 from china

Answer 6

really nothing.....the officers run around having meetings and doing paperwork. The rest of us just gaggle and do BS training. It's really alot of horse-doodie. But it's an easy $300 for 2 days outa the month.

Answer 7

they practice the skills they would need during war times. If they are a reserve pilot, they learn about new modifications to their aircraft, and fly the air craft. If they are an airplane maintenance unit, they learn about how to repair air craft and practice it. If they are a mess hall unit, they learn how to cook without poisoning the people eating what they cook. Practice Whatever their air force job, and it takes everything from quartermaster to wash clothes to mechanics to repair jeeps and trucks to weapons experts to aircraft mechanics to pilots, just to name a few.

Answer 8

it really depends on the type of unit that you are assigned. you basically take care of all your administrative actions, apply for schools or special assignments and refresh on the things you were taught in basic training

i found it boring so i didn't re-enlist after my 8

Answer 9

depends on your MOS. if you'r infantry you'll probably be in the field.

Answer 10

What you are told or play with yourself, whichever u prefer.