Do you get paid for drill weekends
Yeah, you definitely get paid for drill weekends. If you're in the National Guard or Reserves, they cut you a check for every drill period you actually show up to. A standard weekend is usually four drill periods—think two on Saturday, two on Sunday—and each one pays. What you earn depends on your rank and how long you've been in, calculated from the standard military pay charts.
So, what you take home comes down to your rank and time in service. Say you're an E-3 with under two years—monthly base pay is around $2,367.60. To figure drill pay, they divide that by 30 for a daily rate, then split it into four periods. One period (roughly four hours) is 1/30th of your monthly base. For a full weekend, that's 4/30ths of it.
Sometimes there's extra cash beyond base pay, depending on your job or where you're stationed. Like, if you've got a critical skill—linguist, medical stuff—or you're in a pricey area, you might snag bonuses or housing allowances. But for most basic drill weekends, it's just base pay for the periods you work.
How much do you get paid for a drill weekend?
The actual amount varies a ton by rank and time served. Here's a rough table for a standard weekend (four periods) using 2025 rates. These are ballpark figures, not exact—actual pay can shift a bit with annual adjustments or your specific duty status.
| Pay Grade | Years of Service | Monthly Base Pay | Drill Weekend Pay (4 periods) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | Less than 2 | $2,017.20 | $268.96 |
| E-3 | Less than 2 | $2,367.60 | $315.68 |
| E-5 | 4 | $3,606.90 | $480.92 |
| O-1 | Less than 2 | $4,136.40 | $551.52 |
| O-3 | 6 | $7,095.00 | $946.00 |
So an E-3 with under two years pockets about $315.68 for the weekend. An O-3 with six years? $946.00. Keep in mind these are before taxes and any deductions. And if your weekend has extra drills—like five periods—your pay goes up accordingly.
What factors affect drill weekend pay?
A bunch of things can mess with what you earn. The big one is your rank and time in service—higher rank, longer service, more money. But special duties or qualifications might add some extra. Like, if you've got a critical MOS or a leadership gig, you could get special duty pay. Or if you're in a high-cost area or have dependents, you might qualify for BAH or BAS during drills, though those are usually prorated.
The number of drill periods matters too. Standard is four, but sometimes there's extra training days or extended drills—more periods, more pay. And if you travel far, you might get mileage or per diem on top. Also, state rules can shake things up for National Guard—some states throw in bonuses for certain roles or missions.
Are drill weekends taxed?
Yep, Uncle Sam takes his cut. Drill pay gets hit with federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. They withhold it just like any civilian job. But some states don't tax military pay or offer exemptions for reservists. Check your state's tax laws, 'cause it varies. If you're on active duty orders for drills (like annual training), the tax treatment might shift, but for standard weekends, it's ordinary income.
How is drill pay calculated?
It's a simple formula. Take your monthly base pay, divide by 30 for daily pay. Then split that daily pay by 4 for each drill period. For a four-period weekend, multiply period pay by 4. Say you make $3,000 a month—daily's $100, each period's $25, so a weekend's $100. This works for all ranks. Extra pays—flight pay, dive pay—are tacked on separately and might use different math.
Do you get paid for drill weekends if you miss them?
Nope. If you don't show, you don't get paid. Simple as that. If you miss because of an authorized reason—sick, emergency—you might need to make up those periods later with extra training days. Unauthorized absences? You lose the pay and could face disciplinary stuff. Always talk to your unit about scheduling make-up drills if you need 'em.
What about extra pay for special training or deployments?
If your drill weekend has special training—like weapons qual or medical stuff—your base pay stays the same. But if you're on active duty orders for longer periods (annual training, deployment), the pay structure switches to active duty rates, which might include BAH and BAS. For standard weekend drills, it's just base pay per period, no extra allowances unless your role qualifies for special pays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you get paid for drill weekends if you are a new recruit?
Yeah, newbies from E-1 to E-3 get paid for drills based on their rank and time. Pay kicks in right after you enlist and attend your first drill. Though your first one might be delayed until after basic training, depending on the unit's schedule.
Can drill pay be garnished?
Unfortunately, yes. For stuff like child support, student loans, or taxes, they can take a chunk. The military deducts what's required by law. But there are limits, and you can get legal advice if it's an issue.
Do you get paid more for weekend drills during holidays?
Nah, holiday weekends pay the same as any other. It's all calculated the same. But if you're on active duty orders for a holiday event, you might get holiday pay or extra benefits—standard drills don't get that bump.
How often do you get paid for drill weekends?
Usually once a month, around the 1st or 15th. Your unit processes pay after the drill weekend, and it shows up in your next check. Some units might do bi-weekly, but monthly is the norm for reserve components.
Resumen breve
- Pago garantizado: Sí, los fines de semana de entrenamiento se pagan según el rango y los años de servicio, con tarifas por período de instrucción.
- Cálculo simple: El pago se basa en el salario base mensual dividido por 30 y luego por 4 períodos, multiplicado por los períodos realizados.
- Factores variables: El rango, el tiempo de servicio y los deberes especiales afectan el monto total, pero no hay bonos adicionales para fines de semana estándar.
- Impuestos aplicables: Los pagos están sujetos a impuestos federales, aunque algunos estados eximen el salario militar.
