National Guard & Reserve Drill Pay Calculator
What a drill period, a drill weekend, and a year of drilling actually pay in 2026 — by grade and years of service, straight from the official rates.
What counts as a “drill”
A drill period (formally a unit training assembly) is a block of at least two hours of scheduled training; in practice most are four hours, two per day. A standard drill weekend — a MUTA-4 — is four periods across Saturday and Sunday. Each period is paid separately, and each also earns one retirement point (at most two per calendar day). DoDI 1215.07
How drill pay is computed
By statute, each drill period pays 1/30 of the monthly basic pay for your grade and years of service — the same daily rate an active-duty member earns. 37 U.S.C. § 206A drill weekend is therefore 4/30 of a month’s pay, and an annual-training day pays the same daily rate. This calculator computes from the 2026 DFAS basic pay table (effective January 1, 2026); its figures match the published DFAS drill pay tables exactly. DFAS drill pay tables
What drill pay does not include
The numbers here are gross basic pay only. They exclude housing and subsistence allowances (generally not paid for inactive-duty training), enlistment or retention bonuses, special and incentive pays, and taxes. Longer active-duty orders — annual training, ADOS, mobilization — bring their own pay and allowance rules. DFAS drill pay tables
Drill pay today, retirement points forever
Every drill period you’re paid for also earns one retirement point, and points are what your Guard/Reserve pension is built from. 10 U.S.C. § 12732To see what your career’s points are worth at retirement — and the earliest age you can draw pay — use the retirement calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is a drill weekend worth?
- One drill period pays 1/30 of your monthly basic pay, and a standard drill weekend is four periods. For example, an E-5 with 6 years of service earns $137.00 per period in 2026 — $548.00 for the weekend, before taxes. 37 U.S.C. § 206 DFAS drill pay tables
- How much does the Guard or Reserve pay per year?
- A typical year is 48 drill periods (12 weekends) plus about 15 days of annual training, each paid at the same daily rate of 1/30 of monthly basic pay. For an E-5 with 6 years of service, that comes to roughly $8,631 in 2026. Bonuses, incentive pays, and any active-duty orders are on top of that. 37 U.S.C. § 206
- Do I get BAH for drill weekends?
- Generally no — inactive-duty training periods pay basic pay only, without the housing allowance. Housing allowances generally start when you serve on active-duty orders (for example annual training or mobilization), and the type and amount depend on the length of the orders. DFAS drill pay tables
- Is drill pay taxed?
- Yes — drill pay is taxable income federally, and most states tax it too, though several states partially or fully exempt Guard/Reserve pay. This calculator shows gross (pre-tax) amounts. DFAS drill pay tables
- What is a MUTA-4?
- A Multiple Unit Training Assembly with four periods — the standard drill weekend. Each 4-hour training assembly is one period, two per day for two days. Each period is one paycheck unit and, separately, one retirement point. DoDI 1215.07
- Does drill pay count toward retirement?
- The pay itself does not, but every drill period also earns one retirement point, and points are what determine the size of your Guard/Reserve pension. Use the retirement calculator to see what your points are worth at retirement. 10 U.S.C. § 12732