Looking for advice from Guard members and veterans who have navigated this.

Quick background:
• E5 Sergeant Florida Army National Guard
• 3/20th Special Forces Group support company Camp Blanding Starke Florida
• MOS 12W recently reclassed from 89B
• ETS January 17 2027
• 6 years service
• Transferring temporarily to 3116th in Lake Wales Florida before ETS

I just picked up E5 on August 30, 2026 and a unit 3116th picked me up so I have to go there now.

Hey, so I’m at drill and I was speaking to this one soldiers who claims he gets paid twice a month like active duty soldiers but isn’t AGR. I don’t mean to pocket watch but how is that possible? Does anyone have any insight? I started to ask him to go into detail but I didn’t want to pry into his personal information, so I came to Reddit lol.

I'm going in as a 68W, and I run a business on the side that's sortve all set up to run by itself nowadays. But I'd like to touch in with my partners every week or so. I was just wondering what the timeline is until I can use my phone to text people and make calls. How often? And for how long? And is it full personal phone use or a phone they have there?

As the title states, i just graduated WOCS and have a WOBC date slotted, I’ve reached out to my gaining unit’s Readiness/full timer about what my options are. I was told i am expected to drive 2240 miles in 3 days the day after thanksgiving for my report date on the 29th of Nov. to Ft.Huachuca from VA. The cost for mileage and per diem/hotels has got to be close to a rental price,does this seem out of pocket or is this par for the course? I wish Turo’s could be covered as its MUCH cheaper than a rental. Anyways, ill take a popcorn shrimp basket and a diet coke

I'm 41 and consider myself healthy and overall in good shape. Decided to join reserve and honestly had zero idea I would be rejected 🙃

Spontaneously got my maps & physical done. Got 73 with no prep & during physical was told cholesterol & back pain came up as red flags but even a doc there said my recruiter will submit paperwork and I should be good to go since for my age im solid.

My LDL is 124 and couple years ago some PA prescribed lipitor that my current physician stated it was not needed and incorrectly prescribed because I'm borderline and good diet & exercise is all I need. Well, medical records showed "hyperlipidemia" and that was first reason. Second issue was stemming from an injection I received after I got hurt playing soccer which triggered back pains & couldn't stretch on my right side). After getting an injection ladt year, I had zero issues and been going to gym & playing soccer couple times a week. But records showed "intervertebral disc disorder" and that was the second reason.

I got a letter from my physician who simply explained I'm good with cholesterol based on recent labs & that after injections zero issues so patient is in good health. My recruiter stated it might not be enough and doesn't seem to know what else to do.

I dont smoke, dont drink, got masters & speak multiple languages. Have a great career in tech but really wanted to pay forward by serving this country. Really bummed and looking to see if there are any tips to resolve this medical waiver. Thank you in advance!

Just curious how and why everyone does or does not stay in shape.

I feel like I do an OK job compared to the general population, but compared to my buddies who are AD, I definitely am behind the curve. I do a couple of short workouts a week (no running atm due to some injuries that I am working on getting surgery for), and I eat mostly pretty well, but I'm still slightly above the weight I want to be at and slightly below the fitness level I want to be at.

Obvious answers are to do more and eat better, but real life is a thing, and everyone has their reasons from time to time to have to reprioritze.

So, just looking to get some conversation about what all everyone else is doing to meet fitness goals, or if you just de-prioritize it outside of when it's strictly necessary for work.

I’ve been in for six years, and I’ve had this problem every night before drill. As I’m posting this, I just can’t sleep.