What is the Difference Between Guard and Reserve?

The main difference between the Guard and Reserve lies in their organizational structure and mission. Both the National Guard and Reserve are part of the U.S. military and serve as backups to active-duty soldiers, but they have distinct roles and responsibilities:

National Guard:

• Federally funded, but organized and controlled by the state.
• Can be activated for federal duty and deployed during times of war or national emergencies.
• Assists communities during local emergencies, such as storms, floods, fires, and other disasters.
• Requires training drills one weekend a month and two weeks per year.

Reserve:

• Provides and maintains trained units and qualified personnel for use in times of war, national emergencies, or based on threats to national security.
• Can be called upon to serve either stateside or overseas.
• Requires training drills one weekend a month and two weeks per year.

Both Reservists and Guard members can serve on active-duty orders, known as Active Guard Reserve (AGR), or be deployed based on need. They also receive the same benefits when not activated and make the same amount of money for each drill period.

Comparative Table: Guard vs Reserve

Here is a table comparing the differences between Guard and Reserve:

Both Guard and Reserve components have differences in pay and benefits compared to active duty personnel. The main difference is that Guard units have a dual-status mission to support both federal and state missions, while Reserve units are more likely to be assigned to support state missions. Additionally, intra-state transfers are easier for Reserves, while they may be more difficult for Guard members. Housing benefits and medical insurance for Guard and Reserve components may differ from active duty personnel and depend on the specific rank and pay per drill/battle.