Drill Pay Calculator 2026

Drill pay is calculated by dividing your monthly base pay by 30 to get the rate for one drill period. A standard drill weekend counts as 4 drill periods (2 days × 2 periods per day).

For example, if your monthly base pay is $3,000, one drill period pays $100.00 and a full drill weekend pays $400.00.

Reserve and National Guard members typically perform 48 paid drill periods per year (12 weekends × 4 periods each). In addition, most members complete 15 days of Annual Training (AT), which counts as 30 drill periods at your full daily rate.

That totals 78 paid periods per year (48 inactive duty training + 30 Annual Training).

Reservists and National Guard members only receive BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) when on active duty orders, such as during Annual Training (AT), mobilization, or deployment. BAH is not paid during regular drill weekends (inactive duty training).

If you are called to active duty for more than 30 days, you receive BAH based on your duty station or home of record.

Yes, drill pay is subject to federal and state income tax as well as FICA (Social Security and Medicare) withholding, just like active duty base pay.

However, drill pay does not include tax-free allowances like BAH or BAS, so the entire drill payment is taxable income.