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The Daily Insight

Can you go on vacation while in the National Guard?

Author

Emma Jordan

Published Feb 12, 2026

No. You can, depending on your unit, request to ‘split’ your drill and reschedule it to another month, however. This is all up to your chain of command’s discretion, however… if there’s some critical training going on, you’re likely to get denied – and annual training is generally a must-attend event.

Can you be full time in Army National Guard?

Yes. Within each state there are full-time personnel who manage the day-to-day operations of the units in their state or territorial Guard. Additionally, there are full-time personnel serving across the nation and worldwide as an interface between the Guard and other agencies.

Is full time National Guard active duty?

Persons in the Reserve or National Guard are not full-time active duty military personnel, although they can be deployed at any time should the need arise.

Does the National Guard travel a lot?

It depends on the unit you join, but for the most part, your life stays relatively the same. However, you will get to travel for basic training and advanced individual training. It’s certainly not a vacation, but if you’ve never left your home state, it’s an opportunity to see a new part of the United States.

Is National Guard or Army Reserve better?

While both the Army Reserves and the Army National Guard can serve in deployment, the job responsibilities remain different. The Army Reserves offers more career choices for the individual soldier. Also, the National Guard has more combat and support positions, while the Reserves has mostly support positions.

Where do full time National Guard soldiers work?

Full-time Army National Guard personnel typically work on an Army base or armory. There may be some travel involved for weekend drills, but most of the time weekend drills take place at the soldier’s home base. Because a National Guard soldier fulfills both state and national duties, they can be deployed in times of war.

How often does the National Guard go overseas?

In addition to training drills one weekend a month and two full weeks per year, National Guard units assist communities in their state during emergencies like storms, floods, fires and other natural disasters. During times of conflict, the president can federalize the National Guard, and its service members can be deployed overseas.

Do you have to quit your national guard job?

So if you are going to Drill once a month as long as they know your schedule they can cover it. You would keep your full time status and no you will not have to quit your job. Yes, if this is pertaining to whether you can work a full time job as well as do the National Guard. I have been doing so for quite a many years now.

Is the Active Guard Reserve ( AGR ) program full time?

Reserve (AGR) Program Title 32, Full Time National Guard Duty (FTNGD) Management National Guard Bureau Arlington, VA 21 September 2015 UNCLASSIFIED SUMMARY OF CHANGE NGR 600-5 The Active Guard Reserve Program Title 32, Full Time National Guard Duty Management 21 September 2015