27 and highly educated pharmacist, thinking of joining Reserves or National Guard. Thoughts?

From what you posted the military is not for you. Enlistment is a long time commitment and contract. Training should be somewhat rigorous to prepare for combat.

"I don't want to go through harsh boot camp or anything crazy, and don't want anything that they will lock me down into a long time commitment or contract."

Maria Johnson, you had me until, "I don't want to go through harsh boot camp or anything crazy." The military isn't for you. Don't get me wrong, being a doctor or a nurse in the military isn't like being in the infantry, but it's still the military. If you want as little military flavor to your military...go Air Force Reserve or Guard. They're almost like being in the military.

Maria Johnson you can pursue a direct commission through an Army medical recruiter (not the local hometown recruiter. ). Licensed pharmacists are commissioned officers. You will have to go to a basic entry training for direct commissioned officers. The Active Duty one is at Fort Bliss TX for Like Six weeks. You will be subject to all service standards like body composition and physical fitness standards.

From your comments you are averse to committing to this, it may not be for you. Soldiering is all about commitment. This is not like a cellular plan. You raise your right hand and swear an oath. If you become a commissioned officer, you are not just a Pharamcist, you are an Army leader with authority, duties, responsibilities and accountability.

If you choose another service, it will be similar as commissioned officer responsibility and authority is the same under federal law.

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/amedd-categories/medical-service-corps-jobs/pharmacist.html

Ma'am- serving this country is a calling, not a job, not even a career. No one will force you to sign up for 20+, and I'm pretty sure that the USAF Basic is not rough/harsh- as a pharmacist, you might even be able to go the Officer route.

I'll echo what others have said. It sounds like the military isn't for you. All the great benefits that you're no doubt looking at come with a price. That price is being called whenever to go wherever for any length of time. It sounds like that isn't something you're wanting.

Maria Johnson In all honesty the military may not be for you. No matter what branch you join you will undergo vigorous basic entry training and you have to commit for a minimum of 3 years. There’s no way around it. This isn’t something you can start doing and give up on when you’re tired of it. Once you raise your hand and take the oath you have committed to serving. There’s no going back until your contract is finished. You may want to reconsider.

As mentioned, you would receive a direct commission and go through Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) in the Army. The course would be with other medical professionals but would include basic soldier skills and common officer core instruction. My Chaplain BOLC was 13 weeks. Its challenging but not harsh. It includes a basic training that still respects you as a direct commission professional. Don't imagine what movies portray. Comitment for Active Duty is 3 years with another 5 in either active or reserve component. Officers don't have "contracts" like enlisted soldiers. You accept a commission. There are circumstances where a person may be able to resign their commission, but there needs to be a cause. Not sure the commitment a reserve commission would require. Call the medical recruiters as they will have better answers than RP.

Maria Johnson Maria, below are link to website that will provide you with some answers. I would look closely at the Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve. Good luck.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/which-is-the-best-branch-for-reserve-guard-duty

https://www.va.gov/vetsinworkplace/docs/em_activeReserve.html

https://www.reserve.uscg.mil/

https://afreserve.com/

Everything you just said screams "Air Force". All the same benefits of being in the military, with almost none of the hardship, discipline or sacrifice.

You dont wanna go through any harsh training the join the air force if you want cake. Why not go actvie?
I cant comment on the other stuff but you want a easy basic then air force not sayuing they the best but the training will be easier lol