How do you balance your military and civilian career as a fellow National Guard/ Reservists?

Interesting question-I wish I knew better how to answer it other than "just do it."

I was commissioned in 1996, post Gulf War I, and right after the attendant draw down. I had not intended this to be the case-I had all intentions and expectations of serving immediately on AD, but my year they apparently took 1/3 of the commissioning class and sent us to the Reserve/Guard.

As a result, it's all I know.

I have to echo some of the earlier sentiment-it gets tougher as you go along. Responsibilities, be it work, family, military, and "other" seem to increase with time no matter what.

//rant begins//
Honestly, I found I was much more effective in balancing work/military until 2012 or so-when I recall losing AKO mail for routine correspondence and being forced to use CAC-enforced enterprise mail. Not working in an environment with CAC-enabled computers precludes me from easily monitoring message traffic while on breaks, meaning it then becomes a third or fourth priority when I'm at home with the family.

Also (and this is specific to the USAR), losing my ability to access ITRS and the on-the fly reporting it provides has been a killer as well. What used to be an EXCELLENT unit leadership and management tool has effectively gone back to my relying on FTUS, with the technology to access it.

And before they get dropped into a reply, I have the thursby reader for my iPad....while a tool it's just not the same in terms of user experience to replace access from a computer. Also, "get a computer from your unit" is not an option based on our TDA, and my reality of work. Lugging a second machine around for the sole purpose of accessing email, when I'm already carrying one plus multiple cell phones (no blackberry budget either) is not a realistic option.

//end rant//

Good luck. I applaud you, and all the other young troops out there beginning their careers now. It's not easy. Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky, but I think Uncle Sam is really making things unintentionally difficult on the reserve component.

When I was TPU I was a platoon leader. I did stuff on weekends and nights. I was a teacher so during summers I was brought in on orders. My work allowed me to go away a few times during the school year as well without charging me vacation days. It was a balancing act, but I had good full-timer staff so it was not too bad.

I don't. My civilian career takes second place to my military career. I have turned down what many would consider promotions and opportunities for such in the civilian world because there were military promotions or opportunities that I wanted.

I see my military career as my occupation; its what keeps me happy. My civilian job is just what I do to make money and keep my wife happy.

My calculation has been that once I retire from the military, the civilian promotions will still be there and if not, the point I chose to plateau at is comfortable enough.

The big deciding factor for me is knowing my limitations--if I were to have accepted more promotions (responsibilities) on both sides, I'd have started to fail in one or the other, and maybe both.