Checking your LES shouldn’t feel like trying to crack Enigma. But honestly, with the way the reserve pay chart 2025 rolled out this year, a lot of folks in the Guard and Reserve are looking at their weekend drill deposits and wondering if the math is actually mathing.
You’ve probably heard the rumors. A massive raise? A double-digit jump for junior enlisted? Yeah, it’s actually true, but it’s not as simple as a flat percentage across the board.
There is a weird split this year.
Usually, everybody gets the same cost-of-living bump. Not in 2025. This time, Congress decided to play favorites—in a good way—targeting the people who usually get hit hardest by inflation. If you’re an E-4 or below, your bank account is looking a lot different than it did last Christmas. If you’re a Major or a Master Sergeant? Well, you got a raise, but don’t go buying a new boat just yet.
The Big Split: 4.5% vs. 14.5%
So here is the deal.
The FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which President Biden signed late last year, set a baseline 4.5% pay increase for every single person in uniform. That kicked in right on January 1, 2025. If you did a drill in early January, you saw that 4.5% immediately.
But then things got interesting in April.
The "Quality of Life" panel in D.C. realized that junior troops were basically drowning. They pushed through an extra 10% "targeted" raise specifically for E-1 through E-4. When you stack that on top of the January bump, you’re looking at a 14.5% total increase for the junior ranks.
Think about that.
An E-4 with over 6 years of service was making roughly $427 for a standard four-drill weekend in 2024. Now? That same Specialist is pulling in about $490. It’s not "get rich" money, but it’s a tank of gas and a decent dinner that wasn't there before.
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Breaking Down the 2025 Drill Pay Numbers
Let’s talk real numbers. No one wants to hunt through a 50-page PDF on the DFAS website.
For the uninitiated, "drill pay" is basically 1/30th of your active-duty base pay for every four-hour "period" you work. A standard weekend is four periods.
Enlisted Take-Home (Typical Weekend)
If you’re an E-5 (Sergeant) with 6 years, you’re looking at $528 for a 4-drill weekend.
An E-7 (Chief/SFC) with 10 years is sitting at $681.
And those E-9s with 20+ years? They’re clearing over $1,041 just for showing up Saturday and Sunday.
The Officer Side
Officers didn't get the "junior" 10% bonus, so they’re strictly on the 4.5% track.
An O-1 (2LT/Ensign) starting out makes about $533 for the weekend.
A Captain (O-3) with 8 years pulls in $1,044.
By the time you hit O-5 (LTC/Commander) at 16 years, you’re at $1,463.
It’s a significant gap.
But honestly, the junior enlisted jump is the real story of the reserve pay chart 2025. It’s the largest targeted raise for lower ranks we've seen in decades.
The "Gray Area" and Hidden Benefits
Pay isn't just the number on the chart.
One thing people always forget about is the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA). In 2025, they expanded this. The income cap moved from 150% to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. If you have a big family and you’re lower-ranking, you might actually qualify for an extra stipend you didn't think you could get.
Also, if you're a "Gray Area" retiree—meaning you've got your 20 years but aren't 60 yet—there’s a change in how you pay for the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). DFAS is moving away from the old Treasury system. You’ll be paying them directly now. It sounds like a headache, and it kinda is, but it’s designed to stop your payments from getting lost in the mail.
Why This Matters for 2026 and Beyond
We are currently in 2026. Looking back at that 2025 shift, it was a turning point.
The 2026 budget discussions are already happening, and the proposed raise is looking closer to 3.8%. It’s a bit of a comedown after the double-digit excitement of last year. But the 2025 base remains. That 14.5% floor for junior troops isn't going away.
Is it enough?
Maybe. Inflation hasn't been kind. But for a Reservist or Guard member, that extra $60–$100 a month in "weekend money" often covers the cost of the commute or the childcare needed to actually get to the armory.
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Actionable Steps for Your Paycheck
Don't just trust the computer.
- Check your LES today. Specifically, look for the April 2025 jump if you’re E-4 or below. If your pay didn't go up by that extra 10% on top of the 4.5%, your S-1 needs a visit.
- Update your address in myPay. With the SBP and BNA changes, DFAS is sending out more physical mailers than usual. If they have your address from three moves ago, you’re going to miss out on eligibility notices.
- Review your TSP contributions. When your pay goes up, your TSP percentage stays the same, meaning you’re technically contributing more dollars. If you’re trying to max out your 2026 limits, adjust that percentage now so you don't over-contribute by November.
- Verify your "Years of Service." A lot of Reservists have "broken time" or IRR time that doesn't always calculate right on the pay chart. Ensure your "Pay Entry Base Date" (PEBD) is accurate, or you might be stuck on the "Over 2" column when you should be "Over 3."
The reserve pay chart 2025 was a massive win for the junior ranks, but it only works if you’re actually getting what you’re owed. Take five minutes, log into myPay, and make sure the Army, Navy, or Air Force is actually paying you the right rate.