The Part-Time Army Officer Drill Weekend Preparation Checklist
Show Up to Drill Prepared, Organized, and Ready to Lead
Dear Part-Time Army Officer:
Being a part-time Army officer isn’t easy. You have a civilian career, family responsibilities, personal commitments, and everything else going on in your life. Then drill weekend rolls around, and suddenly you’re expected to switch gears and be completely prepared to lead Soldiers, execute training, attend meetings, solve problems, and accomplish the mission.
The problem is that a successful drill weekend usually starts long before Saturday morning.
That’s why I created The Part-Time Army Officer Drill Weekend Preparation Checklist.
This practical, reusable planning system is designed specifically for Army National Guard and Army Reserve officers who want a simple way to prepare for drill without spending every night and weekend doing Army work.
Price: $9.95 – Instant Download
Stop Showing Up to Drill in Reaction Mode
We’ve probably all experienced drill weekends where it feels like we’re constantly putting out fires.
Someone didn’t coordinate the equipment. A suspense was forgotten. A Soldier needs something that should have been handled weeks ago. The training schedule changed. There’s a meeting you didn’t know about. Your commander needs information you don’t have. And suddenly you’re spending the entire weekend reacting instead of leading.
Some surprises are unavoidable. That’s Army life. But many problems can be prevented with a little preparation.
The Part-Time Army Officer Drill Weekend Preparation Checklist gives you a repeatable system to prepare before drill, stay organized during drill, and follow up afterward.
What’s Included?
This isn’t just a one-page checklist. You’ll receive a 12-page drill weekend preparation system covering the entire drill cycle.
30 Days Before Drill
Start with the big picture. Review your training calendar, commander’s priorities, upcoming events, previous AAR comments, unresolved issues, and your top three priorities.
14–21 Days Before Drill
Review personnel, training, equipment, resources, Soldier issues, schools, evaluations, awards, logistical requirements, and other items requiring early coordination.
One Week Before Drill
Conduct an Officer/NCO Sync to make sure you and your NCO counterpart understand the priorities, responsibilities, Soldier issues, suspenses, and expected outcomes for the weekend.
3–5 Days Before Drill
Conduct your final coordination, review schedule changes, prepare reports and briefings, confirm resources, and build your personal Must Do, Should Do, and Nice to Do list.
Night Before Drill
Use the personal preparation checklist to make sure your uniform, equipment, paperwork, electronics, transportation, and other necessities are ready.
Drill Morning
Use a quick pre-execution check to identify your top priorities, personnel status, immediate problems, meetings, and responsibilities.
During Drill
Stay focused on training, Soldiers, communication, suspenses, delegation, recognition, accomplishments, and follow-up requirements.
Before Leaving Drill
Close the loop before you leave the armory. Capture unfinished tasks, new suspenses, Soldier issues, accomplishments, AAR comments, and between-drill requirements.
24–48 Hours After Drill
Finish your follow-up while everything is still fresh. Update your trackers, send emails, record accomplishments, organize documents, and establish your priorities for the next month.
Bonus Planning Tools Included
In addition to the primary preparation checklist, you’ll also receive several built-in planning tools, including:
- Monthly Drill Dashboard
- Officer/NCO Sync Worksheet
- Top Three Priorities Planner
- Must Do / Should Do / Nice to Do Task List
- Suspense Tracker
- Soldier Follow-Up Section
- Quick After Action Review
- Between-Drill Priorities Planner
- 10-Minute Pre-Drill Check
These tools make the checklist something you can use every month, not something you download once and forget about.
Editable Word + Print-Ready PDF
Your purchase includes two versions of the checklist:
Editable Microsoft Word Version – Customize the checklist for your duty position, unit, mission, and personal battle rhythm. Add requirements, remove items that don’t apply, and make the checklist your own.
Print-Ready PDF Version – Keep a clean master copy and print a fresh checklist whenever you need one.
Use whichever version works best for you—or use both.
Who Is This For?
This checklist was created primarily for Army National Guard and Army Reserve officers, including:
- Platoon Leaders
- Company Executive Officers
- Company Commanders
- Battalion and Brigade Staff Officers
- Battalion Executive Officers
- Detachment Commanders
- Field Grade Officers
- Newly commissioned officers learning how to manage the part-time Army battle rhythm
While every position is different, the basic principles of preparation, communication, prioritization, and follow-through apply throughout your career.
Why I Created It
During my years serving in the Army, I learned that part-time leadership creates some unique challenges. You don’t have Monday through Friday to get everything done.
You might leave drill Sunday evening and not see most of your Soldiers again for another month. Meanwhile, emails, suspenses, personnel actions, training requirements, and upcoming missions don’t magically disappear.
The officers who consistently impressed me weren’t always the ones working the longest hours. They had systems. They knew what needed to happen before drill, what needed their attention during drill, and what needed to be followed up on afterward.
That’s what this checklist is designed to help you do.
Spend Less Time Reacting and More Time Leading
The purpose of this resource isn’t to turn the Army into another full-time job. It’s actually the opposite. A good system helps you make better use of the limited time you have.
Spending 20 or 30 focused minutes preparing before drill could save you hours of frustration during the weekend. More importantly, preparation allows you to spend less time chasing paperwork and putting out preventable fires—and more time leading Soldiers, developing your team, and accomplishing the mission.
Order the Checklist Today
The Part-Time Army Officer Drill Weekend Preparation Checklist
Only $9.95
You’ll receive:
- 12-page drill weekend preparation system
- Editable Microsoft Word version
- Print-ready PDF version
- Monthly Drill Dashboard
- Officer/NCO planning tools
- Suspense and follow-up trackers
- 10-Minute Pre-Drill Check
- Reusable month after month
Download it today, customize it for your unit, and show up to your next drill weekend prepared, organized, and ready to lead.
Important Disclaimer
This is an independently created professional-development resource and is not an official U.S. Army, Department of Defense, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, or other government publication. Always follow current regulations, policies, command guidance, unit SOPs, and lawful orders. Official guidance takes precedence over this resource.