One weekend a month, two weeks a year

"One weekend a month, two weeks a year" is a former recruiting slogan used by the U.S. Army National Guard. It indicated the amount of time an individual would need to spend actively in the Guard to be a Guardsman with benefits. It was dropped during the Iraq War after it became clear that Guardsmen were now serving considerably more time in service.

The slogan "one weekend a month, two weeks a year" has been most commonly seen by Americans in recruiting ads for the National Guard. Although the slogan is only sometimes used directly in advertising, as of 2004^[update] it was used to describe the duties of at least some military posts.

The slogan has also been used to contrast the commitment that a National Guard member would give during those times when his country was not at war. Other forces have used this slogan as something against which they can contrast their own dedication, showing that, as members of the special forces, they are not mere "weekend warriors".

Understanding the meaning of the slogan to those enlisted in the National Guard requires understanding the historical context in which it was given. During World War II, the National Guard was called up to defend their country, and this was repeated in the Korean War even when American soil was not directly threatened. At this time, joining a reserve component could clearly be seen as a route to service overseas. However, at the time of the Vietnam War, President Johnson made it clear that the National Guard's role was to defend the country and not to be involved in overseas adventures. At the time, this meant that those who joined the force could be fairly sure of not seeing action in the war, and became a pejorative term.

These forces are expected to act as a second line of defense, primarily motivated by the fact that they are defending their own homes and families.

The commitment to Iraq and more recently, subsequent engagements, conflicts, and operations (primarily, and more specifically; those related to the Global War on Terrorism) has meant that many National Guards feel the terms in which they understood their recruitment have been breached. The slogan has now become known in a changed form, "One weekend a month, my ass," as a comment on the perceived mistreatment of the National Guard reservists.

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