One weekend a month, two weeks a year

It was dropped during the Iraq War after it became clear that National Guardsmen and Reservists were now serving considerably more time in service, especially on active military duty on extended overseas deployments in the Southwest Asia combat zone.

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.

As a result, the term "weekend warriors" was coined by members of the United States Armed Forces and the general public, as the National Guard service was seen as cushy and easy compared to those in active duty.

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 members of the National Guard 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",[5] as a comment on the perceived mistreatment of the National Guard and the Reserve.

Actual legal changes were made by the US Congress and in the 1980s which moved final decision for their use as military forces from their commanders in chief, the state governors, to the federal government.