SF-86 for Reservists and Guard Members: Orders, Addresses, and Jobs
Drill weekends, annual training, activations, and a civilian career can make Sections 11, 13, and 15 confusing. Here is how to lay it out clearly.
The Short Answer
The SF-86 asks for your residences (Section 11) and employment activities (Section 13A) going back 10 years, with no unexplained gaps, plus your military history (Section 15). Guard and Reserve service does not replace your civilian history; you usually report both. Confirm how to enter your specific situation with your FSO or security office before you submit in NBIS eApp.
Employment: Civilian Job Plus Military
Section 13A lists each employment activity separately, and the form includes activity types for active military duty, National Guard or Reserve service, federal employment, non-government employment, self-employment, and unemployment. For most part-time service members, that means:
- A Guard or Reserve entry covering your drilling service, with your unit and its location.
- A separate civilian job entry for the same period. Overlapping dates are expected here.
- Active-duty orders. Ask your FSO whether a long activation or deployment should be its own active military duty entry or part of your Guard or Reserve entry.
- Unemployment. If you were between civilian jobs, list that period as unemployment even while you were drilling, if the form asks for it.
Residences While on Orders
Section 11 asks where you lived. Weekend drills and short annual training usually do not change where you live. Long activations, mobilizations, or schooling may mean you lived somewhere else for months. Read the form instructions for military addresses and deployments, and ask your FSO how to show that time. Keep your home-of-record address and your on-orders location straight so dates line up with no gaps.
Gaps and Overlaps
- Account for every month. The form expects continuous coverage. List every period, including unemployment and time on orders. Never leave anything out.
- Overlaps are fine when they are real. A civilian job and drill status at the same time is normal. Two residences at once may need an explanation.
- Use your records. Orders, your DD 214 for each period of active service, NGB 22 (Guard) or retirement points statements, and civilian pay stubs help you rebuild exact dates.
Where to Find Your Dates
| Record | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Orders (activation, AT, schools) | Start and end dates and locations |
| DD 214 | Dates of each period of active service |
| NGB 22 or Reserve points statement | Service dates and drill participation |
| Leave and Earnings Statements | Pay status changes and duty locations |
| Civilian W-2s and pay stubs | Civilian employer names and dates |
Keep It Current
Log each set of orders and each job change when it happens. ClearanceTrail, built by an Army veteran, keeps your addresses and jobs in one private timeline and flags gaps and overlaps. You can also try the free SF-86 Date Gap Checker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I list my civilian job and my Guard or Reserve service separately?
Yes, in most cases. Section 13A asks for each employment activity, and drilling in the Guard or Reserve is a separate activity from a civilian job, so the dates can overlap. Confirm how to enter your specific situation with your FSO.
Do I change my address for short orders or annual training?
Section 11 asks where you lived. Short training periods usually do not change your residence, but longer activations can raise questions. Read the form instructions and ask your FSO how to show time on orders.
How do I show a gap between civilian jobs while I was drilling?
List the civilian unemployment period as its own entry if the form asks for it, and keep your Guard or Reserve entry for the same dates. Never leave a period out; ask your FSO if you are unsure.