Can a National Guard or Reserve soldier be considered a "Professional Soldier"?

No matter what they served their country because they made a choice to serve in the capacity that they wanted to. S/he did their time I have meet enough reservist to know that they are professional in 2 jobs.

If a soldier is doing his duty and living the army values, then "Professionalism" is implied. Just as a supermodel needs no adjective like "beautiful;" before her title, a soldier shouldn't either. We all know soldiers that do not meet the army standard; absent those few, the word soldier implies so much more that other words before it are redundant.

Most definitely, if that is the character of your service. I've worked with both professional Soldiers and unprofessional Soldiers from both AD and NG. Often it is easy to distinguish them. I don't know that years of service is a required qualifier though. I've had some Soldiers fresh from basic that were more professional than some NCO's I've worked with.

Yes you are a professional soldier

Not only do reserve and guard soldier learn their MOS; they bring additional professional skills to the table. I have served both active and guard, and would consider myself a professional soldier even if I hadn't served active.

My entire career was Reserve - I considered my self professional. To be professional one has to not only talk the talk, but walk the talk (if you know what I mean). There's a big difference between professional and putting in their time. I've seen a lot of career AD soldiers who were just putting in their time.

Sorry, but this is an idiotic question. Is there an accepted definition of a "Professional Soldier"? If there is, use it. If not, take the definitions of "Professional" and "Soldier" and apply them. IMHO, a professional soldier is someone who soldiers for pay. So, yes, in the USA all soldiers are Professional Soldiers. We all get paid. In some countries, and throughout history, many soldiers do/did not get paid. Further, there are not different standards for Active versus Reserve. Reservists must meet the same standards as Active Duty soldiers. If you as a Reservist or your Reserve unit doesn't require that you meet the same standards, you or your unit are wrong. Tenure has nothing to do with it.

My perspective: I was a Reserve Drill Sergeant for just under 10 years.

I would like you to explain to the ODA long tab teams in 19th and 20th that they are "not real professional soldiers" and report back to me how that convo goes, lol.
Bottom line: professionalism runs in deep within the AD and PT reserve and national guard.

If you are Junior Soldier and meet the standard ie shooting, moving (physical fitness included) and communicating along the 40 warrior tasks and drills you are a professional.

If you are an NCO or Company Grade Officer you need do all those things plus do basic leadership functions such as equipment management/accountability, basic planning (PCC, PCI, Op Order etc) you are a professional.

If you are a Senior NCO or Field Grade Officer you need to be able to do the last two tiers plus read, write and speak at the strategic level and have diplomatic skills than you are a professional.

I cant speak above that level.

At the senior ranks in the NG and RC it gets harder to maintain this level professionalism because of the environment you are in and you don't get as many reps as the AC guys.