What are the many ways you can progress your career in the Army Reserves or National Guard?

Another idea or goal in the long term....be an O-1E to O-3E and beyond once you get your Bachelor's Degree. Those 4 years or more enlisted will make you have a much bigger pay years later compared to what I made as a Junior Officer. This also affects your drill pay and training pay in the Guard and Reserve. Max age in the USAR is 32 1/2 to get in and 1 short of your 35th B-day in the ARNG. I only did 2 years enlisted at age 31 and I became an Officer at 33 years, 9 months. Yes, you get a Federal age waiver. I am 55.
CPT Chris Loomis SSG (Join to see)

Know someone in high places.

I don't know how it is in the Reserves, but in the Guard all you have to do is rack up some AD time, Pass your APFT and Weapons Qual, and stack the civilian and military education. Once a year they do a paper board and add up everyone's points. Then they start at the top of the list and offer the slots. The hard part can be getting the NCOES that you need. I've seen guys wait months and years between phases because a unit refuses to slot them for phase 2 before they pass phase 1. The other option, which can be quicker, is AGR. It's active duty without having to worry about moving but you're pretty much running a unit 28 days out of the month.