I’m in the middle of my second M-day company command.  The key to success is engagement and thinking ahead.  You need to start with what you need to accomplish at annual training upfront and then backward plan your MUTAs.  I always have a sacrifice training event set aside to cut in the event of last minute taskers from higher.  Typically your XO is commanding your detachment hours away so synchronization between the two is crucial.  Empower your M-days.  The full time staff should be supply getters and task managers but your M-day NCOs and Officers need to be executers.  If you do that NCOERs and OERs write themselves.

Personal issues are always a challenge.  Our AD brethren don’t have to deal homeless and unemployed soldiers.  How do you deal with a guy who is living in his car and doesn’t have gas money enough to get to drill?  I knew another guy literally living in a camp ground surviving off $200 a month in drill pay.  You will need to learn all the official and unofficial assets available to support.