For the almost 40% of the US military with real jobs.

We talk business, finance, news, and culture for the part-time military.

This week:

• Quick Takes

• Call to Action: Help Us Grow the PTH Newsletter

• Up Your Timepiece Game: Watch of the Month

• USERRA Attorney Extraordinaire Brian Lawler

• Merch Up with The Fratty Guard

• PART⚡TIME News: What Happened Last Week

Interested in becoming a featured newsletter sponsor? Reach out to [email protected]

Need some new boots?

We’ve been running OTB boots. Can’t recommend enough.

If you need new boots, check ‘em out.

Quick Takes 

The National Guard is settling into Washington, D.C. through the Christmas season, because that mission just got stretched again, now running through at least the end of February, with a decent chance these folks are still there well into 2026.

This whole thing was supposed to wrap up in November. The mission includes some 2,000 troops from D.C., South Carolina, Ohio and Georgia. 

America’s part-time soldiers have been put on trash duty, mulch duty, and general “make D.C. look pretty for the tourists” duty. If there’s a flower bed within a mile of the National Mall, odds are a Guardsman has been told to fluff it. 

They’ve also been providing armed security in areas around Capitol Hill and downtown DC, which is littered with bars with $18 cocktails, safe parts of town with low crime, far from the city’s neighborhoods, where crime is a persistent issue.

Are Trump’s Orders Even Legal? Troops Are Asking Lawyers Now

A growing number of service members are quietly seeking legal advice on a question no one ever expected to ask out loud: “Do I have to follow this order?” As new Trump-directed missions roll out, troops across branches are consulting JAGs and outside attorneys to figure out where the line is between lawful orders and political improvisation. This isn’t TikTok drama — this is a real-time stress test of civil-military relations. When rank-and-file troops start second-guessing taskings coming from the top, something deeper is breaking beneath the surface. Buckle up — this story isn’t going away. Link to article

Inside the Guard’s Encrypted Group Chats: “Are These Deployments Even Legit?”

Leaked encrypted chats from National Guard units show members openly questioning whether the latest Trump-era call-ups are lawful, wise, or even strategically coherent. These aren’t fringe voices — these are squad leaders and staff NCOs trying to figure out why they’re being sent where they’re being sent, and under what authority. The conversations are raw, anxious, and very real. When Guardsmen start whispering in Signal channels about legality, chain of command, and refusing missions… we’re in uncharted territory. This is the kind of quiet pressure that doesn’t stay quiet for long. Link to article

The U.S. Just Launched a Major Counter-Drug Operation in the Western Hemisphere

The Pentagon has announced a new, large-scale mission targeting drug trafficking across the Western Hemisphere — think naval patrols, intel sharing, and a whole lot more uniformed presence in places that make cartels very nervous. Officials are framing it as a “regional stability” effort, but make no mistake: this is a flex. As global attention stays locked on conflict zones overseas, the U.S. is quietly opening another front much closer to home. For many troops, this operation could be the next deployment on the horizon. Link to article

Call to Action: Help Us Grow the PTH Newsletter

So, it turns out this newsletter actually does pretty well. We have about 4,000 subscribers and most of those people read it.

But, we want and need more part⚡time bois subscribed.

Why?

Because we are petty, insecure people. But more importantly, with more subscribers, we can do more cool sh*t. It opens up possibilities for badass partnerships where we can deliver more cool content at scale.

So, our ask is that if you give 1/1000th of a shit about this newsletter, The Fratty Guard, or Friendly Forces, that you forward this link to your squad, platoon, SEAL team, etc., or any other reservists you know that aren’t subscribed.

Seriously. The more reservists we get tuning in, the more stuff we can do.

Together, we will usher in a new era of PART⚡TIME dominance…and our enemies will pay.

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TELL YOUR EMPLOYER ABOUT Friendly Forces if your company sucks with military leave. This is how they come to us and we start helping them do better.

Have your HR/talent folks reach out to [email protected].

Up Your Timepiece Game: Watch of the Month

By Ian from Own The Watch

You have a phone. It tells time.

So why would you need a watch?

• One decision, done. Wear it every day. Both jobs. No charging. No notifications. Wear it when you work out, or even in the shower. Why not? When you're juggling two careers, one less decision helps.

• People notice. Hiring managers and senior leaders will spot a quality watch. Most people won't recognize the brand. But you stand out (in a good way) when you’re not wearing a smartwatch like everybody else.

• Watches hold value. Quality watches don't lose all their value like most purchases. Some go up. Most stay steady. A quality watch can last you a lifetime. You don’t need to replace it for newer models or give it constant firmware updates.

This Month's Pick: Seiko ($200-400) or Hamilton Khaki Field ($450-600)

Starting out? Seiko works. Reliable, respected, affordable. Want to step up? Hamilton Khaki Field. Both work at your civilian job and drill weekends. One watch, both worlds.

Make intentional choices about what you own and why.

I write about watches, wealth building, and intentional spending at Own The Watch. My wife and I are busting our asses in hope of being work optional before 50 while still buying quality things.

-Ian

USERRA Attorney Extraordinaire Brian Lawler

Boss giving you grief about your military commitments? Call Brian Lawler.

If you’re running into problems with your employer due to your military service, contact Brian Lawler.

Brian’s a former Marine pilot, reservist, and one of the top USERRA attorneys in the country. He knows the law better than your HR department, and he’s made a career out of holding employers accountable.

Free consult. No win, no fee.
If your job’s on the line, Brian’s the guy you want in the fight.

Set up a meeting here.

Merch Up with The Fratty Guard you POG

If you want to make baller ass unit gear repping our logo suite, check out The Fratty Guard Unit Collab Store.

Or for the GOAT classics, check out The Fratty Guard Store.

PART⚡TIME News: What Happened Last week

Department of War Name Set in Bronze at Pentagon Entrances

Military Personnel Seek Legal Advice on Whether Trump-Ordered Missions Are Lawful

U.S. Announces Military Operation to Counter Drug Trafficking in Western Hemisphere

Army Contacted 1,400 Patients in Gynecologist Misconduct Investigation

Trump Drug Boat Strikes Illegal

OpenAI Releases New Open-Weight Model

Pete Rants About Beardos Again During Wild Pentagon Speech

Support the Fight

If you support the work that Friendly Forces does, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help keep the lights on. Every bit helps. Turns out stuff is expensive and we put countless man hours into the work.

That’s it for this week.

Absolutely massive things coming.