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PAY AND BENEFITS
Pay Information
Basic pay is the main part of a National Guardsman’s salary. Everyone receives basic pay, and it is
typically the largest portion of a member’s salary. Monthly basic pay increases with
rank, time in service and annual cost of living increases. The current basic pay for an E-1 is
$1,022.70. Allowances are another
part of military pay. Allowances
are money provided for specific needs, such as food or housing. These allowances are paid when the Air
Force does not provide food or housing. Most allowances are not taxable, which is an additional benefit of
military pay.
All military personnel
are paid based upon their rank and length of time in service. You can view current military pay
information for active duty and
inactive duty (drill pay) for all ranks at http://www.dfas.mil/money/milpay/pay/01-2003.pdf.
Military members with questions regarding
their pay should first address them to their local finance and administrative
office. The local military pay office is your first and best source of information. Civilian employees with questions
regarding their pay must contact their customer service representative. The
customer service representative will contact the payroll office directly with
your request. To access more
information and telephone numbers regarding payroll questions for the different
branches of service contact the Defense Financial and Accounting Service (DFAS)
at Defense
Finance and Accounting Service – Military Pay or http://www.dfas.mil/custsrvc/.
How to Read a
Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
Every month, service members receive
a one-page Leave and Earning Statement called an LES or the Defense Finance and
Accounting Service (DFAS) Form 702. A detailed explanation of the Form 702 is available at http://www.dfas.mil/money/milpay/les_djms.pdf.
Pay And
Allowances
Military personnel are
entitled to different types of pay benefits. Some of them are Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS),
Basic Allowance for Housing, and Clothing Allowance.
Basic Allowance
for Subsistence (BAS)
Members
who are entitled to basic pay are entitled to Basic Allowance for Subsistence
(BAS) under specific conditions. The latest Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation,
http://www.dtic.mil/comptroller/fmr/07a/07A25.pdf, describes each specific
condition.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Type
II
Members of the National Guard called (or
ordered) to active duty not in conjunction with a contingency operation, are
entitled to Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Type II when called active duty
for a period of 139 days or less. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is based on geographic duty location,
pay-grade, and dependency status.
The intent of BAH is to provide uniformed service members accurate and
equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing
markets, and is payable when government quarters are not provided. Effective January 1, 2000, most pay
grades, at most locations, were entitled to increases in housing
allowances. Find out more about
other pay benefits and entitlements at the BAH
information page or http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/bahform.html.
Clothing
Allowance
The
Secretary of Defense prescribes the quantity and kind of clothing that shall be
furnished to enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces, or the cash allowances in
lieu thereof. This authority is exercised through implementing instructions
issued by the individual Service Secretaries and applies to enlisted personnel
of the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Naval Reserve, the
Marine Corps Reserve, the National Guard of the United States, the Air National
Guard of the United States, the Army Reserve, and the Air Force
Reserve.
Officers receive a onetime payment after commissioning
to buy clothing. They do not receive any allowances to maintain their
uniforms. Enlisted members are
issued the standard wardrobe when they enter active duty. They get a clothing-replacement
allowance on their anniversary month.
The replacement allowance is paid at the “basic” rate for members with
less than three years of service, and at the “standard” rate for members with
three or more years of
service.
There are three types of clothing allowances that
cover both initial allowances and replacement
requirements:
- Initial Clothing
Allowances
- Cash
Clothing Replacement Allowances
- Supplementary Clothing Allowances (as authorized by individual
services)
For more information about Clothing Allowance, go
to http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourceFileView?file=Pay_Clothing.htm.
Other Money Matters
Information about other money matters can
be found at the Defense Finance and Accounting System at http://www.dfas.mil/money/.
VETERANS
ADMINISTRATION
The Veterans
Administration web site Veterans Affairs or http://www.va.gov/ or Veterans Administration has information regarding
eligibility and benefits. This site
contains information on veteran’s benefits regarding burial http://www.cem.va.gov/burial.htm,
educational http://www.gibill.va.gov/,
home loans http://www.homeloans.va.gov/, vocational
rehabilitation and employment services http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/index.htm,
insurance http://www.insurance.va.gov/, pension http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/index.htm
and health http://www.va.gov/vbs/health/
benefits.
VA Cares for
Combat Theater Veterans
Military personnel who recently
served in a combat zone are eligible for two years of free medical care from the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for most conditions. Most veterans must prove that a medical
problem is connected to their military service to receive free VA care for that
condition or they must have relatively low incomes. Since Nov. 11, 1998, VA has been
authorized to provide free medical care for some veterans within two years after
leaving active duty. Those veterans
must have served in a combat zone or in comparable hostilities. They do not have to prove either a
service-connection for their health care problems or that they have low
incomes. The benefit does not cover
treatment for medical problems clearly unrelated to military service, such as
care for common colds, injuries from accidents that happened after discharge
from active duty and disorders that existed before joining the military. To receive free medical care, veterans must be
able to show that they served since November 11, 1998 in a theater of combat
operations or in combat against a hostile force. The coverage lasts for two years after
discharge from active duty. It
applies to VA hospital care, outpatient services and nursing home
care.
SERVICE MEMBERS GROUP LIFE INSURANCE
(SGLI)
SGLI is a program of low cost group life insurance for service members on
active duty, ready reservists, members of the Commissioned Corps of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service, cadets and
midshipmen of the four service academies, and members of the Reserve Officer
Training Corps. SGLI is available in $10,000 increments up to the maximum of
$250,000. SGLI insured have two options available to them upon release from
service. They can convert their full-time SGLI coverage to term insurance under
the Veterans’ Group Life Insurance program or to a permanent plan of insurance
with one of the participating commercial insurance companies. Military members may purchase a
Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI) policy available through military pay
deduction. It is currently limited to $250,000 (since 1 April 2001).See Service Members Get More Life
Insurance Coverage.
With the recent increase,
now is a good time to review your SGLI beneficiary designations. For details on beneficiary designation see AR 600-8-1, Army Casualty Operations/Assistance/Insurance,
paragraph 11-29. Check the Chapter 11 Figures associated with SGLI beneficiary designations for more
information. Also see SGLI
information online http://www.insurance.va.gov. Of course, any day is a good one to be
sure you have properly named who you want to receive your insurance policy
proceeds.
You may find general information about SGLI on the
SGLI/VGLI Home Page of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs web site. It includes this SGLI/VGLI Handbook.
Available for Viewing and
Downloading in Adobe Acrobat PDF. Get Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Remember, how much life insurance you need, if any, depends
on your personal situation. Several sites, mentioned in USAA’s Insurance may help you
decide how much life insurance you want to buy. If you want more information you can
contact the Office of Service Members’ Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) at
1-800-419-1473 or at [email protected].
National Guard Association of the United
States Insurance Trust
National Guard Association of the United
States Insurance Trust is available at http://www.ngaus.org/whatisngaus/ngausitmain.asp. The NGAUS
Insurance Trust offers all members of the National Guard an opportunity to
benefit from their participation in the NGAUS and the EANGUS. The Insurance
Trust provides for many different types of programs specifically designed to
provide what soldiers or airmen need to provide for their families’ well being.
From here,
you may learn more about the benefits of the NGAUS Insurance Trust from
informational pamphlets on a wide variety of products to brochures and
applications for the Vision Care program.
The best way to see the products we
offer is to go to the Product List. The History and Background of the NGAUS Insurance Trust will provide some very
interesting information about how the Trust was
formed.
Enlisted Association of the National Guard
of the United States
The Enlisted Association of the National
Guard of the United States at http://www.eagnus.org
has Insurance programs http://www.eangus.org/benefits.htm that EANGUS members can participate in which are
sponsored by EANGUS through the NGAUS Insurance Trust. Available only to Guard members and
their families, each plan is designed for particular needs and budgets. Low group rates are possible because the
administrator’s costs are reduced – only one group policy is issued, rather than
individual policies. The savings
are passed along to you!
Other plans available to EANGUS members and
their families include:
Member Term Life
Protects you and your family: Benefits of member and spouse
from $10,000 to $250,000. Child
coverage available from $2,000 to $10,000. Eligibility determined by simple health questions, usually no physical
exam required. No war or aviation
exclusions. Conversion to
individual policy available.
Technician Plans Techlife
Benefits up to $250,000 of term life insurance. Guaranteed acceptance for up to $50,000
of insurance coverage in this plan within your first 31 days of employment. No war or aviation exclusions.
Term
Life
$10,000 to $250,000 coverage to member and
spouse. Child coverage available
from $2,000 to $10,000. Eligibility
determined by simple health questions; usually no physical exam required. No war
or aviation exclusions. Conversion
to individual policy available. Payroll deduction available.
Techpay
Helps replace lost income if you are
disabled. Pays disability benefits
up to $1,000 per month.Benefits
begin after 31 consecutive days of disability and continue for up to 10 years
for accidental injury and 3 years for sickness. Receive up to $1,400 additional monthly
benefits from the Supplemental Disability Program–that totals up to $2,500 a
month if you are disabled. Payroll
deduction available for all plans.
We Care for America Emergency Relief Fund
Information about
the “We Care for America Emergency Relief Fund” can be found at the following
links: Application and Guidelines.
THRIFT SAVINGS
PLAN (TSP)
The TSP is a defined contribution plan. The retirement
income that you receive from your TSP account will depend on how much you (and
your service, if you receive matching contributions) have contributed to your
account during your working years and the earnings on those contributions. The TSP is a retirement savings plan
both for civilians who are employed by the United States Government and for
members of the uniformed services. Congress established the FSP in the
Federal Employees’ Retirement System Act of 1986. The purpose of the TSP is to provide
retirement income. The TSP offers
the same type of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under so-called
“401(k)” plans. TSP regulations are published in title 5 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, Parts 1600 – 1699, and are periodically supplemented and
amended in the Federal Register.
The Thrift Saving Plan (TSP) can be accessed at http://www.tsp.gov/ or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
Two comprehensive TSP informational booklets – the Summary of
the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal Employees and the Guide to TSP Investments – have been completely updated. They are being sent to employing
agencies for distribution during the forthcoming open season. Copies are
now available for preview on the TSP Web site. Additionally, a “Before and
After” summary description of
the changes is also available on the Web site.
FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES
Enlistment
Benefits
Section 30-8c, 37 United States Code
authorizes an enlistment bonus for an individual who enlisted in the National
Guard for a term of enlistment of one to six years; is a graduate of a secondary
school, and has never previously serviced in an Armed Force. The amount of the enlistment bonus may
vary by military specialty up to an amount not to exceed $8,000 for enlistments
with an effective data of October 1, 1999 and later.
Reenlistment
Benefits
The Department of Defense — the largest
U.S. employer — offers many thousands of rewarding and challenging jobs, in
hundreds of different fields, as a service member or as a civilian, throughout
the United States and around the world. Information about these opportunities is
readily available on line: How can I learn about career opportunities and
internships?
Where can I find information about
the National Guard?
The Army National Guard website is
http://www.arng.army.mil. This website provides soldier resources,
publication resources and information on joining the National Guard http://www.1800goguard.com/lines/index.htm. To get more information about careers, opportunities and
benefits the Air Force has to offer, visit the U.S Air Force
Recruiting Service and go the section
entitled, “More Info”, or write to:
U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service
Headquarters, 550 D Street, Suite 1
Randolph Air Force Base, TX 78150-4527
(210) 652-5993
For
information on the Air National Guard go to http://www.goang.com.
Bonuses
See your local National Guard Recruiting
Office for the latest information on enlistment bonuses.
Retirement
Benefits
One of the many benefits of serving in the
National Guard is the opportunity to qualify for a non-regular or Reserve
retirement. The basic requirements
to qualify for a Reserve retirement are:
- Attain 20 qualifying
years of service – a qualifying year of service is credited for each year in
which the member has earned at least 50 points during his or her anniversary
year.
- Served the last eight
years in a Reserve Component.
During the draw down period, which expired December 31, 2001, the
eight-year requirement was reduced to the last six years.
DEATH AND CASUALTY
ASSISTANCE
If a soldier or airman becomes a
casualty, a Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO)
is usually assigned to
assist family members. When a
member of the National Guard dies on active duty, active duty for training,
inactive duty for training, or while performing funeral honors duty, the Armed
Forces will provide a death gratuity and care and disposition of remains.
Casualty assistance is one of the
most demanding and sensitive additional duties a soldier or airman will ever
have during his/her military career. Duty as a CAO takes precedence over all
other obligations and responsibilities. The mission is to provide assistance to
the primary next-of-kin (PNOK) and/or the person authorized direct disposition
(PADD) during the period following a soldier or airman being declared missing or
deceased. The assistance provided demonstrates the concern of the United States
Armed Forces for the welfare of its military members and their families. The
manner in which this mission is performed has a lasting effect on how the family
and their community perceive the military. The goal should be to impart the most
positive impression possible under the circumstances. In order to accomplish
this, one must be able to blend professionalism with empathy. Nothing can
substitute for good judgment, common sense and sensitivity in performing a
casualty assistance mission. The quality of service must reflect full attention
to duty and to the wishes of the next of kin (NOK).
Death Gratuity
The law fixes $6,000 as the lump-sum
payment in the event of death while a member of the Armed Forces is on active
duty for training or inactive duty training. The gratuity is also payable if a member
or former member dies of a service-connected cause within 120 days after his or
her discharge or release from active duty for training. In the case of inactive duty training,
the gratuity is payable if death occurs within 120 days and is the result of
injury received during that training. In addition, the family of a member who dies on active duty, will be
allowed 180 days rent free occupancy in Government quarters, or 180 days BAH for
area of residence, plus one year TRICARE-Standard eligibility.
When a member dies while on active duty
(including members who are retired and remain in a military hospital and who
continue to be hospitalized as patients therein to date of death or who dies on
active duty for training, or while performing inactive duty training), the
military will provide for care a disposition of remains. When military authorities arrange for
disposition of remains, services of preparation at the place of death, removal,
embalming preparation and preservation, casket, and transportation to a common
carrier are normally obtained under contract; however, when no contract is
available, military authorities negotiate with local funeral directors to obtain
these services. The military authorities also will provide the following as required:
- Cremation – if cremation is requested in
writing by the person authorized to direct disposition (PAAD) of the
remains.
- A suitable urn for the cremated
remains
- A U.S. flag to drape the
casket
- Transportation of remains, accompanied by
an escort, from the place of death to the place designated by the
PADD.
- Military honors, if requested, will be
provided at the place of interment.
Line of Duty
(LOD)
A Line of Duty (LOD) investigation
will generally be conducted whenever a soldier acquires a disease, incurs a
significant injury, or is injured under unusual circumstances. There is a presumption, however, that
all diseases or injuries have occurred “in the line of duty – not due to own
misconduct.”
An LOD investigation helps determine
whether or not a soldier is entitled to pay and allowances, accrual of service
and leave [time], and, in some cases, disability retirement. A Guard member will receive these
benefits only if the final determination is “in line of duty – not due to own
misconduct.”
The investigating officer begins the
investigation by first getting a copy of the Statement of Medical Examination
and Duty Status from the appointing authority. Documentary evidence (witness
statements, medical records, police reports, etc.) concerning the circumstances
surrounding the injury is collected.
Witnesses and the individual injured are interviewed and sworn statements
are written.
Once all evidence is gathered, the LOD is
reviewed and a determination is made:
- “In the line of duty- not due to own
misconduct”;
- “Not in the line of duty- not due to own
misconduct”; or,
- “Not in the line of duty- due to own
misconduct.”
The investigation and recommendation
are then sent to the appointing authority that directed the investigation, State
Judicial Authority for legal review, and the final approving authority for
approval of the LOD.
Line of duty investigations are a
required part of the military. They
are not meant to inhibit soldiers from participating in regular day- to- day
events (basketball, football, baseball, hiking). However, soldiers must think of
the repercussions that may happen if they engage in very dangerous activities.
If you find you are the subject of a
Line of Duty investigation or if a “not in line of duty – due to own misconduct”
determination is made against you, contact your servicing legal assistance
office immediately for help.
Incapacitation Pay
A member of the National Guard may be entitled to
Incapacitation Pay
if physically disabled as a result
of an injury, illness or disease incurred in the line of duty, while traveling
directly to or from such training or while remaining overnight, immediately
before the commencement of inactive duty training or funeral honors duty, or
while remaining overnight between successive periods of Inactive Duty
Training.
A member of the National Guard who is
physically unable to perform his or her military duties is entitled to full pay
and allowances equal to a member of thee active service of like grade and years
of service. The total pay and
allowances will be reduced by the amount of income the member earns from
non-military employment or self-employment during the disability
period.
A member of the National Guard who is
physically able to perform military duties, but who sustains an injury, illness,
or disease while in the line of duty, that prevents the member from performing
his or her civilian job will receive his or her demonstrated loss of
income. This loss of income will
not exceed the equivalent rate of full pay and allowances for his or her rank
and length of service.
If you have questions about Incapacitation Pay, see your unit
administrator or talk to your State Family Program Coordinator or Air National
Guard Wing Family Readiness and Support Service Coordinator who can direct you
to the individual who handles Incapacitation Pay issues in your
state.
SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
Help for Small Businesses Affected by the
Federal Call-Up of Military Reservists or the National Guard
Military Reservists Disaster Loan
Application Now Available On-Line
If your small business has been
adversely affected by the federal Title 10 call-up of members of the National
Guard or Reserves during a period of conflict, the U.S. Small Business
Administration can help. Small businesses that employ military reservists who are called to active duty, and
are interested in applying for a Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster
Loan (MREIDL) may now download the application from the U.S. Small Business
Administration’s Web site. The MREIDL program provides loans to eligible small businesses to cover operating
expenses that would have been met, but cannot be met because an essential
employee was called to active duty during a period of military conflict in his
or her role as a military reservist. The loan application can be downloaded from the
Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster/mreidl.html.
Small businesses may apply for MREIDLs of up to $l.5 million if they have
been financially affected by the loss of a key employee. These working capital loans may be used
to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that cannot
otherwise be paid. The interest
rate on these loans is 4 percent, with a maximum term of 30 years. The SBA determines the amount of
economic injury, the term of each loan and the payment amount, based on the
financial circumstances of each borrower.
The filing period begins the date the essential employee is ordered to
active duty and ends 90 days after the date the employee is discharged from
active duty. Businesses interested
in applying for an economic injury disaster loan can contact one of the four SBA
disaster area offices to obtain an application.
Debt Relief
If your small business currently has an SBA
direct or guaranteed loan, you can ask for repayment deferrals, interest-rate
reduction and other assistance. To request help, contact your SBA lender or your nearest SBA district office at
www.sba.gov/regions/states.
Business Counseling and Training
Through your local district office and the SBA’s resource
partners, you can receive business development help, and business counseling and
training to help your business while you or your employees are on active duty
with the National Guard or Reserves.
Basic 7(a) Loan Guaranty
This is the SBA’s primary business loan
program to help qualified small businesses obtain financing when they might not
be eligible for business loans through normal channels. It is the SBA’s most flexible business
loan program, since financing can be guaranteed for most general business
purposes. More information can be
found at www.sba.gov/loans.
For information on these and other programs
to serve you, your nearest SBA district office is listed in the telephone
directory under “U.S. Government.”
You can also contact us at 1-800-U ASK SBA, visit the Web site at
www.sba/gov/reservists, or
call the Office of Veterans Business Development at
202-205-6773.
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