Tying into last weeks post, and in response to a growing interest from our member, NGAUS has further analyzed further flaws in the Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC). 

Issue in Focus: Pay

1. Current drill pay structure already compensates for significant differences between active forces and reserve component. 
2. Current 1/30^th rule allows for simple and equitably increased compensation for a drill period in providing  the equivalent of 4 days pay for a full weekend drill.
3. Weekend CONUS service of the active force is not similar to weekend National Guard/Reserve duty as the actives are paid for down time while the National Guard/Reserve work.
4. Most National Guard/Reserve members work 12 straight days with weekend drill sandwiched between full work weeks.
5. National Guard/Reserve members must bear the time and expense of medical readiness and fitness.
6. 30 year anniversary date to collect retirement pay with reduced retirement points does not work for late joining members of the National Guard/Reserve.
7. Significant uncompensated  administrative time spent in preparation for drill for commanders and administrative staff at all levels.
8. National Guard is answerable on a 24/7 basis for domestic emergencies and more likely to be called. 
9. Weekend drill pay compensates for 24/7 on call status of the citizen soldier who is prepared to leave job and family at any time.
10. Reserve component and families are not sheltered with 24/7 housing, medical care, family and community support  services received by the active forces.
11. QRMC recommendations are another  masked attempt to make Reserve component bill payer for active excesses.
12. Suggested incentive pay options offer vague, complicated and tentative pay solutions that  the current  drill pay structure renders unnecessary.
13. QRMC does not address need to provide medical readiness care for the operational Reserve component.  
14. Reducing retirement points from 4 to 2 for weekend drills will significantly reduce  retirement pay. 
15. 30 year anniversary date to collect retirement pay with reduced retirement points does not work to allow late joining members of the National Guard/Reserve to make up the difference with a longer eligibility  period to draw retirement. 

A NGAUS Legislative Alert on this issue sent last week has generated over 13,000 advocacy messages and slowed the NGAUS server for a time. You can read more on this issue and take action here.