Pay and Benefits

Army National Guard Soldiers in all 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia with children ages six weeks through 12 years will soon have access to no-cost childcare during weekend drills.

Military retirees and veterans receiving disability benefits will see the same 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment in 2027 as Social Security recipients, the Social Security Administration announced.

The Pentagon has increased pay for military personnel in combat or serving in dangerous locations for the first time in more than two decades.

Leaders from several military and veteran service organizations are urging Congress to move quickly on legislation they say would modernize and simplify the way National Guard and Reserve members are placed on duty, paid and credited for their service.

The “death gratuity” paid to the families of fallen service members would double from $100,000 to $200,000 to keep up with inflation under legislation introduced earlier this month.

National Guardsmen and Reservists would no longer pay federal tax on their drill pay under a new House bill.

The association president told lawmakers last week about the inequities National Guard Soldiers and Airmen too often face due to an obsolete duty-status system.

Two members of the House Armed Services Committee last week introduced legislation aimed at reducing the complex, confusing and unequal system of more than 30 National Guard and Reserve duty statuses to four broad categories.

Air National Guardsmen would have a permanent federal tuition assistance program under a bipartisan bill introduced last week in the House.

Open enrollment season for TRICARE medical coverage and other federal employment benefits began Nov. 10 and runs through early December. This is the time of year when those eligible can enroll, disenroll or amend their benefits. Any changes take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

NGAUS has been busy since the federal government shutdown began Oct. 1 informing Congress and the press on the harm the lapse in appropriations is doing to National Guard readiness and Guard Soldiers and Airmen and their families.

NGAUS continues to lead the charge of National Guard and Reserve associations urging Congress to help pay service members during the government shutdown, which is now in its fourth week.