Despite working the same job and encountering the same risks, National Guard servicemembers are not being paid at the same rate or receiving the same benefits — including healthcare, housing stipends, and G.I. Bill eligibility — as federally activated units.
All States have Mobilized Guard and Reserve Forces in Response to COVID-19
At the time of this writing, governors across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C. have activated a portion of their Army and Air National Guard units in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But despite these servicemembers being called to duty, under current law many are not receiving the same benefits as their peers.
The Problem?
Members of the National Guard can be called to duty under a variety of different duty statuses.
Under State Active Duty orders, each state pays servicemembers and funds the operations they perform.
Although these servicemembers are paid, their pay and benefits — including healthcare, housing stipends, and G.I. bill eligibility — are often not at the same rate as units that are federally activated or servicemembers on active duty. …
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