Army National Guard Pay Scale
The Army National Guard is a branch of the army that consists of traditional guardsmen who serve their country on a part time basis. Guardsmen, on average, work one weekend a month and devote two weeks each summer to serving their country. Because of the unique service time given by members of the Army National Guard, the pay scales are determined by the number of drills active duty members perform, rather than a yearly salary. All military pay scales, however, are based on rank and time served, along with a few other economic and special circumstances. There are 70 separate types of compensation that include regular pay, special pay and bonuses.
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History
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The Army National Guard is the oldest component of the U.S. armed forces, with roots dating back to 1636 as the first permanent militias in the colonies. Recorded pay scales were not developed for these positions until the United States formed a standing military in 1784. The pay scales for men and women serving in the Army National Guard are determined by the national defense budget. The base pay scale changes annually, adjusted according to the federal budget and the change in the average of national pay rates, minimum wage and the increases in the cost of living. Today, active members of the military receive much more pay and benefits than they did in the past. Since 2001, pay scales have increased by 35 percent for members of the Army National Guard, which is more than for any other element of the armed services. Where eligible, the out-of-pocket cost for housing has been completely eliminated.
Types
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There are several types of pay for members of the Army National Guard. Drill pay is the base of a Guardsmen's pay. Members of the Army National Guard usually serve one weekend a month and an average weekend consists of four drill periods. An E-1 personnel with less than two years of service will earn about $180 in drill pay for one drill weekend. Depending on your career field and special certifications, you will receive monetary bonuses.
Special services included aviation training, medical certification and knowledge of foreign languages, among many others. Special pay rates differ according to the type of specialty and the years of service. Aviation pay averages around $200 per month, while medical doctors can be paid anywhere from $100 to $1,000 depending on a number of factors. Other types of pay may be made on account of prior or reenlistment bonuses. If you are placed on active duty, you will automatically begin to receive active duty pay and may receive a basic allowance for housing.
Considerations
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Your pay schedule for serving in the Army National Guard is dependent on the years you’ve been serving and your pay grade according to your personnel ranking. Higher pay grades are based on ranking and military hierarchy and years denote seniority. An E-1 is the lowest level of ranking for the Army National Guard. As with any military service, guardsmen will receive more money with higher rank and time served.
Monthly drill pay schedules for the Army National Guard differ according to the number of drills performed. Guardsmen normally train one weekend a month and an average weekend includes four drills, but there will be times when only one or up to eight drills may be performed. A commissioned officer, who is on an O-1 pay grade, serving for four years will receive $428 per month. A warrant officer, on a W-5 pay grade, who has been serving for 30 years will bring home $943 per month.
Benefits
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While many citizen soldiers claim that the pride in serving their county far outweighs the tangible benefits, there are still many material benefits to serving in the Army National Guard. In addition to drill pay, which is the main component of a guardsmen's pay, service men also receive some allowances where eligible and special pay bonuses and increases according to time served and special certificates obtained.
One of the most important features for a member of the Army National Guard is the special pays. Special pays, which are in addition to regular pay, are made for performing specialized services and obtained certificates beyond the normal requirements of reservist duty. Special certifications that are eligible for special pays include things like certifying in special operation training, aviation and hazardous or hardship duties. Guardsmen also receive education assistance, free space-available air travel, insurance and retirement benefits.
Identification
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The Constitution dictates the control of the Army National Guard, stating that each state will have its own Guardsmen unit. Guardsmen can be called on by the governor to aide in times of local and statewide emergencies and the president can call on any guard unit during times of war, terrorism or stabilization missions at home or abroad.
In addition to ranking, advancement, promotion and years served, an Army National Guardsmen’s pay scale is dependent on the annual pay raise across the board for all military servicemen, which includes increases in the cost of living, housing and food costs. Commitment to the armed services also increase your annual pay scales with the military's longevity raises that are applied every two years. Special considerations based on your occupation, like hazardous duty and flight certificates, will affect your pay scale as well. In 2009, the pay for members of the Army National Guard will increase by 3.9 percent from 2008.
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