How Much Does a Specialist Make in the National Guard?
The National Guard is made up of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Each unit in the National Guard is governed by their particular military branch (Army or Air Force) and the government of the state the unit is located in. When National Guard members are called to federal service, such as for a wartime deployment, they are governed solely by the federal government. Members of the National Guard are paid for their participation, and that pay is subject to applicable state and federal taxes. Pay is based on pay grade and the amount of time the member has been in the military.
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Ranks and Pay Grades
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The military consists of pay grades which correspond to military ranks. There are ten officer pay grades ranging from O-1 to O-10. There are nine enlisted pay grades, ranging from E-1 to E-9. In addition, every branch except the Air Force also has warrant officer ranks, which consist of five pay grades. A Specialist in the Army National Guard is paid at the pay grade of E-4.
Unit Training Assembly (UTA)
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Each member of the National Guard is required to complete a two-day Unit Training Assembly (UTA) each month. This UTA is also called a Drill Weekend. For the 2011 pay rates, UTA pay for a Specialist totals $255.48 for members with less than two years of service. A Specialist that has been in the military for more than two years and less than three years earns $268.56 for each UTA completed. A Specialist with three to four years of military service earns $283.12 per UTA weekend. With four to five years of military service, a Specialist earns $297.44 per drill weekend. And any Specialist with more than five years of military service earns a flat rate of $310.12 per drill weekend, according to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).
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Periods of Active Duty
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For each annual training period performed, National Guard members are entitled to active duty pay for each day of service completed. This pay starts at a rate of $63.87 per day for new Specialists, and ranges to a maximum of $77.53 per day for senior Specialists. This translates to a monthly pay rate of $1,916.10 to $2,325.90. In addition, each member also receives a basic allowance for housing which is dependent upon location and whether the member has dependents. Some National Guard members on active duty are also entitled to a basic allowance for subsistence (meals), depending on the duty location and whether government meals are available to the member.
Other Monetary Benefits
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Each member of the National Guard is also entitled to other special pays and allowances while federally activated, such as during a natural disaster or wartime deployment. These benefits are based on the type of service and where the service is performed at. In addition, all enlisted members of the National Guard are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill-Reserve to help pay for their educational expenses at a college or university of their choice.
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