Reserve Component Personnel Issues:
Questions and Answers
Lawrence Kapp
Specialist in Military Manpower Policy
July 20, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RL30802
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers
Summary
The term “Reserve Component” is used to refer collectively to the seven individual reserve
components of the armed forces: the Army National Guard of the United States, the Army
Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air National Guard of the United
States, the Air Force Reserve, and the Coast Guard Reserve. The purpose of these seven reserve
components, as codified in law at 10 U.S.C. 10102, is to “provide trained units and qualified
persons available for active duty in the armed forces, in time of war or national emergency, and at
such other times as the national security may require, to fill the needs of the armed forces
whenever more units and persons are needed than are in the regular components.”
During the cold war era, the reserve components were a manpower pool that was rarely tapped.
For example, from 1945 to 1989, reservists were involuntarily activated by the federal
government only four times, an average of less than once per decade. Since the end of the cold
war, however, the nation has relied more heavily on the reserve components. Since 1990,
reservists have been involuntarily activated by the federal government six times, an average of
once every three years, including two large-scale mobilizations: for the Persian Gulf War (1990-
91) and in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks (2001-present). This increasing use
of the reserves has led to greater congressional interest in various issues that bear on the vitality
of the reserve components, such as funding, equipment, and personnel policy. This report is
designed to provide an overview of key reserve component personnel issues.
This report provides insight to reserve component personnel issues through a series of questions
and answers: how many people are in different categories of the reserve component (question 3);
how reserve component personnel are organized (questions 2 and 4); how reserve component
personnel have been and may be used (questions 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11); how reserve component
personnel are compensated (questions 8 and 10); the type of legal protections that exist for
reserve component personnel (question 12); and recent changes in reserve component pay and
benefits made by Congress (question 13).
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Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers
Contents
1. What Is the Reserve Component? What Is Its Role?................................................................. 1
2. What Are the Different Categories of Reservists? .................................................................... 1
The Ready Reserve ............................................................................................................... 1
The Selected Reserve ...................................................................................................... 2
The Individual Ready Reserve......................................................................................... 2
The Inactive National Guard ........................................................................................... 3
The Standby Reserve............................................................................................................. 3
The Retired Reserve.............................................................................................................. 3
3. How Many People Are in the Reserve Components? ............................................................... 4
4. What Does “Full-time Support” Mean? What Are the Different Categories of Full-time
Support for the Reserve Components?...................................................................................... 5
Active Guard and Reserve..................................................................................................... 5
Military Technicians.............................................................................................................. 6
Non-Dual Status Technicians................................................................................................. 6
Active Component ................................................................................................................ 7
Civilians ............................................................................................................................... 7
5. What Is the Difference Between the “Reserves” and the “National Guard”?............................. 7
6. How Has the Role of the Reserve Components Changed in Recent Years?............................... 8
7. How Does the Posse Comitatus Act Affect Use of the Reserve Components to Handle
Domestic Problems? .............................................................................................................. 11
8. What Type of Pay and Benefits Do Reservists Receive for Reserve Duty? ............................. 11
Basic Pay............................................................................................................................ 12
Special and Incentive Pays .................................................................................................. 13
Allowances ......................................................................................................................... 13
Medical Care ...................................................................................................................... 13
Dental Care......................................................................................................................... 13
Life Insurance ..................................................................................................................... 14
Commissary and Exchange Privileges ................................................................................. 14
Retirement .......................................................................................................................... 14
9. How Are Reservists Called to Active Duty by the Federal Government? How Often
Does this Happen? After Activation, How Long Can They Be Required to Serve on
Active Duty?.......................................................................................................................... 15
Presidential Reserve Call-up (PRC)..................................................................................... 16
Partial Mobilization ............................................................................................................ 16
Full Mobilization ................................................................................................................ 17
Recall of Retired Reservists ................................................................................................ 18
10. What Type of Pay, Benefits, and Legal Protections Are Provided to Reservists
Mobilized for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom? ...................... 18
11. Are There Other Ways in Which Members of the National Guard Can Be Activated? ........... 19
12. What Type of Legal Protections Do Reservists Have When They Are Serving on
Active Duty? What Re-employment Rights Do Reservists Have after Being Released
from Active Duty? ................................................................................................................. 20
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Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers
13. Has Congress Made Any Recent Changes in Pay and Benefits for Reserve
Component Personnel?........................................................................................................... 22
Premium-based Access to Tricare for Non-Activated Reservists and their Families.............. 23
New Educational Benefit for Activated Reservists............................................................... 23
Reserve Educational Assistance Program ...................................................................... 24
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act .............................................................. 25
Financial Losses for Some Mobilized Reservists ................................................................. 28
Income Replacement for Certain Reserve Component Personnel ................................... 28
Differential Pay for Mobilized Federal Employees ........................................................ 29
Reducing the Age at Which Certain Reservists Can Draw Retired Pay................................. 29
Tables
Table 1. Personnel Strength of the Ready Reserve as of September 30, 2009 ............................... 5
Table 2. Full Time Support Personnel as of September 30, 2009 .................................................. 7
Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 30
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Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers
1. What Is the Reserve Component? What Is Its
Role?
The term “Reserve Component” (RC) is used to refer collectively to the seven individual reserve
components of the armed forces: the Army National Guard of the United States, the Army
Reserve, the Navy Reserve,1 the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air National Guard of the United
States, the Air Force Reserve, and the Coast Guard Reserve. The purpose of these seven reserve
components, as codified in law, is to “provide trained units and qualified persons available for
active duty in the armed forces, in time of war or national emergency, and at such other times as
the national security may require, to fill the needs of the armed forces whenever more units and
persons are needed than are in the regular components.”2 The Army National Guard and the Air
National Guard also have a state role: In addition to the role of providing trained units and
personnel to the armed forces of the United States, they also assist the states in responding to
various emergencies, such as disasters and civil disorders. (For more information on the
difference between the National Guard and other reserve components, see “5. What Is the
Difference Between the “Reserves” and the “National Guard”?” and “11. Are There Other Ways
in Which Members of the National Guard Can Be Activated?”)
2. What Are the Different Categories of Reservists?
All reservists, whether they are in the Reserves or the National Guard,3 are assigned to one of
three major reserve categories: the Ready Reserve, the Standby Reserve, or the Retired Reserve.
Reservists who are assigned to the Ready Reserve are further assigned to one of its three sub-
components: the Selected Reserve, the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), or the Inactive National
Guard (ING). The differences between each of these categories are explained below.
The Ready Reserve
The Ready Reserve is the primary manpower pool of the reserve components. Members of the
Ready Reserve will usually be called to active duty before members of the Standby Reserve4 or
1 The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2006 (P.L. 109-163, section 515) changed the name of the Naval
Reserve to the Navy Reserve.
2 10 U.S.C. 10102. The language was changed by P.L. 108-375, the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization
Act for FY2005. Prior to this change, the language was as follows: “The purpose of each reserve component is to
provide trained units and qualified persons available for active duty in the armed forces, in time of war or national
emergency, and at such other times as the national security may require, to fill the needs of the armed forces whenever,
during and after the period needed to procure and train additional units and qualified persons to achieve the planned
mobilization, more units and persons are needed than are in the regular components.” The change in statutory language,
as explained in a House Armed Services Committee report, would “clarify that the purpose of the reserve components
is to provide trained units and qualified personnel not just as the result of involuntary mobilizations but whenever more
units and persons are needed than are in the active component. The revision recommended by this section more
accurately reflects recent and future employments of the reserve components.” H.Rept. 108-491, p. 316.
3 For a discussion of the distinction between the Reserves and the National Guard, see questions 5 and 11.
4 Units and members of the Standby Reserve may be involuntarily ordered to active duty under the provisions of 10
USC 12301(a) [see Question 9, Full Mobilization, for a description of this authority]; however, 10 USC 12306(b)
(continued...)
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the Retired Reserve. The Ready Reserve is made up of the Selected Reserve, the Individual
Ready Reserve, and the Inactive National Guard, each of which is described below.
The Selected Reserve
The Selected Reserve contains those units and individuals within the Ready Reserve designated
as so essential to initial wartime missions that they have priority over all other Reserves.5
Members of the Selected Reserve are generally required to perform one weekend of training each
month (“inactive duty for training” or IDT, also known colloquially as “weekend drill”) and two
weeks of training each year (“annual training” or AT, sometimes known colloquially as “summer
camp”) for which they receive pay and benefits. Some members of the Selected Reserve perform
considerably more military duty than this, while others may only be required to perform the two
weeks of annual training each year or other combinations of time.6 Members of the Selected
Reserve can be involuntarily ordered to active duty under a “Presidential Reserve Call Up,” a
“Partial Mobilization,” or a “Full Mobilization.” (See “9. How Are Reservists Called to Active
Duty by the Federal Government? How Often Does this Happen? After Activation, How Long
Can They Be Required to Serve on Active Duty?” for more information on mobilization
authorities.)
The Individual Ready Reserve
The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is a manpower pool of individuals who have already
received military training, either in the Active Component or in the Selected Reserve.7 Members
of the IRR may be required to perform regular training, although DOD has not implemented such
a requirement since the 1950s. Members of the IRR can volunteer for training or active duty
assignments, and they can also be involuntarily ordered to active duty under a Partial
Mobilization or a Full Mobilization; there is also a category of the IRR that can be activated
during a Presidential Reserve Call-up, but at present there is no one assigned to this category.
(See “9. How Are Reservists Called to Active Duty by the Federal Government? How Often Does
this Happen? After Activation, How Long Can They Be Required to Serve on Active Duty?” for
more information on mobilization authorities). There is no IRR in the Army National Guard or
the Air National Guard, although there is an analogous category known as the Inactive National
Guard (see “The Inactive National Guard,” immediately below).
(...continued)
specifies that “No unit in the Standby Reserve organized to serve as a unit or any member thereof may be ordered to
active duty under section 12301(a) of this title, unless the Secretary concerned, with the approval of the Secretary of
Defense in the case of a Secretary of a military department, determines that there are not enough of the required kinds
of units in the Ready Reserve that are readily available.” A similar provision applies to members of the Standby
Reserve not assigned to a unit.
5 Department of Defense Instruction 1215.06, Uniform Reserve, Training and Retirement Categories, February 7, 2007
(Incorporating Change 2, December 24, 2008), 29.
6 For example, members of the Selected Reserve—especially in the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard—
often volunteer to perform extra duty, while some members of the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) program
may only perform two-weeks of training per year. Other members of the IMA program may be required to perform IDT
training as well, but typically perform it during weekdays rather than on weekends.
7 Department of Defense Instruction 1215.06, 32.
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The Inactive National Guard
The Inactive National Guard (ING) is made up of those members of the Army National Guard
who are in an inactive status (currently there is no ING for the Air National Guard). They are not
required to participate in training as are members of the Selected Reserve; however, they are
assigned to a specific National Guard unit and are required to meet with the unit once a year.8
Members of the ING can be involuntarily ordered to active duty if the unit they are attached to is
ordered to active duty. As all National Guard units are considered to be part of the Selected
Reserve, this means that members of the ING can be involuntarily ordered to active duty under a
Presidential Reserve Call Up, a Partial Mobilization, or a Full Mobilization. (See “9. How Are
Reservists Called to Active Duty by the Federal Government? How Often Does this Happen?
After Activation, How Long Can They Be Required to Serve on Active Duty?” for more
information on mobilization authorities.) The ING is, for practical purposes, the National Guard
equivalent of the IRR.
The Standby Reserve
The Standby Reserve contains those individuals who have a temporary disability or hardship and
those who hold key defense related positions in their civilian jobs.9 While in the Standby Reserve,
reservists are not required to participate in military training and are subject to involuntary
activation only in the case of a Full Mobilization. (See “9. How Are Reservists Called to Active
Duty by the Federal Government? How Often Does this Happen? After Activation, How Long
Can They Be Required to Serve on Active Duty?” for more information on mobilization
authorities.)
The Retired Reserve
The Retired Reserve includes (1) Reserve officers and enlisted personnel who are receiving
retired pay as a result of their reserve and/or active service; and (2) Reserve officers and enlisted
personnel who transfer into the Retired Reserve after qualifying for reserve retirement, but before
becoming eligible to receive retired pay (which normally occurs at age 60). Regular officers and
enlisted personnel who are receiving retired pay are not included in the Retired Reserve.
Members of the Retired Reserve may be involuntarily ordered to active duty in the event of a Full
Mobilization, and some members of the Retired Reserve may be ordered to active duty in the
event of a recall of retirees. (See “9. How Are Reservists Called to Active Duty by the Federal
Government? How Often Does this Happen? After Activation, How Long Can They Be Required
to Serve on Active Duty?” for more information on mobilization authorities.)
8 Department of Defense Instruction 1215.06, 33.
9 Department of Defense Instruction 1215.06, 33.
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3. How Many People Are in the Reserve
Components?
As of September 30, 2009, the total personnel strength of the Ready Reserve reported by DOD
was 1,079,627. This figure is broken down by service and category of reservist in Table 1. In
addition, there were another 25,808 members of the Standby Reserve and 707,060 members of
the Retired Reserve, although these categories of reservists are much less likely to be mobilized
than Ready Reservists. Additionally, a substantial percentage of the Retired Reserve would likely
be unable to mobilize due to age and fitness.
It is worth noting that the FY2009 personnel strength of the Selected Reserve for the Army
National Guard stabilized at roughly its authorized end strength for FY2010, capping a
remarkable turnaround of its personnel strength over the past seven years. From the end of
FY2003 to the end of FY2005, the Army National Guard’s Selected Reserve strength dropped
from 351,089 to 333,177. By the end of FY2007 this had increased to 352,707 (a figure slightly
above its FY2007 authorized end-strength of 350,000), and by the end of FY2008 it had increased
to 360,351 (nearly 3% above its FY2008 authorized end-strength of 351,300). While its FY2009
actual strength was significantly above its FY2009 authorized strength of 352,600, it is quite
close to its FY2010 authorized end-strength of 358,200.
A similar turnaround in personnel strength also occured in the Army Reserve. From the end of
FY2003 to the end of FY2005, the Army Reserve’s Selected Reserve strength dropped from
211,890 to 189,005. This was followed by two years in which the decline was halted, but little
progress was made towards restoring the lost strength. However, in FY2008 the Army Reserve
made a substantial improvement, increasing its end-strength by over 7,000 and allowing it to
achieve 96% of its authorized end-strength of 205,000. By the end of FY2009, the Army Reserve
was slightly above its authorized end-strength, for the first time in five years.
Personnel strength in the Navy Reserve has declined for the past six years, and personnel strength
in the Air Force Reserve declined in the FY2006-2008 timeframe, but these declines have been
consistent with service plans to reduce the size of these organizations.10
10 The reduction in Navy Reserve strength was initiated by a 2003 review of Navy Reserve manpower requirements in
light of the changing military environment and military requirements. This review, which recommended reducing the
Navy Reserve by roughly 16,000 Selected Reserve positions, was approved by the Chief of Naval Operations in August
2004. U.S. Government Accountability Office, Force Structure: Assessments of Navy Reserve Manpower Requirements
Need to Consider Most Cost-effective Mix of Active and Reserve Manpower to Meet Mission Needs, GAO-06-125,
October 2005, pp. 5-6, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06125.pdf. The reduction in Air Force Reserve strength began
in FY2006. Air Force budget documents variously characterize this reduction as related to active/reserve rebalancing,
recapitalization efforts, and active-reserve integration. See Air Force Reserve Budget Estimates (Reserve Personnel,
Air Force) for FY2006 (p. 6), FY2007 (p. 8), FY2008 (p. 7), and FY2009 (p. 8), available at
http://www.saffm.hq.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080204-074.pdf. The Air Force Reserve reportedly plans to
increase its personnel strength by 4,256 over the next three years. Sam LaGrone, "Air Force Reserve plans to add 4,000
airmen," Air Force Times, February 3, 2009, available at
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/02/airforce_reserve_expansion_020309/.
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Table 1. Personnel Strength of the Ready Reserve as of September 30, 2009
Individual Ready
Reserve/ Inactive
Total
Selected
Reserve
National Guard
Ready Reserve
Army National Guard
358,391
4,734
363,125
Army Reserve
205,297
76,972
282,269
Navy Reserve
66,508
42,763
109,271
Marine Corps Reserve
38,510
56,689
95,199
Air National Guard
109,196
0
109,196
Air Force Reserve
67,986
43,182
111,168
Coast Guard Reserve
7,693
1,706
9,399
Total
853,581 226,046
1,079,627
Source: Data provided by the Department of Defense.
4. What Does “Full-time Support” Mean? What Are
the Different Categories of Full-time Support for the
Reserve Components?
Reserve units are primarily filled by “traditional” reservists: members of the Selected Reserve
who are usually required to work one weekend a month and two weeks a year. However, most
reserve units are also staffed by one or more full-time civilian and/or military employees. These
employees, known as full-time support (FTS) personnel, are “assigned to organize; administer;
instruct; recruit and train; maintain supplies, equipment and aircraft; and perform other functions
required on a daily basis in the execution of operational missions and readiness preparations as
authorized in title 5, title 10, and title 32.”11
There are five types of FTS personnel: Active Guard & Reserve, Military Technician, Non-Dual
Status Technician, Active Component, and Civilian. The distinctions between each of these
categories are outlined below. The mix of FTS personnel in each of the reserve components (RC)
is intended “to optimize consistency and stability for each RC to achieve its assigned missions.”12
Table 2 provides a summary of FTS personnel strength, broken down by service and catergory, as
of September 30, 2009.
Active Guard and Reserve
Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) personnel are members of a Reserve Component who are
placed on active duty or full-time National Guard duty orders for a period of 180 consecutive
days or more for the purpose of “organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the
11 Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 1205.18, “Full Time Support (FTS) to the Reserve Components,” May 4,
2007, enclosure 2, paragraph E2.4.
12 DODI 1205.18, paragraph 4.2.
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reserve components.”13 They may also perform certain operational support duties, and certain
duties related to defense against weapons of mass destruction, as well as provide training to active
component personnel, DOD contractors, DOD civilians, and foreign military personnel.14
Although they are serving full-time, AGR personnel are still considered members of the Selected
Reserve. They are usually required to attend weekend drills and annual training with the reserve
unit to which they are assigned.
Depending on their branch of service, AGR personnel are referred to by different names. In the
Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve, they are
simply referred to as AGRs, an acronym for Active Guard and Reserve. In the Navy Reserve they
are referred to as TARs, an acronym for Training and Administration of Reserves. In the Coast
Guard Reserve, they are referred to as RPAs, an acronym for Reserve Program Administrators. In
the Marine Corps Reserve, they are known as Marine Corps Active Reserves or ARs.
Military Technicians
Military technicians (MTs) are federal civilian employees who provide support to reserve units,
either in the administration and training of reserve component units, or by maintaining and
repairing reserve component equipment and supplies.15 Some MTs may also perform certain
operational support duties and provide training to active component personnel, DOD contractors,
DOD civilians, and foreign military personnel.16 Unlike regular civilian employees, MTs are
generally required to maintain membership in the Selected Reserve as a condition of their
employment. These individuals are sometimes referred to as “dual-status military technicians,”
reflecting their status as both federal civilian employees and military reservists.17 They are
required to attend weekend drills and annual training with their reserve unit, which is usually the
same unit they work for as civilians during the weekday. Military technicians can be involuntarily
ordered to active duty in the same way as other members of the Selected Reserve (see “2. What
Are the Different Categories of Reservists?”). There are no MTs in the Navy Reserve, the Marine
Corps Reserve, or the Coast Guard Reserve.
Non-Dual Status Technicians
Non-dual status technicians (NDSTs) are civilian employees of the military departments serving
in military technician positions. They are referred to as “non-dual-status technicians” because
they are not members of the Selected Reserve and, hence, do not have a dual military/civilian
status like MTs.18 NDSTs perform the same functions as MTs, but cannot be involuntarily ordered
to active duty as they do not have a military status. There are no NDSTs in the Navy Reserve, the
Marine Corps Reserve, or the Coast Guard Reserve, and very few in the Air Force Reserve.
13 10 U.S.C. § 101(d)(6)(A). See also DODI 1205.18, 8.
1410 U.S.C. § 12310. AGR personnel can also serve “at headquarters responsible for reserve affairs, to participate in
preparing and administering the policies and regulations affecting those reserve components.” 10 U.S.C. § 10211. See
also DODI 1205.18, 8.
15 10 U.S.C. § 10216. See also DODI 1205.18, 8.
16 10 U.S.C. § 10216(a)(3)(C).
17 They are referred to as “military technicians (dual status)” in statute. See 10 U.S.C. § 10216.
18 10 U.S.C. § 10217. For more information on MTs and NDSTs, see CRS Report RL30487, Military Technicians: The
Issue of Mandatory Retirement for Non- Dual-Status Technicians, by Lawrence Kapp.
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Active Component
Active Component (AC) personnel are active-duty members of the military who “are assigned or
attached to Reserve component organizations or units by their respective Service to provide
advice, liaison, management, administration, training, and support.”19 Although they are formally
members of the Active Component, not the Reserve Component, AC personnel may deploy with
the reserve unit they are assigned to if the unit is mobilized.
Civilians
Civilians are federal civil service employees who “provide administration, training, maintenance,
and recruiting support to the Reserve components.”20 They are not required to hold membership
in the Selected Reserve as a condition of their employment, although some do so voluntarily.
Unless they are members of the reserve components, they cannot be involuntarily ordered to
active duty.
Table 2. Full Time Support Personnel as of September 30, 2009
Active Guard
Active
and Reserve
Techniciana
Component
Civilian
Total
Army National Guard
28,806
28,626
184
387
58,003
Army
Reserve
16,271 7,530
95 2,640 26,536
Navy Reserve
11,134
0
2,761
982
14,877
Marine Corps Reserve
2,199
0
4,405
227
6,831
Air
National
Guard
14,165 22,391
208 1,051 37,815
Air Force Reserve
2,657
9,147
710
3,438
15,952
Total
75,232 67,694 8,363 8,725
160,014
Source: Data provided by the Department of Defense
Notes: Data provided by the Department of Defense
a. Includes Dual Status and Non-Dual Status Technicians
5. What Is the Difference Between the “Reserves”
and the “National Guard”?
Although the term “reserves” is often used as a generic term to refer to all members of the seven
individual reserve components, there is an important distinction between the five reserve
components which are purely federal entities (the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps
Reserve, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve) and the two reserve components which
are both federal and state entities (the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard). In this
context, the purely federal reserve components are sometimes referred to collectively as the
19 DODI 1205.18, 8.
20 DODI 1205.18, 8.
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Reserves, while the dual federal/state reserve components are referred to collectively as the
National Guard.
The Reserves are of comparatively recent origin, having all been established in the 20th century.
They were organized under Congress’s constitutional authority “to raise and support Armies” and
“to provide and maintain a Navy.”21 The National Guard has a much longer historical pedigree. It
is descended from the colonial-era militias22 which existed prior to the adoption of the
Constitution. The Constitution does, however, contain provisions that recognize the existence of
the militia and that give the federal government a certain amount of control over it.23
Unlike the Reserves, which are exclusively federal organizations, the National Guard is usually
both a state and a federal organization. The National Guard of the United States is made up of 54
separate National Guard organizations: one for each state, and one for Puerto Rico, Guam, the
U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. While the District of Columbia National Guard
is an exclusively federal organization and operates under federal control at all times, the other 53
National Guards operate as state or territorial organizations most of the time. In this capacity,
each of these 53 organizations is identified by its state or territorial name (e.g., the California
National Guard or the Puerto Rico National Guard), and is controlled by its respective governor.
Due to their dual federal and state role, National Guardsmen can be called to duty in several
different ways (see “9. How Are Reservists Called to Active Duty by the Federal Government?
How Often Does this Happen? After Activation, How Long Can They Be Required to Serve on
Active Duty?”and “11. Are There Other Ways in Which Members of the National Guard Can Be
Activated?”) and the mode of activation has important implications for the pay, benefits, and legal
protections they receive (see “10. What Type of Pay, Benefits, and Legal Protections Are
Provided to Reservists Mobilized for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi
Freedom?” and “12. What Type of Legal Protections Do Reservists Have When They Are
Serving on Active Duty? What Re-employment Rights Do Reservists Have after Being Released
from Active Duty?”)
6. How Has the Role of the Reserve Components
Changed in Recent Years?
In 2000, Charles Cragin, a former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, summed up
the changing role of the reserve components in the following words: “The role of our Reserve
21 U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, clauses 12 and 13.
22 The colonial militia, which was derived from a longstanding English tradition and which required every able bodied
free male (though Native Americans and free blacks were frequently excluded) to participate in the common defense of
his town or locality, was the principal institution of colonial military power. Gradually, as the colonial population grew
and military threats waned, a distinction arose between the unorganized militia (those members of the militia who were
potentially liable for military service but who did not actively participate in military training) and the organized militia
(those members of the militia who regularly trained for war and who responded first to military threats). Today, the
U.S. Code still recognizes the militia as consisting of “all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and ... under 45
years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of
female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.” (10 USC 311) This provision of the law
further divides the militia into the organized militia and the unorganized militia, and declares the National Guard and
the Naval Militia to be the organized militia. At present New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Alaska have active Naval
Militias.
23 See U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8, clauses 15 and 16, and Article II, Section 2, clause 1.
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forces is changing in the United States. We have seen their traditional role, which was to serve as
manpower replacements in the event of some cataclysmic crisis, utterly transformed. They are no
longer serving as the force of last resort, but as vital contributors on a day-to-day basis around the
world.”24 His comments, well supported by historical data at the time he made them, became even
more apt given the large reserve mobilization that has occurred since the September 11 terrorist
attack on the United States.
During the cold war era, the reserve components were a manpower pool that was rarely tapped.
For example, from 1945 to 1989, reservists were involuntarily activated for federal service25 only
four times, an average of less than once per decade. These activations occurred only during
wartime and national emergencies: the Korean War (1950-1953; 857,877 reservists involuntarily
activated), the Berlin Crisis (1961-62; 148,034 reservists involuntarily activated), the Cuban
Missile Crisis (1962; 14,200 reservists involuntarily activated), and the Vietnam War/U.S.S.
Pueblo Crisis (1968-69; 37,643 reservists involuntarily activated).
Since the end of the cold war, however, the nation has relied more heavily on the reserve
components. Since 1990, reservists have been involuntarily activated for federal service six times,
an average of once every three years. Some of these activations have been directly related to war
or armed conflict: for example, the Persian Gulf War (1990-91; 238,729 reservists involuntarily
activated), the low-intensity conflict with Iraq26 (1998-2003; 6,108 reservists involuntarily
activated), and current military operations—Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring
Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom—to enhance homeland security, destroy terrorist
networks, and stabilize Iraq,27 respectively (2001-present; 776,416 reservists involuntarily and
voluntarily activated as of July 13, 2010).28 Other activations have been in support of missions
24 Charles L. Cragin, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, remarks printed in The Officer, September
2000, 34.
25 This category excludes those who served on active duty under voluntary orders or annual training order and excludes
members of the National Guard serving in a state status (see question 11). Additionally, with the exception of those
mobilized in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it excludes involuntary activations of reservists for
domestic reasons, such as responding to civic disorders.
26 In the aftermath of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the United States maintained a substantial military presence in the
region in order to enforce the terms of the cease-fire agreements. The United States used this military force to compel
Iraqi compliance with the terms of the cease fire agreements on a number of occasions. One of the most significant
U.S. confrontations with Iraq began in late 1997, in response to Iraqi interference in the conduct of U.N. weapons
inspections. As tensions with Iraq mounted, the United States began to build up its forces in the Gulf region.
Subsequently, a nearly constant low-intensity air war took place in and over Iraq: Iraqi anti-aircraft weapons fired on
U.S. and allied aircraft; the allies responded by bombarding these and other military targets. On February 24, 1998,
President Clinton ordered a Presidential Reserve Call-up (which is the activation of reservists under Title 10, Section
12304 of the United States Code; for more information on this authority, see Question 9). The first reservists called
under this authority entered active duty on March 1, 1998. This low-intensity conflict with Iraq changed to a high-
intensity conflict on March 20, 2003, with the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On May 1, 2003, all
operations associated with the low-intensity conflict—such as Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern
Watch—became part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since then, reservists involuntarily activated for operations related to
Iraq have been ordered to active duty under the post-September 11, 2001, Partial Mobilization (for more information on
mobilization authorities, see Question 9).
27 Operation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homeland security and support to federal,
state, and local agencies in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Operation Enduring Freedom includes ongoing
operations in Afghanistan, operations against terrorists in other countries, and training assistance to foreign militaries
which are conducting operations against terrorists. Operation Iraqi Freedom includes both the invasion of Iraq and the
subsequent counterinsurgency and rebuilding operations.
28 On June 10, 2008, the Department of Defense changed their methodology for reporting reserve activations. Prior to
that date, the report was based only on involuntary mobilizations under 10 USC 12302. Additionally, the old report
(continued...)
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that were primarily peacekeeping and nation-building, such as the intervention in Haiti (1994-
1996; 6,250 reservists involuntarily activated) and the Bosnian peacekeeping mission (1995-
2004; 31,553 reservists involuntarily activated).29 The ongoing Kosovo mission (1999-present;
11,485 reservists involuntarily activated through 2003; no available data since then) has been a
combination of armed conflict and peacekeeping.30
It is important to point out that—except for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi
Freedom—this tally of activations refers only to instances where reservists were involuntarily
ordered into active federal service. It does not encompass the many instances where reservists
have served on active duty under voluntary orders or annual training orders or, for members of
the National Guard, service under state authority (see “11. Are There Other Ways in Which
Members of the National Guard Can Be Activated?” for more information on “state active duty”
and duty under Title 32 of the U.S. Code).
Data from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs (OASD/RA) sheds
more light on the growing contribution of reservists to federal missions. According to OASD/RA,
reservists contributed about 1 million “man-days” per year to their respective services between
fiscal years 1986 and 1989. This contribution increased since then to the point where reservists
contributed about 13 million days of work per year between fiscal years 1996 and 2001. With the
large mobilization of reservists in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and
Iraqi Freedom, reservists contributed about 41.3 million days of work in FY2002 to a peak of
68.3 million days in FY2005. This metric dropped to 61.3 million days in FY2006 and 45.8
million days in FY2007, but it still represents a vastly higher level of activity than occurred in the
cold war era.31 The continuing mobilization of reservists to participate in these operations,
probably for many years to come, lends further support to the idea that the Reserve Component
has been transformed from a “force of last resort” in the cold war era into an integrated part of the
military services in the post-cold war era; this process has also been referred to as the
transformation of the reserve component from a “strategic reserve” to an “operational reserve.”
(...continued)
counted the total number of involuntary mobilization actions rather than the total number of individuals mobilized.
Thus, reservists who had been mobilized twice were counted twice. Since that date, the report has been modified to
include those who have been activated voluntarily under 10 USC 12301(d) and those reservists who have been
activated involuntarily under 10 USC 12302 or 10 USC 12304, and retirees who have been recalled under 10 USC 688.
Additionally, the report is based on Social Security Number, so that an individual who was activated twice is only
counted once. Between September 11, 2001 and July 13, 2010, a total of 776,416 reservists (which includes the
National Guard) have served under voluntary or involuntary federal orders for ONE, OEF, and OIF. Of these, 118,659
were serving on active duty on July 13, 2010, while 657,757 had completed their tours and been released from active
duty. Source: Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Reserve Affairs, Mobilization Weekly Report, July 13, 2010.
29 On December 1, 2004, the last U.S. peacekeeping troops left Bosnia, as NATO handed over the stabilization mission
to the European Union. However, a few hundred U.S. military personnel remain in Bosnia. Jim Garmone, American
Forces Press Service, “U.S. Peacekeepers Finish Bosnia Mission, Case Colors,” December 1, 2004. The remaining few
American military personnel in Bosnia may include some reservists mobilized under the authority of the Partial
Mobilization for ONE/OEF/OIF. Those figures were not available from DOD.
30 In 2003, DOD stopped using the Presidential Reserve Callup authority that had been used since 1999 to activate
reservists for Kosovo, and instead began using the broader Partial Mobilization authority used for ONE/OEF/OIF.
DOD was not able to provide a breakout of how many involuntary activations for Kosovo have occurred since 2003
under the Partial Mobilization authority.
31 Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Reserve Affairs, Employment of Reserve Component Forces & Effects
of Usage (A Profile of the Reserve Components: 1986-2007), 10.
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For more information on the history of reserve activations, see CRS Report RL30637,
Involuntary Reserve Activations For U.S. Military Operations Since World War II, by Lawrence
Kapp.
7. How Does the Posse Comitatus Act Affect Use of
the Reserve Components to Handle Domestic
Problems?
The Posse Comitatus Act (18 USC 1385), along with other related laws and administrative
provisions, prohibits the use of the military to execute civilian laws unless expressly authorized
by the Constitution or an act of Congress. As a part of the military, the reserve components are
generally covered under these provisions and thus are restricted in the same way that active
component forces are. However, there are important exceptions to this general rule.
First, Congress has made a number of exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act which permit
military involvement in law enforcement. For example, Congress has enacted several statutes
which authorize the President to use military forces to suppress insurrections and domestic
violence.32 If these statutes were to be invoked, the President could use the reserve components in
the same way as active component forces to put down a rebellion or to control domestic violence.
Another important exception relates to the Coast Guard, which Congress has vested with broad
law enforcement authority.33 Under these statutory provisions, the Coast Guard Reserve can
participate, like its active counterpart, in the enforcement of maritime, customs, and certain other
federal laws.
Second, when acting in its capacity as the organized militia of a state, the National Guard is not
part of the federal military and thus is not covered by the Posse Comitatus Act. Only when it is
called into federal service does the National Guard become subject to the act. As such, the
National Guard can be used by state authorities to enforce the law. For example, while acting in a
state capacity, the National Guard has been used for riot control and counter-drug activities. More
recently, it was used to provide increased security at airports throughout the country in the
aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks and to assist with security and disaster relief
missions in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
For more information on the Posse Comitatus Act see CRS Report RS20590, The Posse
Comitatus Act and Related Matters: A Sketch, by Jennifer K. Elsea.
8. What Type of Pay and Benefits Do Reservists
Receive for Reserve Duty?
This section focuses primarily on the pay and benefits provided to participating members of the
Selected Reserve when they are not serving on active duty. In general, when reservists are
32 See 10 U.S.C. § 331-335.
33 See 14 U.S.C. § 2 and § 89.
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ordered to federal active duty for more than 30 days they receive pay and benefits virtually
identical to those of active duty personnel, although there are some exceptions.34 When ordered to
active duty for a period of 30 days or less, they receive most, but not all, of the pay and benefits
that active duty personnel receive.35 Additionally, reservists who are not on active duty receive a
different set of pay and benefits when they are serving in a reserve component category other than
the Selected Reserve,36 and members of the National Guard receive a different set of pay and
benefits when they are serving full-time in a state status.37
Basic Pay
Members of the Selected Reserve are generally required to work one weekend a month (called
inactive duty for training or IDT; also known colloquially as “weekend drill”) and two weeks per
year (called annual training or AT; also known colloquially as “summer camp”). They are paid for
this work according to the same basic pay table used for their active duty counterparts. This table
is based on both rank and years of service. Thus, reservists and active duty personnel of the same
rank and the same longevity fall into the same category for basic pay. However, reservists and
active duty personnel do not always accrue credit for a day of pay in the same manner.
During AT, reservists receive one day of basic pay for each day of duty, just as active duty
personnel receive one day of basic pay for each day of duty. Thus, for a typical two week long
AT, a reservist receives 14 days of pay. However, during IDT reservists receive one day of pay for
each unit training assembly (UTA) they attend. A UTA is generally a four-hour period of
instruction, and there are usually four UTAs per drill weekend. Thus, for each two-day long drill
weekend reservists receive the equivalent of four days of basic pay. During a typical year then, a
reservist might work 38 days (14 days of annual training plus 24 days of IDT) but receive the
equivalent of 62 days’ worth of basic pay (14 days of pay for annual training and 48 days of pay
for IDT).
34 For example, one area in which benefits are not identical is re-enlistment bonuses. Reservists serving on active duty
who are eligible for a re-enlistment bonus may receive a maximum bonus of $15,000 (37 U.S.C. 308b), as opposed to a
maximum bonus of $90,000 for active duty re-enlistment bonuses (37 U.S.C. 308). However, the reserve bonus is
provided to the individual in exchange for continued reserve service, while the active duty bonus is provided in
exchange for continued active duty service. Another example, which is beneficial to reservists, concerns certain types
of compensation for health care officers (specifically, the special pay provided by 37 USC 302, 302a, 302b, 302c, 302e,
and 303). While active component health care officers must sign a written agreement to serve for at least one year in
order to receive these types of compensation, 37 USC 302f waives this requirement for reserve officers on active duty
under a call or order to active duty of more than 30 days but less than one year, and in certain other circumstances.
35 For example, they do not receive medical coverage for their families unless they have enrolled in the new premium-
based Tricare insurance program (see question 13). Additionally, those serving 30 days or less typically receive a
housing allowance known as BAH-II, which is generally lower than the normal Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH);
however, these individuals receive the normal BAH if they are serving in support of a contingency operation such as
Operation Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom (see 37 USC 403(g)).
36 Members of the Selected Reserve receive the most generous package of pay and benefits, although Retired
Reservists—whose retirement pay and benefits are deferred compensation for at least twenty years of active and/or
reserve service—receive superior benefits in some respects. Members of the Individual Ready Reserve and the Standby
Reserve are generally not paid and are eligible for only a few benefits.
37 See questions 10-12.
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Special and Incentive Pays
Depending on the type of duty they are performing, reservists may also be eligible for special and
incentive pays, such as diving duty pay, hazardous duty pay, aviation career incentive pay, foreign
language proficiency pay and others. Although there are some exceptions, reservists are generally
eligible for special and incentive pays during AT under the same conditions as active component
personnel. Depending on the entitlement criteria, they may receive the full monthly amount of a
given pay regardless of the number of days served, or they may receive a pro-rated portion of the
full monthly amount corresponding to the number of days served. During IDT, reservists are
generally eligible for special and incentive pays at a rate of one-thirtieth of the monthly rate for
each UTA.
Allowances
During AT, but not during IDT, reservists may be eligible for a housing allowance known as Basic
Allowance for Housing II (BAH-II), which is generally lower than the normal Basic Allowance
for Housing (BAH), and for a subsistence allowance known as Basic Allowance for Subsistence
(BAS). Reserve officers are also entitled to a $400 clothing allowance at the beginning of their
reserve service to assist them in purchasing necessary uniform items. Furthermore, if they are
called to active duty for more than 90 days, they are usually entitled to an additional $200
clothing allowance. Reserve enlisted personnel are typically issued all of their uniforms, shoes,
boots, and insignia and therefore do not receive any clothing allowance; however, they may be
eligible for a clothing allowance if required uniform items are not provided to them.38
Medical Care
Until recently, non-activated reservists have had limited access to Tricare, the military health care
system. Specifically, they were entitled to treatment at a military medical facility for illnesses or
injuries incurred or aggravated during IDT or AT, or while traveling directly to or from their IDT
or AT duty station. Family members of reservists have generally not been entitled to military
medical care during either IDT or AT, but became eligible if the reservist was ordered to active
duty for more than 30 days. All of these provisions are still in effect today, but the 108th and 109th
Congress passed several provisions which provide premium-based access to Tricare for non-
activated reservists and their families. These provisions are discussed in more detail later in this
report (see “13. Has Congress Made Any Recent Changes in Pay and Benefits for Reserve
Component Personnel?”).
Dental Care
Members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve are eligible to enroll in a dental
plan known as the Tricare Dental Program (TDP), provided they have at least 12 months of
service remaining. The annual premium for the program is about $153 for a member of the
Selected Reserve, and about $380 for members of the Individual Ready Reserve. In return, TDP
provides up to $1,200 of coverage per year, per beneficiary, towards basic dental care procedures
38 See Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapters 29 and 30,
http://www.defenselink.mil/comptroller/fmr/07a/index.html.
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including diagnostic, preventive and some restorative services, as well as some oral surgery and
emergency services. There is also a benefit for orthodontic services, which has a lifetime cap of
$1,500 per beneficiary. Members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve may also
enroll family members in the TDP, but doing so increases the annual premium by about $950 per
year.
Life Insurance
Members of the Selected Reserve are eligible to purchase up to $400,000 of life insurance under
the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program. The major benefits of this program
are its relatively low cost and its guarantee of payment even if death occurs as a result of combat
action (something private insurers do not always provide). Reservists who participate in SGLI can
also purchase up to $100,000 of life insurance for their spouses and are provided with $10,000 of
life insurance coverage per child at no cost.
Commissary and Exchange Privileges
Members of the Selected Reserve and their family members have unlimited access to the
commissary, a system of subsidized military supermarkets.39 Members of the Selected Reserve
and their family members also have unlimited access to the military exchange system, a system of
military department stores.
Retirement
Members of the Selected Reserve become eligible for retirement after 20 years of qualifying
service. A year of qualifying service is defined as a year in which a reservist has earned at least 50
“retirement points.” Reservists earn 15 retirement points per year simply for being a member of
the Selected Reserve, one point for each unit training assembly (UTA), one point for each day of
annual training (AT), and one point for each day of active duty. Points can also be earned for
completing certain military correspondence or distance learning courses and for performing
funeral honors duty. Earning 50 points in a given year is usually not difficult for members of the
Selected Reserve, as attending all weekend drills and two weeks of annual training will generate
77 retirement points.40 Point totals are also important because they are used to calculate retired
pay (see below). Excluding points earned while in an active duty status (which includes annual
training), reservists may not earn more than 130 points per year.41 Additionally, including points
39 Unlimited access to the commissary for members of the Selected Reserve and their family members was included in
the FY2004 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 108-136, section 651). Prior to that, members of the Selected
Reserve and their family members were limited to 24 visits per year.
40 Fifteen points for “reserve membership,” 48 points for attending 48 unit training assemblies during weekend drill,
and 14 points for attending a two-week long Annual Training.
41 The annual point “cap” has changed over time. Excluding points earned while in an active duty status, a reservists
could not earn more than: 60 in any one year of service before the year of service that includes September 23, 1996; 75
in the year of service that includes September 23, 1996, and in any subsequent year of service before the year of service
that includes October 30, 2000; 90 in the year of service that includes October 30, 2000 and in any subsequent year of
service before the year of service that includes October 30, 2007; and 130 in the year of service that includes October
30, 2007, and subsequent years. See 10 USC 12733. The increase to 130 points per year was included in section 648 of
the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2008.
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earned while in an active duty status, reservists may not earn more than 365 points in a year (366
in a leap year).
After completing 20 years of qualifying service, a reservist may apply for retirement. Upon
retirement, but before reaching the retired pay eligibility age, a reservist is entitled to a limited
number of benefits, including unlimited use of the military exchange, commissary system, and
other military facilities, and space available travel on military aircraft within the United States
and its territories. Upon reaching the retired pay eligibility age—which can range between 50 and
60 depending on how many days of certain types of duty the reservist performed during his
career42—the retired reservist is eligible to receive retired pay. At age 60, the retired reservist is
entitled to benefits identical to those of active duty retirees, including space-available travel on
military aircraft throughout the world and access to military medical care.
Retired pay is calculated by totaling all the points earned during all the years of service and then
dividing this sum by 360. This calculation produces the number of “equivalent years” of active
duty service the reservist has performed. The number of “equivalent years” is then multiplied by
2.5% to determine the “retirement benefit multiplier.” This multiplier is then applied to an amount
based on the monthly base pay earned by an active duty service member with similar rank and
years of service.43
For example, a reservist who accrues 2,500 points over the course of 20 qualifying years would
be deemed to have completed the equivalent of 6.94 years of active service (2,500 divided by
360). This figure, when multiplied by 2.5%, produces a multiplier of 17.3%. Assuming that the
basic pay for an active duty service-member with similar rank and longevity was $3,000 per
month, the reservist would be entitled to retired pay in the amount of $519 per month (17.3% of
$3,000).
9. How Are Reservists Called to Active Duty by the
Federal Government? How Often Does this
Happen? After Activation, How Long Can They Be
Required to Serve on Active Duty?
At present, there are three major statutory provisions by which reservists can be involuntarily
ordered to active duty by the federal government for an extended period of time.44 (For a
discussion of additional ways in which members of the National Guard can be called up in a non-
federal status, see “11. Are There Other Ways in Which Members of the National Guard Can Be
Activated?”) These provisions differ from each other in terms of the statutory requirements for
42 This is a recent change in the law, based on section 647 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2008.
Previously, reservists became eligible for retired pay at age 60. See Question 13 for more information.
43 For reservists who entered the military before September 8, 1980, the amount is the same as the base pay rate of an
active duty service member with the same rank and years of service. For reservists who entered military service on or
after that date, the amount is the average of the highest 36 months of basic pay he or she would have been entitled to on
active duty.
44 There is also a statutory provision, 10 U.S.C. 12301(b), which allows the Secretary of a military department to
involuntarily order reservists to active duty “for not more than 15 days per year.”
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utilization, the number and type of reservists called up, and the duration of the call up. Depending
on which of these provisions is used, a reserve activation is commonly referred to as either a
Presidential Reserve Call-up (PRC), a Partial Mobilization, or a Full Mobilization. There is also a
special provision for the recall of retired reservists. Each of these authorities is detailed below.
Presidential Reserve Call-up (PRC)
Section 12304 of Title 10 U.S.C. permits the President to authorize the involuntarily activation of
members of the Selected Reserve and the Individual Ready Reserve for a period not to exceed
365 days.45 Under this authority, up to 200,000 members of the Selected Reserve and the
Individual Ready Reserve “mobilization category”—a sub-component of the Individual Ready
Reserve which is currently not being used46—may serve on active duty at one time. The President
may activate reservists under this provision of law without approval from Congress; however, he
is required to notify Congress within 24 hours of such an action. This authority was used to
mobilize reservists during the earlier part of the Persian Gulf War (1990-91), during the
intervention in Haiti (1994-1996), during the Bosnian peacekeeping mission (1995-2004), during
the low-intensity conflict with Iraq47 (1998-2003), and during the earlier years of the Kosovo
conflict and peacekeeping mission (1999-present).48 Those activated under this authority may not
be used to enforce federal authority or to suppress insurrection; nor may they be used to provide
assistance to the federal government or the states for disaster response, unless responding to an
emergency involving the use or threatened use of weapons of mass destruction or an actual or
threatened terrorist attack of significant proportions.49
Partial Mobilization
In time of a national emergency declared by the President, or when otherwise authorized in law,
section 12302 of Title 10 U.S.C. permits the Service Secretaries50 to authorize the involuntary
45 Section 522, P.L. 109-364, the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for FY2007, expanded this call-up
period from 270 to 365 days.
46 The law specifies that the only members of the Individual Ready Reserve who may be activated under a PRC are
those individuals who belong to “the Individual Ready Reserve mobilization category and designated as essential under
regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.” Further, 10 USC 10144(b) specifies that individuals may not be
placed in this mobilization category unless “(A) the member volunteers for that category; and (B) the member is
selected for that category by the Secretary concerned, based upon the needs of the service and the grade and military
skills of that member.” DOD has not made it a priority to fill this “mobilization category” and currently there are no
members assigned to it. Thus, the PRC authority is effectively limited to members of the Selected Reserve at present. If
this mobilization category were to be manned and used, the law limits the total number of IRR “mobilization category”
members on active duty at one time to 30,000.
47 See footnote 26.
48 Since 2003, reservists have been mobilized for the Kosovo mission under the Partial Mobilization Authority.
49 10 USC 12304(b) and (c). The authority to use those activated under a PRC for domestic response missions was
expanded by section 1076(c) of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for FY2007 (P.L. 109-364);
however, this provision was repealed by section 1068(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2008 (P.L.
110-181).
50 Section 12302 of Title 10 U.S.C. states “In time of national emergency declared by the President after January 1,
1953, or when otherwise authorized by law, an authority designated by the Secretary concerned may, without the
consent of the persons concerned, order any unit, and any member not assigned to a unit organized to serve as a unit, in
the Ready Reserve under the jurisdiction of that Secretary to active duty for not more than 24 consecutive months.” The
“Secretary concerned,” as defined in 10 USC 101(a)(9), is the Secretary of the Army with respect to the Army, the
Secretary of the Air Force with respect to the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy with respect to the Navy, Marine
(continued...)
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activation of members of the Ready Reserve under his or her jurisdiction for a period not to
exceed 24 consecutive months. Up to 1 million members of the Ready Reserve may serve on
active duty at any one time under this provision of law. Reservists may be mobilized under this
provision of law without approval from Congress. This authority was used to mobilize reservists
during the later part of the Persian Gulf War (1991) when the PRC authority was no longer
sufficient to activate the number of reservists needed. President George W. Bush also invoked this
authority in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; this authority has been
used to mobilize reservists for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.51
Full Mobilization
In time of war or national emergency declared by Congress, or when otherwise authorized by law,
section 12301(a) of Title 10 U.S.C. permits the Service Secretaries52 to authorize the involuntary
activation of any member of the reserve components under his or her jurisdiction. There is no
limit on the number of reservists which may be ordered to active duty under this provision and
mobilized reservists may be kept on active duty for the duration of the war or emergency plus six
months.
(...continued)
Corps, and Coast Guard (when it is operating as part of the Department of the Navy), and the Secretary of Homeland
Security with respect to the Coast Guard (when it is not operating as part of the Department of the Navy). Although the
law assigns authority to mobilize reservists to an official designated by “the Secretary concerned,” the President is
ultimately responsible for the decision to order reservists to active duty.
51 Until 2007, DOD’s general policy had been to mobilize reservists for no more than one year, while allowing the
Service Secretaries to keep reservists on active duty for up to 24 cumulative months if they were needed to meet
operational or other requirements. No reservist was allowed to serve beyond 24 cumulative months under the Partial
Mobilization authority. Army Reserve and National Guard units deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan were typically
mobilized for 18 months to provide for pre-deployment training, a one-year tour in theater, demobilization, and the
utilization of accrued leave prior to release from active duty. On January 19, 2007, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
established a new policy with respect to the exercise of Partial Mobilization in support of these operations. The new
policy specified that “from this point forward, involuntary mobilization for members of the Reserve Forces shall be for
a maximum of one year at a time. At service discretion, this period may exclude individual skill training required for
deployment and post-mobilization leave ... the planning objective for involuntary mobilization of Guard/Reserve units
will remain a one year mobilized to five year demobilized ratio. However, today’s global demands will require a
number of selected Guard/Reserve units to be remobilized sooner than this standard.” In practice, this new policy limits
reserve mobilizations to about 13 or 14 months at a time for the vast majority of reservists (the exception would be
those reservist who need lengthy individual skill training to become qualified in their occupational specialty prior to
deployment). Note, however, there is no longer a prohibition on serving more than 24 cumulative months under the
Partial Mobilization authority. This is consistent with the statutory language of 10 USC 12302, which only specifies a
24 consecutive month cap.
52 Section 12301(a) of Title 10 U.S.C. states “In time of war or of national emergency declared by the Congress, or
when otherwise authorized by law, an authority designated by the Secretary concerned may, without the consent of the
persons affected, order any unit, and any member not assigned to a unit organized to serve as a unit, of a reserve
component under the jurisdiction of that Secretary to active duty for the duration of the war or emergency and for six
months thereafter. However a member on an inactive status list or in a retired status may not be ordered to active duty
under this subsection unless the Secretary concerned, with the approval of the Secretary of Defense in the case of a
Secretary of a military department, determines that there are not enough qualified Reserves in an active status or in the
inactive National Guard in the required category who are readily available.” See footnote footnote 50 for the definition
of “Secretary concerned.” While the law assigns authority to mobilize reservists to an official designated by “the
Secretary concerned,” the President is ultimately responsible for the decision to order reservists to active duty.
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Recall of Retired Reservists
Members of the Retired Reserve can be involuntarily ordered to active duty in the case of a Full
Mobilization (see “Full Mobilization,” above). Under this authority, there is no limit on the
number of retired reservists who can be called to active duty, and they may be kept on active duty
for the duration of the war or emergency plus six months. Additionally, the Secretary of each
military department has the authority to involuntarily order certain members of the Retired
Reserve to active duty at any time, but this authority only applies to members of the Retired
Reserve who have a regular retirement (at least 20 years of active duty).53 There is a limit on the
amount of time recalled retirees can serve, and a limit on the number of officers recalled, but both
of these limits are waived in times of war or national emergency declared by the Congress or the
President.54
10. What Type of Pay, Benefits, and Legal
Protections Are Provided to Reservists Mobilized
for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and
Iraqi Freedom?
All reservists serving in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom are serving in a federal
status in support of a contingency operation. As such, they are entitled to pay, benefits, and legal
protections which are virtually identical to those provided to active duty servicemembers.
Specifically, they are entitled to basic pay at the same rate as active duty personnel and, if
qualified, may receive special and incentive pays including Hazardous Duty Pay, Aviation Career
Incentive Pay, Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay, and special pays for health professionals. They
are also entitled to a variety of allowances that are not taxable, including Basic Allowance for
Housing (BAH), Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), and, if separated from their families, a
Family Separation Allowance (FSA). Medical and dental coverage for these reservists and their
family members is virtually identical to that provided to active duty servicemembers, provided
the orders are for more than 30 days.55 Leave is accrued in the same manner as for active duty
personnel. They are also allowed to use legal assistance, child care centers, space available travel,
and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) services.56 Finally, they are protected by both the
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the
Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA). For more information on USERRA and SCRA, see
“12. What Type of Legal Protections Do Reservists Have When They Are Serving on Active
Duty? What Re-employment Rights Do Reservists Have after Being Released from Active
Duty?”
53 10 USC 688(b)(2).
54 10 U.S.C. 688 & 690.
55 Those servicemembers with orders for 30 days or less would be eligible for any illness or injury incurred in the line
of duty. However, their families would not be eligible for Tricare benefits unless they were enrolled in the new Tricare
Reserve Select program (see question 13).
56 However, as the families of activated reservists often do not live near the military bases where these services are
provided, taking advantage of these services may be difficult. Additionally, waiting lists can limit access to child care
services.
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The status of reservists serving in support of Operation Noble Eagle is more varied. Some have
been called up in a strictly federal status and are, therefore, receiving pay, benefits and legal
protections identical to those of reservists serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and
Iraqi Freedom. Certain members of the National Guard have been called up in a purely state
status, or under state control but with federal pay and benefits. They are receiving a different set
of pay, benefits, and protections. For more information on these distinctions, see “11. Are There
Other Ways in Which Members of the National Guard Can Be Activated?” and “12. What Type of
Legal Protections Do Reservists Have When They Are Serving on Active Duty? What Re-
employment Rights Do Reservists Have after Being Released from Active Duty?”
11. Are There Other Ways in Which Members of the
National Guard Can Be Activated?
Yes. Owing to the unique status of the National Guard as both a state and federal organization
(see “5. What Is the Difference Between the “Reserves” and the “National Guard”?”), they can be
called to active duty either in an exclusively federal status, in an exclusively state status, or under
state control with federal pay and benefits.
As members of the Reserve Component, National Guardsmen can be called to federal active duty
in the same way as other reservists (see “9. How Are Reservists Called to Active Duty by the
Federal Government? How Often Does this Happen? After Activation, How Long Can They Be
Required to Serve on Active Duty?”) When this happens, control passes from the governor of the
affected units and personnel to the President of the United States. When in federal service, Guard
units and personnel typically perform military training or participate in military operations and
they are entitled to the same pay, benefits, and legal protections as other reservists in federal
service.57
As members of the militia of their state or territory, National Guardsmen can also be called up by
their governor for full-time duty. When employed in this capacity, referred to as state active duty,
National Guardsmen are considered state or territorial employees, not federal employees, and
their pay and benefits are determined by state or territorial law. They are not eligible for
protection under the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act or the Uniformed Services Employment
and Reemployment Rights Act (see “12. What Type of Legal Protections Do Reservists Have
When They Are Serving on Active Duty? What Re-employment Rights Do Reservists Have after
Being Released from Active Duty?”), although they may be protected by analogous laws enacted
at the state level. Typical missions performed under state active duty include responding to
disasters and civil disorders. Additionally, shortly after September 11, 2001, some governors
called up members of the National Guard to protect critical infrastructure in their states, such as
nuclear power plants, water treatment facilities, and bridges, from potential terrorist attacks.
A third form of duty for National Guardsmen involves duty under state control but with pay and
benefits provided by the federal government. This is sometimes referred to as “Title 32 status” in
57 When they are ordered to federal active duty for more than 30 days, reservists receive benefits nearly identical to
service members on active duty. When ordered to active duty in for a period of 30 days or less, they receive most, but
not all, of the benefits which active duty personnel receive. (See questions 8 and 10 for more information on these
topics).
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reference to the part of the U.S. Code which governs this duty status. Typical duties performed in
this status include inactive duty for training (IDT or “weekend drill”) and annual training (AT)
within the United States. Another type of duty which falls in this category is specified in Title 32
of the U.S. Code, Section 502(f). This provision of law provides that “a member of the National
Guard may ... without his consent, but with the pay and allowances provided by law ... be ordered
to perform training or other duty in addition to that prescribed under subsection (a) [i.e., IDT or
AT].” 58 This is the provision of law which was used to provide federal pay and benefits to the
Guardsmen called up to provide security at many of the nation’s airports in the aftermath of the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005,
and for the southwest border security mission in 2006-2008. Guardsmen called up under this
authority receive federal pay and benefits, and are entitled to certain legal protections59 as though
they were in federal service, but they otherwise operate in a manner similar to state duty.
12. What Type of Legal Protections Do Reservists
Have When They Are Serving on Active Duty? What
Re-employment Rights Do Reservists Have after
Being Released from Active Duty?
When they are called into active federal service, reservists become eligible for a broad array of
legal protections. Many of these protections are contained in the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief
Act (SCRA, P.L. 108-189), which amended and renamed the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief
Act (SSCRA) of 1940.60 (Note, however, that National Guardsmen who are serving in a state
status are not covered by the SCRA. National Guardsmen performing full time National Guard
duty under Title 32 of the U.S. Code are covered by the SCRA in certain circumstances.61)
Among other things, the SCRA provides most people called to active duty with certain
protections against rental property evictions, mortgage foreclosures, insurance cancellations, and
government property seizures to pay tax bills. With the exception of federally guaranteed student
loans, it also limits the amount of interest that the activated service member has to pay on loans
58 32 U.S.C. § 502(f)(1). The training or duty ordered to be performed under this provision of law may include the
following: “(A)Support of operations or missions undertaken by the member's unit at the request of the President or
Secretary of Defense. (B) Support of training operations and training missions assigned in whole or in part to the
National Guard by the Secretary concerned, but only to the extent that such training missions and training operations--
(i) are performed in the United States or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or possessions of the United States; and (ii)
are only to instruct active duty military, foreign military (under the same authorities and restrictions applicable to active
duty troops), Department of Defense contractor personnel, or Department of Defense civilian employees.” 32 U.S.C. §
502(f)(2).
59 Specifically, they are entitled to protection under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights
Act (USERRA), but are only covered under the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA) if performing “service
under a call to active service authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense for a period of more than 30
consecutive days under Section 502(f) of Title 32, United States Code, for purposes of responding to a national
emergency declared by the President and supported by Federal funds” (P.L. 108-189, Sec. 101(2)(A)(ii), codified at 50
U.S.C. App. 511). Those not covered by the SCRA may, however, receive civil liability protection from state or
territorial laws.
60 50 USC App. 501 et. seq.
61 See footnote 59. See questions 5 and 11 for more information on non-federal status for National Guardsmen.
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incurred prior to activation to 6%.62 For a full description of the legal protections provided to
activated reservists by the SCRA, see CRS Report RL32360, The Servicemembers Civil Relief
Act (P.L. 108-189), by Estela I. Velez Pollack and CRS Report RL34575, The Servicemembers
Civil Relief Act (SCRA): An Explanation, by R. Chuck Mason
Reservists’ employment and re-employment rights are covered under the Uniformed Services
Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994.63 USERRA prohibits employers
from discriminating against reservists—including National Guard personnel performing full-time
National Guard duty under Title 32 of the U.S. Code, but not those performing state active duty
(see “11. Are There Other Ways in Which Members of the National Guard Can Be Activated?”)—
with respect to hiring, retention, promotion, or other benefits and requires employers to give these
individuals time off for military service, regardless of whether the service is voluntary or
involuntary.64 This time off is treated as a furlough or leave of absence,65 and the reservist may
not be required to use vacation leave, annual leave, or similar leave.66 Upon the completion of
such military service, USERRA generally gives the reservist a right to re-employment.67
Although there are some exceptions, a reservist is usually entitled to be promptly re-employed by
his or her civilian employer and, depending on certain factors, to be reinstated to either (1) the job
that the person would have held if the reservist’s employment had not been interrupted by
military service, (2) the job which the reservist actually held at the time military service began, or
(3) a job comparable to the one the reservist held at the time military service began. A comparable
job is one of similar pay, status, and seniority that the reservist is qualified to perform.
Finally, upon reinstatement, the reservist is entitled not only to the seniority and seniority-based
benefits he or she held at the time military service began but also to any additional seniority and
seniority-based benefits that the reservist would have earned if he or she had remained
continuously employed.68 For example, suppose a reservist has nine years of seniority with his or
her civilian employer and then leaves to perform two years of military service. Upon returning to
work at the end of that two year period, the reservist will be considered to have 11 years of
seniority with the civilian employer, and all the rights and benefits that go with that. USERRA
also provides certain protection to reservists with respect to job retraining, employer provided
health care plans, and employer provided pension plans.69
62 The interest rate provision does not apply to federally guaranteed student loans due to a separate provision in the
statutes that govern the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Specifically, 20 U.S.C. 1078(d) states that “No
provision of any law of the United States (other than this chapter) or of any State (other than a statute applicable
principally to such State’s student loan insurance program) which limits the rate or amount of interest payable on loans
shall apply to a loan - (1) which bears interest (exclusive of any premium for insurance) on the unpaid principal balance
at a rate not in excess of the rate specified in this part; and (2) which is insured (i) by the United States under this part,
or (ii) by a guaranty agency under a program covered by an agreement made pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.”
63 38 USC Chapter 43. USERRA protects not only reservists, but also those who choose to serve in the active
component military for less than five years.
64 38 USC 4311(a).
65 38 USC 4316 (b)(A).
66 38 USC 4316(d). Reservists may, however, choose to use their vacation leave, annual leave, or similar leave while
they are performing military service. Some reservists choose to do this so that they can continue to receive pay from
their civilian employer while away on military duty.
67 38 USC 4312.
68 38 USC 4316.
69 38 USC 4313, 4317, 4318.
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Reservists do have an obligation to notify their employer as soon as possible about upcoming
military service. They also have an obligation to report to work, or to notify their employers that
they intend to report to work, within a relatively short time after being released from active duty.
Failure to meet these obligations may effectively nullify a reservist’s right to re-employment.70
Reservists who believe their civilian employer has violated their rights under USERRA have
several options. The first is to contact their commanding officer, who may be able to resolve the
issue with the employer. Alternatively, reservists may contact the National Committee for
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (NCESGR), a Department of Defense organization
which will contact the employer and attempt to resolve the problem informally. A complaint can
also be made to the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) of the Department of
Labor. VETS has the power to investigate complaints and attempt to resolve them through
mediation. If that fails, the servicemember may request that VETS refer the case to the Office of
Special Counsel (for federal employees) or the Department of Justice (for non-federal
employees). “If the Department of Justice is reasonably satisfied that the service member is
entitled to relief, DOJ will represent the service member and attempt to resolve the matter –
including instituting litigation if necessary.”71 The Office of Special Counsel reviews cases of
federal employees in a similar manner and may represent the servicemember before the Merit
Systems Protection Board (MSPB).72 Additionally, servicemembers have the option of hiring a
private attorney to pursue a claim in court or before the MSPB.73
13. Has Congress Made Any Recent Changes in Pay
and Benefits for Reserve Component Personnel?
Yes. In recent years Congress has made a number of significant changes in Reserve Component
pay and benefits. The most significant of those changes are (1) establishing a premium-based
Tricare benefit for non-activated reservists, (2) creating new educational benefits for reservists
who have been mobilized since September 11, 2001, (3) providing an additional payment of up to
$3,000 per month for certain reservists who experience a reduction in income when activated, and
(4) lowering the age at which certain reservists can draw retired pay below 60. Each of these
changes is discussed below.
70 38 USC 4312 (e).
71 Department of Labor, Office of the Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training, Uniformed Services
Employment and Rememployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), Fiscal Year 2007 Annual Report to Congress,
Washington, DC, January 2009, p. 4, http://www.dol.gov/vets/regs/fedreg/final/DOL-%20USERRA-
%2007%20Report-%20OMB%20PASSBACK%20VETS%20Response-010609-F-Opti.pdf. This report contains a
useful summary of USERRA enforcement processes on pages 3-5.
72 A somewhat different process is followed for federal employees of the following agencies: “the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence
Agency, the National Security Agency, and, as determined by the President, any Executive agency or unit thereof the
principal function of which is the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligenceactivities” (5 U.S.C. §
2302(a)(2)(C)(ii)) See 38 U.S.C. § 4325.
73 See 38 USC 4323(a)(3) and 4324(b).
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Premium-based Access to Tricare for Non-Activated Reservists and
their Families
When ordered to federal active duty for more than 30 days, members of the National Guard and
Reserves are entitled to receive medical benefits under Tricare (the military’s health care system)
for themselves and their family members. However, until recently, non-activated reservists had
limited access to Tricare for themselves and no access for their families. This began to change in
108th and 109th Congresses, both of which passed provisions expanding access to Tricare for non-
activated reservists and their families.
In 2004, Congress authorized the TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) program for Reserve
Component members.74 The program has gone through several modifications since then, but it
currently permits most members of the Selected Reserve who are not on active duty to obtain
coverage similar to that of TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra by paying a premium of
28% of the total costs of their coverage.75 The premiums for TRS coverage in 2010 are $49.62 per
month for an individual reservist, and $197.65 per month for the reservist and his family
members.
New Educational Benefit for Activated Reservists
Both the 108th and 110th Congresses passed legislation which provides enhanced “GI Bill” type
educational benefits for reservists who have served in support of a contingency operation since
September 11, 2001. Prior to passage of these laws, there were two main educational assistance
programs for currently serving military personnel: the Montgomery G.I. Bill-Active Duty76
(MGIB-AD) and the Montgomery G.I. Bill-Selected Reserve77 (MGIB-SR).78
74 Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for FY2005, P.L. 108-375, section 701.
75 The 108th Congress passed legislation allowing certain members of the Selected Reserve and their family members to
receive coverage under the Tricare Standard option. To be eligible, the reservist must have served on active duty in
support of a contingency operation since September 11, 2001, and had to sign an agreement to continue serving in the
Selected Reserve. The duration of eligibility was set at a maximum of one year for each 90 days of service, or for the
duration of the service agreement, whichever was shorter. Additionally, the reservist would have to pay a premium, set
at 28% of the amount which the Secretary of Defense determined to be actuarially reasonable. The 109th Congress
enhanced the original TRS program and established two new “tiers.” The first new tier provided coverage under the
Tricare Standard option to members of the Selected Reserve who commited to one year of continued service in the
Selected Reserve and who were either (a) “eligible unemployment compensation recipients,”(b) ineligible for health
care benefits under an employer sponsored health benefits plan, or (c) self-employed. These reservists would have had
to pay a premium set at 50% of the amount which the Secretary of Defense determined to be actuarially reasonable.
The second new tier provided coverage under the Tricare Standard option to those members of the Selected Reserve
who do not qualify under the original TRS or the unemployed/uninsured tier mentioned above, and who commited to
one year of continued service in the Selected Reserve. These reservists would have had to pay a premium set at 85% of
the amount which the Secretary of Defense determined to be actuarially reasonable. Before the new tiered system could
be implemented, Congress passed the FY2007 John Warner National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 109-364) which
replaced the three-tiered program with a single program that permits non-activated reservists to obtain TRICARE
coverage by paying a premium of 28% of the total costs of their coverage. Members of the Selected Reserve who are
eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program are not eligible for TRS.
76 Title 38, Chapter 30, United States Code.
77 Title 10, Chapter 1606, United States Code.
78 For more information on these programs, see CRS Report R40723, Educational Assistance Programs Administered
by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, by Cassandria Dortch.
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Eligibility for the basic MGIB-AD benefit typically requires three years of continuous active duty
service and a deduction totalling $1,200 from the servicemembers’ pay.79 The basic benefit for
full-time study provided by MGIB-AD is $1,368 per month, as of October 1, 2009, for up to 36
months. Eligibility for the MGIB-SR benefit requires a six year commitment to serve in the
Selected Reserve, but requires no contributions on the part of the reservist. The educational
benefit for full-time study provided by this program is $333 per month, as of October 1, 2009, for
up to 36 months. Although the MGIB-SR program requires no contribution (as the MGIB-AD
program does), the monthly payments under MGIB-SR are only about one-fourth the amount of
those made under MGIB-AD. While reservists who served on active duty for at least 24
consecutive months were eligible for the reduced MGIB-AD benefit (provided they contributed
$1,200 like their active duty peers), those reservists who served less than 24 consecutive months
generally remained eligible only for the MGIB-SR until 2004.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program
In 2004, Congress established a new program to provide enhanced educational benefits to
reservists who were “called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national
emergency declared by the President or the Congress, in recognition of the sacrifices that those
members make in answering the call to duty.”80 Under this new program, called the Reserve
Educational Assistance Program (REAP) by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, eligible
reservists81 receive the following educational benefit for full time study for up to 36 months: 40%
of the MGIB-AD basic benefit for those serving at least 90 consecutive days but less than one
consecutive year; 60% of the MGIB-AD basic benefit for those serving at least one consecutive
year but less than two consecutive years; and 80% of the MGIB-AD basic benefit for those
serving at least two consecutive years or three aggregate years.82 As of October 1, 2009, the 40%
benefit equates to $547.20 per month, the 60% benefit equates to $820.80 per month, and the
80% benefit equates to $1,094.40 per month. REAP does not require any contribution on the part
of reservists like the MGIB-AD program does. Originally, eligibility continued only so long as
the individual remained in the Selected Reserve (for those activated while serving in the Selected
Reserve) or the Individual Ready Reserve/Inactive National Guard (for those activated while
serving in the Individual Ready Reserve/Inactive National Guard). However, the 110th Congress
79 Certain individuals with remaining entitlement under prior GI Bills were also eligible to transfer to the MGIB-AD. A
reduced benefit amount of up to $1,111 per month—as of October 1, 2009—is also available for certain individuals
who serve at least two years of active duty if the initial obligated period of active duty was less than three years; they
are also required to contribute $1,200 to become eligible for the program.
80 P.L. 108-375, Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for FY2005, section 527, October 28, 2004.
81 The eligibility requirements specified in the statute are as follows:
“(a) ELIGIBILITY—On or after September 11, 2001, a member of a reserve component is entitled to educational
assistance under this chapter if the member—(1) served on active duty in support of a contingency operation for 90
consecutive days or more; or (2) in the case of a member of the Army National Guard of the United States or Air
National Guard of the United States, performed full time National Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32 for 90
consecutive days or more when authorized by the President or Secretary of Defense for the purpose of responding to a
national emergency declared by the President and supported by Federal funds.
(b) DISABLED MEMBERS.—Notwithstanding the eligibility requirements in subsection (a), a member who was
ordered to active service as prescribed under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) but is released from duty before completing 90
consecutive days because of an injury, illness or disease incurred or aggravated in the line of duty shall be entitled to
educational assistance under this chapter at the rate prescribed in section 16162(c)(4)(A) of this title.”
82 For more information on this program, see CRS Report R40723, Educational Assistance Programs Administered by
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, by Cassandria Dortch.
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amended the REAP law, retroactive to the original provision’s date of enactment, allowing
members of the Selected Reserve entitled to this benefit to use it for up to ten years after
separating from the Selected Reserve.83
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, also known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill,
is a new educational benefit passed by the 110th Congress. It took effect on August 1, 2009.84 The
formula used for calculating benefits under this program is different than the “set rate” used by
the MGIB-AD, MGIB-SR and REAP programs. Instead, the maximum benefit is linked to each
individual’s “subsistence, tuition, fees, and other educational costs” while participating in an
approved program of education.85 In general, reservists who have been activated since September
11 will receive a signficantly greater benefit under the Post-9/11 GI Bill than under MGIB-SR,
MGIB-AD, or REAP. However, there are some circumstances in which it would be more
beneficial for the reservist to elect to use one of these latter educational assistance programs.
Another key difference between the Post-9/11 GI Bill and REAP is that the former is based on
aggregate time served on active duty since September 11, while the latter is based on the longest
consecutive period of active duty performed since September 11 unless the aggregate service is at
least three years.
The maximum benefit under this law is provided to (1) individuals who have served at least 36
aggregate months on active duty in the armed forces after September 10, 2001, and who
subsequently continue to serve or who are discharged or released from service under specified
conditions86; and (2) individuals who have served at least 30 continuous days of active duty after
September 10, 2001 and who are discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected
disability. For reserve component personnel, the law defines “active duty” as service under six
specific activation authorities of Title 10. This has important implications for National Guard
personnel, who often are activated under these Title 10 authorities, but at other times perform
full-time duty under Title 32. Service under Title 32 does not count as qualifying service for the
purposes of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This topic is addressed in more detail at the end of this section.
A reduced benefit is available to individuals who have served at least 90 aggregate days, but less
than 36 aggregate months. This reduced benefit is scaled so that those serving longer aggregate
periods of time on active duty receive a higher benefit than those serving shorter aggregate
periods of times.87
83 P.L. 110-181, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, section 530, January 28, 2008. Additionally,
as part of the original language, those involuntarily separated from the Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve or
Inactive National Guard on account of disability have 10 years to use the benefit.
84 For more information on this program, see CRS Report R40723, Educational Assistance Programs Administered by
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, by Cassandria Dortch.
85 38 U.S.C. § 3313(a).
86 The following types of discharge or release from active duty qualify: (1) an honorable discharge from active duty; (2)
a release after service on active duty, characterized as honorable, for “placement on the retired list, transfer to the Fleet
Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, or placement on the temporary disability retired list”; (3) a release from active
duty, characterized as honorable, for further service in a reserve component; and (4) a discharge or release from active
duty due to a pre-existing medical condition, hardship, or a physical or mental condition not characterized as a
disability which interfered with the individual’s performance of duty but which was not the result of willful
misconduct. 38 U.S.C. § 3311(c).
87 The proportion of the maximum benefit for service less than 36 months is as follows: 90% of the maximum benefit
(continued...)
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The amount of the educational assistance benefit has three major components. The first provides
a payment to cover “the established charges for the program of education,” although this payment
may not exceed the highest rate of established charges for in-state students pursuing full-time
undergraduate studies among the public institutions of higher education in the state where the
servicemember is attending school.88 The second major component provides a monthly housing
stipend equal to the Basic Allowance for Housing which an active duty servicemember in
paygrade E-5, with dependents, would recieve if living in area where the institution of higher
learning is located.89 The third component provides a payment equivalent to $1,000 per academic
year to cover “books, supplies, equipment and other educational costs.”90
In addition to the educational assistance benefit, the Post-9/11 GI Bill may also provide a tutorial
assistance benefit of up to $100 per month (not to exceed $1,200 total), a one-time relocation and
travel assistance payment of $500, and a payment of up to $2,000 to cover the cost of a single
licensure and certification test.91 Other provisions of the bill allow for enhanced benefits for
servicemembers with critical skills or who perform additional service, and for servicemembers
attending schools which have entered into a matching contribution program known as the
“Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program.”92 Finally, the bill allows eligible
servicemembers to transfer some or all of their benefits to a spouse and children.93
One issue that has arisen with respect to the Post-9/11 GI Bill is the definition of qualifying
service for reserve component personnel. Members of the reserve components earn entitlement
based on the amount of “active duty in the Armed Forces” service they perform. The Post 9/11 GI
Bill defines “active duty” for members of the reserve components as “service on active duty
under a call or order to active duty under section 688, 12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(g), 12302 or
(...continued)
for those who serve an aggregate of at least 30 months, but less than 36 months, including service in entry level and
skill training; 80% of the maximum benefit for those who serve an aggregate of at least 24 months, but less than 30
months, including service in entry level and skill training; 70% of the maximum benefit for those who serve an
aggregate of at least 18 months, but less than 24 months, excluding entry level and skill training; 60% of the maximum
benefit for those who serve an aggregate of at least 12 months, but less than 18 months, excluding entry level and skill
training; 50% of the maximum benefit for those who serve an aggregate of at least 6 months, but less than 12 months,
excluding entry level and skill training; 40% of the maximum benefit for those who serve an aggregate of at least 90
days, but less than 6 months, excluding entry level and skill training. Note that entry level and skill training is counted
for aggregate service of 24 months or more; it is excluded for aggregate service of less than 24 months.
88 38 U.S.C. § 3313(c)(1)(A). The term “established charges” is later defined as “the actual charges (as determined
pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary) for tuition and fees which similarly circumstanced non-veterans
enrolled in the program of education would be required to pay.” 38 U.S.C. § 3313(h). Active duty service members
may receive an amount up to the actual charges (taking into consideration DOD tuition assistance) regardless of the
full-time, in-state, undergraduate established charges.
89 38 U.S.C. § 3313(c)(1)(B)(i). Based on 2010 rates for the Basic Allowance for Housing, this stipend could range
from $834 to $2,751 per month. Individuals pursuing their studies on a half-time basis or less do not qualify for this
stipend. See 38 U.S.C. § 3313(f). Individuals still on active duty are not eligible for this stipend. See 38 U.S.C. §
3313(e). Individuals pursuing “a program of education offered through distance learning” are not eligible for this
stipend. See 38 U.S.C. § 3313(c)(1)(B)(i).
90 38 U.S.C. § 3313(c)(1)(B)(ii). Individuals pursuing their studies on a half-time basis or less will have this stipend
proportionally reduced. See 38 U.S.C. § 3313(f). Individuals still on active duty are not eligible for this stipend. See 38
U.S.C. § 3313(e).
91 38 U.S.C. § 3314 & 3315, respectively.
92 38 U.S.C. § 3316 & 3317, respectively.
93 There is an additional provision, known as the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, that provides
benefits to the children of individuals who die in the line of duty while serving on active duty.
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12304 of title 10.”94 These are the authorities most commonly used to activate members of the
National Guard and Reserve for overseas military operations, such as the ongoing operations in
Iraq and Aghanistan, as well as certain domestic military operations such as Operation Noble
Eagle. In particular, members of the National Guard and Reserve serving in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and surrounding countries are earning entitlement to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as they are serving
under one of the cited activation authorities.95
However, in other circumstances, members of the National Guard may serve on full-time duty
under Title 32. The two most common circumstances for this type of duty are (1) full-time
National Guard duty under 32 USC 502(f) for service in the Active Guard and Reserve program,96
and (2) full-time National Guard duty under 32 USC 502(f) for service in support of domestic
emergencies, such as the airport security mission, responding to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and
conducting the southwest border security mission. This duty does not count as qualifying service
for the purposes of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as service under Title 32 is not included in the law’s
definition of “active duty.” Some have argued that the Post-9/11 GI Bill should be amended to
include full-time duty under Title 32, and several bills have been introduced to achieve this
purpose.97 Supporters note that duties performed by National Guard AGRs are the same as those
performed by AGRs in the federal reserves, and it is therefore unfair to exclude them from this
benefit. They also argue that service in support of domestic emergencies is demanding, serves a
national purpose, and is carried out in a military manner, even though done under the control of a
state governor. Finally, they also note that other educational benefit programs like the MGIB-AD
and REAP provide some coverage for National Guard personnel serving in a Title 32 status.98 The
main objection to expanding this benefit to include Title 32 service has been cost, which the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs estimates at $2.3 billion over 10 years.99 Another argument
against expanding the benefit to include service in support of domestic emergencies is that such
94 38 U.S.C. § 3301(1)(B).
95 In the case of Iraq and Afghanistan, members of the National Guard and Reserves will typically serve under either 10
USC 12302 (Partial Mobilization authority), 12301(d) (voluntary orders), or 688 (retiree recall).
96 Note that members of the federal reserves (Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, etc) who volunteer to
serve in the AGR program are activated under Section 12301(d) of Title 10, and therefore earn entitlement to Post-9/11
GI Bill benefits while serving in the AGR program. Members of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard
who volunteer for the National Guard AGR program, however, are activated under section 502(f) of Title 32 and do not
earn entitlement to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits while serving in the AGR program. If a National Guard AGR were called
into federal service to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan, they would typically be mobilized under 10 USC 12302 and earn
entitlement until released from federal service at the conclusion of their mobilization.
97 See, for example, S. 3447, S. 1668, and H.R. 3467, H.R. 3554.
98 The definition of the term “active duty” for the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty “includes full-time National
Guard duty first performed after June 30, 1985, by a member of the Army National Guard of the United States or the
Air National Guard of the United States in the member's status as a member of the National Guard of a State for the
purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard.” 38 USC 3002 (7). The
Reserve Educational Assistance Program provides coverage to a member of the reserve component who “(1) served on
active duty in support of a contingency operation for 90 consecutive days or more; or (2) in the case of a member of the
Army National Guard of the United States or Air National Guard of the United States, performed full time National
Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32 for 90 consecutive days or more when authorized by the President or
Secretary of Defense for the purpose of responding to a national emergency declared by the President and supported by
Federal funds.” 10 USC 16163(a).
99 This is the VA estimate for S. 1668. See statement of Gerald Cross, Acting Under Secretary for Health, Veterans
Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, October 21, 2009, before the U.S. Senate Committee on
Veterans Affairs, available here: http://veterans.senate.gov/hearings.cfm?action=release.display&release_id=faa07041-
78f1-45c7-93f1-fff7b5a6f978. According to this statement “VA estimates that the enactment of S. 1668 would result in
a benefits cost to VA of $120.6 million in FY 2011, $1.1 billion over 5 years, and $2.3 billion over 10 years.”
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service is generally shorter in duration and less dangerous than service in support of military
operations, and is therefore not directly analogous.
Financial Losses for Some Mobilized Reservists
The mobilization of reservists in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has
been the largest since at least the Korean War and one of the longest ongoing mobilizations
ever.100 Some of these reservists have experienced financial losses when moving from their
civilian jobs to full time military status. These losses occur due to differences between the
reservists’ military and civilian pay, expenses incurred by reservists because of mobilization, and
the decline in business experienced by self-employed reservists during and after release from
active duty. This has generated numerous complaints from mobilized reservists and helped
generate congressional interest in the subject.
Income Replacement for Certain Reserve Component Personnel
The 109th Congress enacted a provision that provides a special payment of up to $3,000 to certain
reservists who experience income loss while involuntarily mobilized.101 Reservists who have
experienced income loss become eligible for these payments in every full month of active duty
following the month in which they (1) complete 18 consecutive months of active duty under an
involuntary mobilization order; (2) complete 24 months of active duty under an involuntary
mobilization order out of the previous 60 months; or (3) are involuntarily mobilized for a period
of 180 days or more within six months or less of a previous period of involuntary active duty for
a period of 180 days or more. The amount of compensation available under this provision is equal
to the reservist’s “average monthly civilian income” minus “total monthly military
compensation.”102 However, the amount may not be less then $50 per month or more than $3,000
100 Given the lack of clarity on the methodology used to count activated reservists in the Korean War, especially with
respect to how volunteers were counted, it is unclear whether or not the post-9/11 call up has been larger than the
Korean War call up. If only involuntary activations are included, it is probable that Korean War callup is still larger
than the post-9/11 callup; however, if voluntary activations are included, the reverse is probably true. The mobilization
in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, has been underway for over eight years. The mobilizations in support of the
Bosnia peacekeeping mission and the Kosovo mission, though much smaller in size, have been longer – the former
lasted from December 1995 to December 2004 (9 years), while the latter began in May 1999 and is still ongoing (11
years). By comparison, the World War II mobilization lasted from August 1940 to early 1946 (approximately 5 ½
years), while the Korean War mobilization lasted from July 1950 to December 1953 (approximately 3 ½ years).
101 P.L. 109-163, National Defense Authorization Act for FY2006, section 614, January 6, 2006, codified at 37 USC
910. Payments under this provision may also be made to individuals who meet the definition of extended or frequent
mobilization, as well as those who are “retained on active duty under subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 12301(h)(1) of
title 10 because of an injury or illness incurred or aggravated while the member was assigned to duty in an area for
which special pay under section 310 [Special Pay for Dut Subject to Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger] of this title is
available.” The statutory language does not define the term “involuntary mobilization,” but the regulations promulgated
by the Department of Defense define it as “An order to duty under 10 U.S.C. 12301(a), 12301(g), 12302, or 12304,
without the consent of the member or order to full-time National Guard duty under 32 U.S.C. 502(f)(1).” See
Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation 7000.14-R, Volume 7A, Chapter 55, paragraph 550203,
available at http://comptroller.defense.gov/fmr/07a/07a_55.pdf.
102 The term “average monthly civilian income” means “the amount, determined by the Secretary concerned, of the
earned income of the member for either the 12 months preceding the member’s mobilization or the 12 months covered
by the member’s most recent Federal income tax filing, divided by 12.” The term “total monthly military
compensation” means “the amount, computed on a monthly basis, of the sum of—(A) the amount of regular military
compensation (RMC); and (B) any amount of special pay or incentive pay and any allowance (other than an allowance
included in regular military compensation) that is paid to the member on a monthly basis.” Regular military
(continued...)
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per month. Involuntary activations of National Guard personnel under 32 U.S.C. 502(f)(1)—the
section of law commonly used for domestic emergency response—does count as qualifying duty
for the purposes of this payment.103
Differential Pay for Mobilized Federal Employees
The 111th Congress enacted a provision, codified at 5 USC 5538, to minimize the income loss of
civilian employees of the federal government who are involuntarily104 ordered to active duty or
involuntarily retained on active duty.105 It does so by providing “differential pay”—a payment
equal to the amount by which a reservist’s military pay and allowances are lower than his or her
civilian basic pay. Specific eligibility criteria and the method for calculating the amount of
differential pay are outlined in a memorandum issued by the Office of Personnel Management.106
This provision only applies to federal government employees, but it is not limited to cases of
extended or frequent activations like the Income Replacement provision discussed in the previous
paragraph. Full-time National Guard duty under Title 32 does not count as qualifying duty for the
purposes of this payment.
Reducing the Age at Which Certain Reservists Can Draw Retired
Pay
After completing 20 years of qualifying service, a reservist may apply for retirement. Once
retired, the reservist is entitled to receive certain benefits immediately; however, until recently he
or she was not entitled to receive retired pay or low-cost access to the military health care system
until the age of 60. In light of the heavy use of the Reserve Component in recent years, a number
of legislative proposals were introduced in the 108th and 109th Congresses to lower the age at
which reservists receive retired pay and military retiree health care benefits. During the 110th
Congress, a provision was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2008 which
permits certain reservists to draw retired pay as early as age 50, while maintaining the age for
access to the military health care system at 60.
(...continued)
compensation (RMC) is defined in 37 USC 101(25) as “the total of the following elements that a member of a
uniformed service accrues or receives, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind every payday: basic pay, basic
allowance for housing, basic allowance for subsistence, and Federal tax advantage accruing to the aforementioned
allowances because they are not subject to Federal income tax.”
103 See footnote 101.
104 The law specifies that in order to be eligible for differential pay, the individual must be “absent from a position of
employment with the Federal Government in order to perform active duty in the uniformed services pursuant to a call
or order to active duty under a provision of law referred to in section 101(a)(13)(B) of title 10.” The provisions of law
referered to in section 101(a)(13)(B) of title 10 are sections 688, 12301(a), 12302, 12304, 12305, and 12406, and
Chapter 15, all of which are involuntary activation or retention authorities (that is, they do not require the consent of the
member to be used). The definition in section 101(a)(13)(B) also makes reference to “any other provision of law during
a war or during a national emergency declared by the President or Congress,” but it does not appear from the legislative
history that this was intended to extend the provision beyond the specific authorities mentioned. As such, the OPM
implementation guidance (see footnote 106) defines qualifying duty as duty under one of the specified authorities.
105 P.L. 111-8, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, section 751, March 11, 2009; amended by P.L. 111-117,
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, section 745, December 16, 2009.
106 Office of Personnel Management, Reservist Differential Agency Implementation Guidance, available at
http://www.opm.gov/reservist/ReservistDifferentialPolicyGuidance.pdf.
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This new law reduced the age for receipt of retired pay for members of the Ready Reserve by
three months for each aggregate of 90 days of specified duty performed in any fiscal year after
January 28, 2008 (the date of enactment of the FY2008 National Defense Authorization Act).
Specified duty includes active duty under any provision of law referred to in 10 USC
101(a)(13)(B), active duty under 10 USC 12301(d); or active service under 32 USC 502(f) if
responding to a national emergency declared by the President or supported by federal funds.107
The retired pay eligibility age could not be reduced below age 50, and eligibility for retiree health
care benefits would remain at age 60. This law will have no effect on: reservists who are already
retired as of January 28, 2008 (unless they are recalled to active duty); reservists who do not
perform any of the types of specified duty during their careers; or reservists who only performed
the specified duty prior to January 28, 2008. It will only reduce the retirement age for those
reservists who perform qualifying duty after January 28, 2008.
Several bills have been introduced in the 111th Congress to include service performed between
September 11, 2001, and January 28, 2008, as qualifying service for the purpose of lowering the
age at which a reservist can draw retired pay. Section 660 of the Senate version of the National
Defense Authorization Act for FY2010 included legislative language to this effect. However,
there was no corresponding provision in the House version, and it was not included in the final
bill.108 The conference report which accompanied the final bill stated: "the conferees would
support the provision provided that acceptable offsets are identified consistent with budgetary
requirements of both the Senate and the House of Representatives."109
Author Contact Information
Lawrence Kapp
Specialist in Military Manpower Policy
lkapp@crs.loc.gov, 7-7609
107 Qualifying duty includes mobilization in support of Operation Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, or Iraqi Freedom,
provided the duty occurs after January 28, 2008. It also includes National Guard duty under 32 USC 502(f), provided it
occurs after January 28, 2008 and is in response to a national emergency declared by the President or a national
emergency supported by federal funds.
108 P.L. 111-84.
109 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Services, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, ,
Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 2647, 111th Cong., 1st sess., October 7, 2009, H.Rept. 111-288 (Washington:
GPO, 2009), p. 767.
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