In addition to a rewarding career and competitive salary, you are eligible to receive other benefits such as, insurance, cost of living allowances, significant tax incentives, Retirement income and more.
Job Protection and Employment Rights
The Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) expanded and improved the former Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act (SSCRA). The SCRA provides a wide range of protections for individuals entering, called to active duty in the military, or deployed servicemembers. It is intended to postpone or suspend certain civil obligations to enable service members to devote full attention to duty and relieve stress on the family members of those deployed servicemembers. A few examples of such obligations you may be protected against are:
- Outstanding credit card debt
- Mortgage payments
- Pending trials
- Taxes
- Terminations of lease
Uniformed Services Employment And Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Know Your Rights: There are many federal (and also state) laws in place to protect you, first and foremost being the Be sure to familiarize yourself with this Act, and check with state offices to see what other benefits and protection you qualify for.
National Committee For Employer Support Of The Guard And Reserve (ESGR), which will help both you and your employer. Visit the official ESGR Website, and you will find resources, guides, useful services and much more.
Re-employment rights
to include: Active Duty for Training, Annual Training or for Inactive Duty Training drills. Guard members covered by this section of the law must report for re-employment at the next regularly scheduled work period after completion of training. Other provisions of the law provide re-employment rights for Guard member who are disabled or hospitalized during training.
If your work for the federal government (as a permanent employee), you’re entitled to leave with pay for up to 15 days a year when called for Active Duty for Training or Annual Training. What’s more, you receive your full military pay as well.
Rest assured that your commitment to the Army National Guard is safeguarded at your civilian job, too. Your are legally entitled to two weeks leave of absence for Annual Training without deduction from any vacation time your may have coming.
Important facts you should know… It is not uncommon for soldiers being called to active duty to wonder whether their job will be waiting when they return. You can take steps to ensure that you pick up your life smoothly after you serve your country. Remember, as a member of the Army, you are protected against discrimination in hiring, employment retention, and the loss of any benefits of employment as a result of your status.
THIS MEANS THAT EMPLOYERS MAY NOT TERMINATE GUARD MEMBERS FROM EMPLOYMENT, OR DEPRIVE THEM OF ANY NORMAL EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT IN THE AREA OF PAY, STATUS, OR PROMOTION OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE EMPLOYEE’S GUARD COMMITMENT.
Bonuses
In addition to your Unit Training Pay, there are many opportunities to earn additional money in the Army Reserve. This extra money is available if you choose a specific Army job, complete special training, take on extra responsibilities or have served in the military before. This extra money changes in amount frequently.
Prior Service Enlistment Bonus
These financial incentives are available to you just for reenlisting with the Army Reserve. If you have prior military service you could qualify for either a 6 year or 3 year enlistment bonus. This bonus is only available with enlistment into the Army Reserve with designated bonus-eligible MOSs.
- Up to $15,000 with a 6-year enlistment
- Up to $7,500 with a 3-year enlistment
Coming from another Branch of Service?
If you have prior military service in a different branch (Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard) you could qualify for an enlistment bonus. With enlistment into the Army Reserve, this bonus is available based time left on your Military Service Obligation (MSO) and conversion of AFSCs or Rates to an Army Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).
- Up to $15,000 with no remaining MSO and Military Occupation Specialty Qualification (MOSQ)
- Up to $10,000 with 46-49 months remaining on your MSO
- Up to $200 extra per month with 45 months or less remaining on your MSO, for each month remaining on your MSO
Affiliation Bonus
Soldiers who have completed a service term within an active component of the military or in the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) and assigned to a Troop Program Unit (TPU) with the Army Reserve are eligible for up to:
- $50 extra per month.
Death and Survivor Benefits
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a program for surviving spouses and children. The dependents of service members who die on active duty (or veterans who die from service connected injuries and some 100% disabled veterans) receive monthly DIC payments(nontaxable) for the surviving spouse and additional funds for each surviving child. DIC is adjusted annually for inflation. Death Gratuity payments totaling $100,000 will be made to designated beneficiaries to meet immediate cash needs in the event of the service member’s death while on Active Duty. Death Gratuity may be paid to 1 or up to 10 designated beneficiaries with 10 percent of $100,000 or $10,000 paid to each beneficiary.
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is a program for surviving spouses and children.
When a retiree dies, their retirement pay stops. This means that the surviving spouse will be left without a substantial income source. Retirees should consider how they can protect their spouse from the hardships caused by the loss of retirement pay. One option that is available is the Survivor Benefit Plan. The SBP is an insurance plan that will pay the surviving spouse a monthly payment (annuity) to help make up for the loss of the retirement income. Similarly, if a sailor dies on active duty, active duty pay stops. However, if a sailor dies on active duty with 20 or more years of service, or in the line of duty with less than 20 years, the surviving spouse and children are automatically protected by SBP at no cost to the sailor.