House passes bill to fund inactive-duty training of Reserve Component, headed to Senate

Q: Will I get paid while the government is shut down?

A: The short answer is under a recently passed law active duty service members (including reserve
components on annual training) will get paid, but inactive duty members (including reserve
components on weekend drill training) will not.

Congress passed H.R.3210 “Pay Our Military Act”, on Oct. 1, authorizes service members on
“active service” to be paid during the government shutdown. The act provides that:

(a) In General- There are hereby appropriated for fiscal year 2014, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2014 are not in effect--

(1) such sums as are necessary to provide pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code), including reserve components thereof, who perform active service during such period;[underline included by ROA]

Active service includes active duty and full time National Guard duty. It is important to note that active duty is different from "active status. Active status includes any member of the reserve component not on an inactive status list or in the Retired Reserve. Active duty applies to reservists on full-time active duty (including annual training, but not weekend drill periods). Full time National Guard duty is any training or other duty, other than inactive duty (which includes weekend drill periods), during which the Guardsman rates pay from the federal government.

The Army and Navy have put out policy outlines before the law was passed, but the services will still determine who will be paid, when.  ROA is providing feed back to the offices of Reserve Chiefs, but service leaders are the final determiners of how money will be allocated.  Bottom line is individual Reserve our guard members who have annual training (AT),  active duty for training orders (ADT),  or Active Duty for Special Work (ADSW or ADOS) orders that start Oct. 1 or later should contact your gaining command or operational support (or training) officer to get confirmation.

UPDATE:

On Tuesday, the House introduced and passed, H.R. 370. The new bill, now up for consideration in the Senate, provides funding for continuing several government functions during the shutdown. Among them is the provision to fund inactive duty training (IADT) overlooked by the previously accepted H.R. 3210, Pay our Military Act.

From the H.R. 370: “providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3230) making continuing appropriations during a Government shutdown to provide pay and allowances to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who perform inactive-duty training during such period”

But don’t bank on passage, Senate leadership has stated that they are not interested in piecemeal legislation to partially end government shutdown.

If Government Shuts Down, most Reserve Drills Cancelled

Only “excepted" military operations will be allowed to continue to drill

By Jenny Swigoda

ROA, Content Manager

With the threat of a possible government shutdown looming, a senior defense official outlined consequences for members of the Reserve and Guard in a conference call on Friday, Sept. 27. Only those units in an inactive duty for training status who are on the ramp for activation for “excepted” military operations (i.e. Afghanistan) will be allowed to continue to drill.

“We are reflecting the law and the interpretation of it, this is not based on policy,” said the senior defense official.

The official stated that retirees will continue to receive pay as those funds are appropriated through a trust fund. Delays in pay may occur if the shutdown goes beyond a couple of days.

Additionally, state commissaries will close and military health care centers will be restricted to life-threatening situations.

On the call, ROA’s Executive Director, Major General Andrew B. Davis, USMC (Ret.) expressed concern for the government shutdown and the possible affects it could have on the Reserve Component.

“As an association chartered to advocate for a strong national defense and a strong Reserve force, ROA urges Congress to avert a government shutdown. Specifically, curtailment of Reserve training from drill to annual training will severely degrade our nation’s defense readiness in a world that is still very dangerous. Reserve readiness is perishable. We will continue to monitor closely the continued delivery of retirement and health insurance benefits that has been assured by Defense officials,” said Maj Gen Davis. 

A Step Back into the Future

By CAPT Marshall A. Hanson, USNR (Ret.)

To achieve $50 billion in DoD savings in Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15), the Stimson Center proposed 27 recommendations including Pentagon management reforms, changes to force structure, and reduced modernization costs, including changes to Reserve Component (RC) missions and retiree benefits.

On September 24, 2013, the Stimson Center released its report, Strategic Agility: Strong National Defense for Today’s Global andFiscal Realities. The Washington, D.C.-based think tank asserts that their “strategy would protect U.S. interests even at much lower levels of spending.” The nonpartisan institution recommended the $50 billion in savings for FY15, claiming that such cuts would not “gut operation capability.”

ROA attended the public release of the report, but left with the feeling that Stimson’s guidance mirrored recommendations of the past, and that some of the military savings being claimed by the organization were efficiency dollars that have already been taken by the Pentagon.

For the RC, the report was both good and bad news. Stimson recommended mirror ROA’s position of maintaining the strategic depth of the Reserve and Guard, and actually increasing the size of the Reserve Component by putting weapons and combat veterans into the RC. But the kicker is that the center suggested that the RC return to its traditional role in domestic emergencies and as the nation’s strategic reserve for foreign wars. In doing so, the nonprofit suggested that they can keep the capability but “reduce the funding levels for the Guard and Reserve somewhat.”

The report strongly suggested that by avoiding entry into protracted ground wars saving can occur by avoiding entry into protracted ground wars. This permits deeper cuts into the Army force structure to 450,000; and a reduction in Marine Corps end-strength to 160,000. The Army and Marine Reserves and Army National Guard would be the hedge against a possible protracted war. Stimson suggests that this scenario would permit time to train Reservists to needed readiness levels once they are mobilized.

As for the 1,100 fighter aircraft in the Air Force, Stimson recommended a redistribution in light of a waning need for large-scale operations. Stimson proposes a scalable and surge ready force with increased fighter capability in the Reserve would adequately support contingency operations as they arise. The report suggested that 500 operational high-end fights be retained by the Active Component, as well as an additional 250 F-16s for training and operation contingencies. The remaining 350 vintage F-16 aircraft would be transferred to the Reserve Component as a surge capability.

The report also suggested cuts to personnel at the Pentagon that could affect 50,000 civilian employees. Reforming military retirement, increasing health benefit fees, and eliminating government appropriations to the commissaries and post exchanges are other points of interest in the report. Stimson calculated that by reducing benefits, the Pentagon can save $8 billion in FY15.

In total, to achieve the $50 billion in savings, the Stimson report makes 27 recommendations including management reforms, changes to force structure, and reduced modernization costs.

ROA will continue to advocate for its members and the Reserve Components. After 12 years of war, the operational reserve will not be put back on the shelf, nor will promised deferred benefits be changed or reduced.

Government Funding and Its Impact on National Security

By Bob Feidler

Funding for the federal government must be approved prior to Oct. 1, or there is a risk of a partial government shutdown. It is not likely to have a major impact on national security – but there are some unanswered questions. Currently the House has passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the government thru Dec. 15; the Senate is expected to pass a CR Sept. 25 that would fund the government thru about mid-November. However, as a result of a provision added by the House defunding the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare), if and when the bodies can resolve their differences is uncertain. 

The size of the federal workforce, including civilians, postal service employees and active-duty service members, is approximately 4.1 million. Roughly 800,000 federal civilian employees are in danger of being furloughed. However, most federal workers would continue to work because the government considers them “essential” workers. About 1.4 million active duty military personnel and about 1.3 million civilian workers are exempt from furloughs in the event of a government shutdown because they have jobs in defense, health care or other areas of national security and/or emergency-related fields. Additionally, the postal service does not depend on annual congressional appropriations so they are not in danger.

Political appointees, the president, the vice president, lawmakers and certain legislative staff also are not subject to furlough. Social security and veterans benefits are likely to continue substantially undisturbed.

It is not clear how the Reserve Components will be treated but guidance from the Pentagon is expected by the end of this week. It is likely that drilling reservists will report as normal during the first weekend of the month, however, for a variety of reasons, and they will likely ultimately be paid although this might be delayed. The status of DoD civilians to include Mil Techs is uncertain at this time although many DoD civilians will fall within exempt categories. It is likely that retirees will continue to receive their retirement checks without substantial interruption.

GRASSROOTS: Effecting ROA Policy Change

By CAPT Marshall A. Hanson, USNR (Ret.) 

“The general advocacy policies of the Association shall be established by adoption of resolutions as mandates by the National Convention, the National Council or the Executive Committee.” ROA Constitution, Article A-6 – Policy.

The resolution is the tool that an ROA member can use to establish or change ROA legislative or military policy. It is a formally written statement addressing a matter of great importance. The statement can be about a decision, a policy, or express opinion or intent. ROA uses the resolution as a means to convey the results of its deliberations to Congress, the Administration, the Pentagon or the general public.

   

Preparation Process. Start well in advance of a national convention or conference. Define the problem. Determine if in fact there is a problem. Next ask if the problem is of national interest, or of only local or personal concern. Then determine if a resolution is needed to solve the problem. Then research the problem. Gather the documentation to support your proposed resolution. 

Drafting the Resolution

A resolution covers just one subject. Resolutions must be concisely written, using the following format:

TITLE: CENTERED, BOLDED IN CAPS

WHEREAS, the "WHEREAS" paragraph(s) set forth the argument by giving relevant supporting facts both about the issue, why the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) should relate to that subject, and why the Resolving Clause is needed; 

WHEREAS, each preamble paragraph will state a separate clarification with five “WHEREAS” paragraphs as a suggested maximum; and

WHEREAS, both the "WHEREAS" and the "NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT" phrases are in bold and all caps; and

WHEREAS, all acronyms (such as ROA) should be spelled out the first time used and abbreviated thereafter, except in the resolved clauses; and

WHEREAS, the last word of the paragraph should be followed by a semi-colon and then the word "and" in the second and each succeeding, and the last "WHEREAS" paragraph should end with a semi-colon but no "and";

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, chartered by Congress, urges Congress, DoD or other government agencies to take a specific action as outlined in this and (if necessary) following paragraphs, or state what policy will be instituted; and that the end of the paragraph should be followed by a semi-colon and the word; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, if a separate related action be need to be suggested by the ROA that it is included in a separate resolved clause; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT, all resolutions must be typed, single or double spaced, on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper and should be no longer than one page, one side in length and type size must be no smaller than 10 point with the final “resolved” paragraph ending with a period.

Submitted by Name, member #, chapter

Endorsed by: Department President or Secretary, dated.

Examples of Resolutions can be found here.

Submitted Resolutions require ROA Department approval. Supporting documentation should be attached to the resolution. It should be delivered with an electronic copy to ROA Headquarters, Attn: Legislative Director, One Constitution Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002, or mhanson@roa.org by mail or electronics, at least 15 days before the national business meeting at which it is to be considered, unless deemed "time sensitive" by ROA’s President. Resolutions are due by February 19, 2014 for consideration by the National Committee meeting.