{"id":67773,"date":"2022-10-25T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/10\/25\/lawmakers-press-dod-to-update-rules-for-guard-reserve-specialty-pay\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:04:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:04:19","slug":"lawmakers-press-dod-to-update-rules-for-guard-reserve-specialty-pay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/pay-benefits\/2022\/10\/25\/lawmakers-press-dod-to-update-rules-for-guard-reserve-specialty-pay\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmakers press DOD to update rules for Guard, reserve specialty pay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lawmakers are pushing defense officials to release plans ensuring that National Guard<\/a> and reserve troops aren\u2019t being shortchanged on specialty pay<\/a>, saying the unresolved issue could undermine recruiting and retention for the force in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin<\/a> on Tuesday, a bipartisan group of congress members led by Sen. Tammy Duckworth<\/a>, D-Ill., and Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, noted that the information was due Sept. 30, per instructions approved by Congress last year. But to date, the report has still not been delivered to Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Defense Department\u2019s delay in providing this report and certification on time prevents the payment of these incentive pays that are crucial for the retention of critical skills,\u201d the group wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIncentive pays are vital for retaining qualified talent and are less expensive than training new servicemembers to replace those who would otherwise decide to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t