Military benefits / Pay & Allowances

Guard and Reserve Benefits: TRS, Drill Pay and USERRA

Members of the National Guard and Reserve, and their families. Some benefits apply all the time, and others only when on active duty orders.

Guard and Reserve members get many benefits even when not activated, including low-cost TRICARE Reserve Select, drill pay, SGLI and on-base shopping. USERRA protects your civilian job when you serve.

What it is

Guard and Reserve members earn many of the same benefits as active duty, but some depend on whether you are on orders.

Always available (even when not activated):

  • Drill pay: Each drill period pays one day of basic pay. A normal drill weekend has four periods, so you get four days of pay for two days of work. Annual training pays like active duty.
  • TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS): Premium-based health coverage for Selected Reserve members and families. 2026 premiums are $57.88 a month for the member and $286.66 for member and family. That is far less than most civilian plans.
  • TRICARE Dental Program, SGLI, commissary and exchange, MWR, Military OneSource, and legal help (in many cases).
  • Retirement points toward a Reserve pension, usually starting at age 60.

When on active duty orders (usually more than 30 days): You get full TRICARE, BAH, BAS and the same pay and leave as active duty. Your family gets TRICARE coverage too. Early TRICARE coverage can start up to 180 days before activation in some cases, and transitional coverage (TAMP) may last 180 days after.

USERRA: your civilian job protection

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act protects your civilian job when you serve:

  • You get your job back with the seniority, pay and status you would have had if you never left.
  • Give notice to your employer before you leave, unless military needs make that impossible.
  • Report back on time. For service under 31 days, return at the next regular shift after travel and rest. For 31 to 180 days, apply within 14 days. For 181 days or more, apply within 90 days.
  • The 5-year limit with one employer does not count drills, annual training or many emergency call-ups.
  • Health coverage can continue for up to 24 months while you serve.

How to use it

  • Sign up for TRS in milConnect or through your TRICARE region. You cannot get TRS if you are eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.
  • Keep copies of all your orders. You need them for USERRA, SCRA and pay issues.
  • Contact ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) if your employer has questions or problems. It is free and can mediate.

What people miss

  • SCRA kicks in with orders. Some protections start when you receive orders.
  • Earlier retirement pay. Each 90 days of qualifying active service after 2008 can lower your retirement age below 60.
  • Tuition help. Many states offer free or cheap tuition for Guard members, on top of federal programs.
  • State benefits. Many states give Guard members extra perks, like tax breaks on drill pay, free hunting licenses or license plate discounts. Check with your state's military department.

Related

See TRICARE Health Plans, Legal Assistance and SCRA, and Military Retirement for Reserve retirement.

Related benefits

  • Basic Pay and the 2026 Pay Raise
    Basic pay is the core of your paycheck and the number most other benefits are based on. Troops got a 3.8% raise in January 2026. Knowing how basic pay works helps you read your LES and plan for retirement.
  • BAH and BAS: Your Housing and Food Allowances
    BAH helps pay for housing and BAS helps pay for food, and neither one is taxed. For 2026, BAH rose an average of 4.2% and BAS rose 2.4%. These tax-free dollars are a big part of what you really earn.
  • Special Pays, Bonuses and Military Tax Breaks
    Beyond basic pay, many troops earn extra pay for where they serve or what they do. Combined with tax-free allowances, the combat zone tax exclusion and state residency rules, the military gives you more ways to cut your tax bill than most people realize.
  • TRICARE Health Plans and 2026 Costs
    TRICARE is the military health program. Active duty families pay no enrollment fees for Prime or Select, while retirees pay yearly fees that rose for 2026. Pharmacy copays also went up on January 1, 2026.

Last reviewed 2026-11. Not affiliated with the Department of Defense. Confirm current rates with your finance office or the official source.

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