Posted on Jan 3, 2016
What happens when a National Guard unit misses your pay when you're in between units?
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So, In August, I was told I had finally been promoted to a slot in another unit, and my PCS was effective, that I would need to report to my new unit for drill the following month, September. A week later, I got a call from the platoon sgt. at my old unit whom instructed me to report to drill with them, so as to participate in Annual PHS, saving my new unit the hassle of finding me a time and date to attend PHS.
So, I go with my old unit, spend all day there, and finally get dismissed. 2 weeks later, I noticed I hadn't gotten paid like usual, so instead of bothering either admin NCO, I decided to wait a little longer incase the pay hadn't been processed yet.
Next drill rolls around, october, and still hadn't been paid so I mention it to my new units Admin and readiness NCO, and they tell me they look into it.
The next month, November, having heard nothing, I asked for the status, and was told there is nothing that could be done about it, due to the fact that the old unit did not have me on their books to pay me, and the new unit did not know to start paying me. And that since the missed pay was for the previous fiscal year, September, that all the money allocated to pay for that drill had been spent and there was no money.
So my biggest question is, does my having a contract for my services with the US government not protect me from being infringed upon with my pay? Or can they do just that?
I find it hard to believe that I come to work and just because some one else goofed I don't get paid. Its not about the money, I dont need the money. Its the principle, especially in that of a new unit.
So, I go with my old unit, spend all day there, and finally get dismissed. 2 weeks later, I noticed I hadn't gotten paid like usual, so instead of bothering either admin NCO, I decided to wait a little longer incase the pay hadn't been processed yet.
Next drill rolls around, october, and still hadn't been paid so I mention it to my new units Admin and readiness NCO, and they tell me they look into it.
The next month, November, having heard nothing, I asked for the status, and was told there is nothing that could be done about it, due to the fact that the old unit did not have me on their books to pay me, and the new unit did not know to start paying me. And that since the missed pay was for the previous fiscal year, September, that all the money allocated to pay for that drill had been spent and there was no money.
So my biggest question is, does my having a contract for my services with the US government not protect me from being infringed upon with my pay? Or can they do just that?
I find it hard to believe that I come to work and just because some one else goofed I don't get paid. Its not about the money, I dont need the money. Its the principle, especially in that of a new unit.
Army National Guard
Promotions
SGT
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 18
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So, this may be unique to my state, but when you miss drill and make it up, Readiness NCOs generally put in a "k" code for your drill pay. This indicates that you didn't show up for drill but we're holding on that money in a separate pot that will be dished out later. Now, if you missed that month and it wasn't earmarked off, it goes into a general pool. This is generally how money appears and gets switched by the G3 later on in the fiscal year.
Nevertheless, the unit should be able to remedy the situation by at least giving you a Code 71/91 to make up for your time, or at least retirement points.
If the Readiness and 1SG aren't handling it, you can always use the Commander's Open Door Policy.
Nevertheless, the unit should be able to remedy the situation by at least giving you a Code 71/91 to make up for your time, or at least retirement points.
If the Readiness and 1SG aren't handling it, you can always use the Commander's Open Door Policy.
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Oh, and as far as advice, if you haven't already done so and of you guys have them in the guard, utilize your UA. If you have a good one then he/she should look into this for you in depth. I went to the CSM about this issue as well but in the end was sent right back to the UA.
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I had a similar situation happen to me a few years back. The only difference was I was still in my old unit. They just never paid me. For months I went through hoops of phone calls and submitting DA forms and copies of my bank statements and still never got paid. Very unfair, yes. I hope that this isn't a trend or anything like that. I can understand your frustration.
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1SG Gary Bacon
As much as it pains me to say this, If all fails, you can always write your congressman. I had to do this once when I was Sgt for 4 days of pay that my unit commander told I'd just have to eat. These were weekdays that I took off from my civilian job for, so yea, I needed the money. I got the money though but also got a lot of backlash for it. Units do not like congressional investigations, and should only be used as a last resort.
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SFC (Join to see)
1SG, I get why they would be upset but it's not right to just not pay SM's for their work. Granted, we are there for far more than just that but it is important. I am sure that if they were told that they weren't going to get paid that they would be upset as well.
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Did you recieve any documentation saying you was going on annual training. Your previous unit should have known you wasn't part of there unit and sent you home at that point
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To keep from pissing off your admin and training NCO do them the courtesy of letting them know your plans of taking this higher. I'd take it to the person who rated their NCOER. If that doesn't work go about them, also have some sworn statements readied by people who saw you at the PHS.
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Losing unit should have done a split training authorization and forwarded to the new unit. The new fiscal year excuse in October and November is a bullshit excuse. States consolidate their money starting in August. The books aren't usually finalized for the previous FY until well into Dec, maybe even Jan.
You can work this a few different ways.
If your gaining unit is worth a damn they will get you paid since we're on their books, doesn't seem that is the case.
Go to your NCO support channel. Bring proof of you attending drill, either a split certificate or your medical documentation showing you were present.
Call a congressman. Seems extreme, but it's an option that will work. Sometimes it might not be the unit. It may actually be the state. Congressional inquiries will spark action at the highest levels amazingly.
Most likely course of action, prove you did drill to the gaining unit. Get them to agree to give you off a drill with pay to make you square with the house. Sometimes that may be the only action they can do and it keeps you in good favor versus calling a congressman.
ETA: use this as a learning point. Only trust who has you assigned and on their 1379 when you do something. It's the gaining units problem to find you a PHA date. Lessons learned.
You can work this a few different ways.
If your gaining unit is worth a damn they will get you paid since we're on their books, doesn't seem that is the case.
Go to your NCO support channel. Bring proof of you attending drill, either a split certificate or your medical documentation showing you were present.
Call a congressman. Seems extreme, but it's an option that will work. Sometimes it might not be the unit. It may actually be the state. Congressional inquiries will spark action at the highest levels amazingly.
Most likely course of action, prove you did drill to the gaining unit. Get them to agree to give you off a drill with pay to make you square with the house. Sometimes that may be the only action they can do and it keeps you in good favor versus calling a congressman.
ETA: use this as a learning point. Only trust who has you assigned and on their 1379 when you do something. It's the gaining units problem to find you a PHA date. Lessons learned.
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BG Mike Bridges
This is not a Congressional level issue. Only in extreme circumstance, long delayed, etc. IG folks are great at getting pay issues sorted out locally as an administrative inquiry.
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It's an Admin thing that needs to be sorted. The old unit didn't pay because your were "dropped" so they can't process. The new unit probably didn't know where you were or what you're doing so didn't process anything. Good advise to get the Top involved. If you did the work on/after your pick up date with the new unit, it's easily fixable. BTW the old unit SGT gave you an illegal order to perform duty when you no longer belonged to the unit. That should have been a red flag. If that was a good thing to do, the two units should have been talking to sort that stuff out before so you don't get hung out to dry. Technically the new unit can hang an absent status on you because your duty was to report and follow their orders. BTW the prior fiscal year thing is just BS. The money is there, it hasn't expired, it was already obligated to pay salary, etc. I hate it when Admin types think they know money. It really is a nonissue. The last thing a State or Fed wants to do is use new money to pay for service performed during a prior year when old money is there to cover it. Also, News Flash, this has nothing to do with your "contract" so don't fixate on that either. You own a significant piece of this thing happening. As of some date, someone else owned you and you didn't work that out. Be respectful going forward now that you learned something from the school of hard knocks.
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