Report: Biden Admin Owes National Guard Soldiers Thousands in Overdue Bonuses
The Federal Government Owes Thousands of National Guard Soldiers Enlistment Bonuses
The federal government is facing criticism for failing to pay enlistment bonuses to thousands of National Guard soldiers, with some payments being years overdue. Military.com spoke to sources familiar with the issue, as well as several families who are still waiting for promised payments.
One soldier expressed frustration, stating, “I did my part, and this is a terrible way for the Army to treat its people.” Another soldier mentioned that they were relying on the money to help with moving into a new place with their spouse.
Enlistment bonuses are offered by the military to attract Americans to serve. For the Army National Guard, these bonuses can reach up to $20,000 and are a significant incentive for many individuals.
While guidelines suggest that half of the bonus should be paid within 30 days of completing initial training, and the other half at the midpoint of the soldier’s first term, these timelines are not strictly enforced. As a result, many soldiers have experienced delays in receiving their bonuses.
According to Guard officials, the average time for the first bonus payout is around six months. However, they acknowledge that more than 5% of soldiers have not received the promised bonus.
Col. Danielle MacDonnell, division chief of Army National Guard G1 operations, stated that they are working hard to resolve the issue and ensure that all eligible soldiers receive their bonuses. She emphasized the importance of holding themselves to higher standards and not allowing any overdue payments.
The Army National Guard Incentive Management System (GIMS) is primarily blamed for the problem, along with inadequately trained staff. GIMS, which is over a decade old, experienced significant downtime in 2018 and 2021, making it challenging to track payments for thousands of military personnel.
Furthermore, the fact that most National Guard members serve part-time limits their access to staff members who could assist them in resolving payment issues.
Some soldiers have been informed that their states are out of money, but it is important to note that bonuses are paid from a central budget that is not dependent on state budgets.
Efforts are being made to address the misinformation and improve the payment process. However, the delays have left soldiers frustrated and questioning their commitment to the National Guard.
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