Drill Pay and Retirement Points
United States Army Reservists (or, simply, Reservists) use their own language to describe regular training opportunities. While the common term is “drill”, from the legal requirement to regularly meet and prove individual and unit readiness, the Reserves also uses the term “Battle Assembly” or simply, “BA” to describe the typical one weekend per month when you meet to perform duties. BA is the act of performing Inactive Duty Training (IDT) drills and is calculated as 1/30th of the active-duty basic monthly pay for each drill period, or the equivalent of one day of active duty base pay plus two retirement points (note: Reservists receive one retirement point per MUTA, and a duty day consists of two MUTAs). The rate of pay depends on a Soldier's length of service and Army rank. In the Army Reserves, these are combined in four-hour drill periods are called Mandatory Unit Training Assemblies or “MUTAs”. The law allows for payment of two MUTAs in any 24-hour period, even if a Reservist is on duty for the full 24 hours. For a typical 2-day drill weekend with 4 MUTA periods, totaling two eight-hour pay periods, or the equivalent of two days of active duty base pay and four retirement points. Reservists are always in a Title 10 status, either as inactive duty, which is between training events, or in an active duty status when on orders for pay and/or retirement points. Payable periods include: Annual Training, Battle Assembly, Practicums, or CH-BOLC attendance.
Pay Frequency
Military pay dates are typically the 1st and 15th of each month with some adjustment for weekends and Federal holidays. Reservists should expect to be paid for BA once per month, usually at the end of the month. During months where Annual Training or other duties are performed, Reservists may be paid twice per month. Pay is processed by the unit through Defense Finance and Accounting Services or “DFAS”. DFAS maintains an online portal called My Pay where you can view your pay stubs which are also called “Leave and Earning Statements” or simply a “LES”. My Pay also allows Reservist to access tax forms and other information at https://mypay.dfas.mil/ as you have already learned in this training program. It is important to login monthly to verify that you have been paid. It is strongly recommended that you save copies of every LES in case you ever need to provide documentation to dispute a discrepancy with pay or retirement points. To make this point clearer: you can use a LES to validate your duty status if you ever need to correct your records, which happens more than anyone would like.
How many days must I work? / How many days can I work?
As a Chaplain Candidate, you should plan to drill every month. At a minimum, you should aim to work enough days each year to earn a “good year” toward retirement. Since retirement points are a key factor in calculating retirement pay and eligibility for retirement, it's good to understand the definition of a “good year.” To earn a good year in the Army Reserves, that is to say one that counts toward retirement, you must earn 50 retirement points. Most years you will easily earn more than the minimum. For example, if you attend drill for 11 months, and earn 4 points per drill, you would earn 44 points, needing only 6 more points to make a good year. The maximum limit to how many days you can serve is based on the availability of funding in any given year. In addition to drilling, you may be able to attend Annual Training and CH-BOLC, or it may be either-or, and be put on orders for other training opportunities. Review the “Army Reserve Retirement Point Information Guide” in the Resource box for more retirement details.
Drill sign-in process
In the USAR, most units use an attendance roster. This can be as a single document every member must sign before the duty day starts and after the duty day ends or by section. If attendance is taken by your section, a representative, usually an non-commissioned officer records your presence or absence on a pay roster, after first formation. Your unit is accountable for you from the time you leave home until you arrive at drill, until the point you depart drill and return home. Be sure to let your leaders know if you’re running late or have an accident. A quick text to your Chaplain supervisor or Religious Affairs Specialist is advisable before you leave and when you get home for accountability purposes. Accountability is critical and unexcused absences will be reported. You may receive verbal warnings for being late, formal counseling for repeated tardiness, or reported as absent without leave—otherwise known as “AWOL”—if you miss BA. AWOL is a serious offense with dire consequences. By law, your commander can send local law enforcement to check on your whereabouts, and you may be dishonorably discharged from the Army if you commit AWOL.
Rescheduled Training (RST)
Sometimes you will have a conflict with a scheduled drill. Most Reserve units have a procedure to request rescheduled training, so you can make up the days you missed. RST must be approved by your supervisor and the unit Commander BEFORE the scheduled absence. Often this involves completing a form to request the RST. Most units will accommodate Chaplains and Chaplain Candidates with ministry positions or school schedules that require them to be at church on Sundays, attend classes, or attend endorser’s conferences by allowing them to reschedule drill from Saturday-Sunday to Friday-Saturday. The key is to ask in advance, and to understand that there will still be times when you may have to be absent from civilian ministry commitments. Proactive communication with both the Army and the religious organization is critical.
Drilling for points
Ideally, as a Chaplain Candidate, you will receive both pay and retirement points for BA. However, there are occasions where you may be able to drill for retirement points only when pay is not available. As with rescheduled training, ask your leadership BEFORE you attempt to drill for points and BEFORE you complete any individual training (such as computer-based courses) for which you intend to request points. Prior approval from your supervisor and unit Commander is required.
Uniform Allowance
USAR Officers receive a one-time $400 clothing allowance upon completing at least 14 days of active duty (such as Annual Training) or active duty for training (such as CH-BOLC) -or- upon completing 14 periods of inactive-duty training (14 MUTAs). As an officer, you are expected to purchase all of your uniforms throughout your career. Keep your receipts! The unreimbursed cost of uniforms may be tax deductible for uniforms you purchase as a reservist.
Individual Disbursement for Travel and Lodging in Kind
Sometimes it is wise to travel further for a better experience. This may become advisable to get a new unit type, a new supervisor, or when completing some aspects of your endorsement requirements. If your home of record is further than 150 miles from the unit address, measured zip code to zip code, you may request an individual disbursement for travel or “IDT”. IDT is up to $500 to help defray the cost of travel; it can be used to pay for travel expenses, food, and incidentals incurred while traveling. The IDT request must be approved before drill, is based on unit commander approval, and is based on available funds. If approved, you will use the defense travel system, or “DTS”, to submit a local voucher to reimburse you for expenses incurred while traveling. This can include airfare, rental vehicles, parking, and tolls. If you live over 50 miles from the unit, you may qualify for lodging in kind, or “LIK”. This program offers no-cost lodging options to service members at either a contracted hotel, barracks, or government accommodation. Again, this must be pre-approved by the unit and is based on funds’ availability. If you meet the distance qualifications, please discuss these programs with your unit Commander when in-processing the unit.