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Modernizing the Total Force for the Future
Faster, more accurate personnel tracking for timely deployment/ response with correct pay
Similar pay & benefits for similar work across the Total Force
Four categories & contiguous service reduces disruptions in pay and benefits when RC Members transition between orders
Aligns the 29 authorities to four categories
Services have discretion to provide points and/or pay for approved activities
Previous studies identified several areas where the current construct can be improved, nested in six major areas:
The construct provides the Services and commanders with greater flexibility when employing Reserve Component resources. The streamlining of authorities allows for the seamless transition of duty purposes while on the same order, in turn ensuring continuity of pay and benefits.
The reform reduces complexity by keeping members on fewer orders for the entire duty period, as long as the duty stays within the same category. This prevents breaks in service and disruptions to pay or benefits, while still tracking the purpose of duty without requiring new orders. It also standardizes pay and benefits across the Total Force for all members serving in the same duty category, ensuring fairness and consistency.
The proposed structure aligns pay and benefits to four categories. This alignment ensures all members performing duty under each category will receive the same pay (commensurate with pay grade and years of service) and benefits, provided they meet eligibility requirements.
The proposed system aligns a duty status authority to a category. Under the current construct, each time the purpose changes, or when service shifts between voluntary and involuntary, new orders must be issued. This often disrupts pay and benefits, which may be terminated or delayed during the transition. Because eligibility for certain pays and benefits depends on the type of orders, a service member may lose access to them even while continuing to perform duty for the same mission or requirement.
The Department conducted an in-depth assessment of Inactive Duty, known as RC Duty under Duty Status Reform, and determined it provided much needed flexibility, particularly for partial-day duty periods or short duty periods, and the ability to quickly adapt to training or other requirements, such as providing honors at the funeral of a veteran.
Separating authority from purpose allows members to stay on the same orders even when the mission changes. This ensures pay and benefits match the duty performed, not the issuing authority. It eliminates inequities between members doing the same work and prevents disruptions caused by switching orders, creating a fairer and more stable system.
The Department’s reform preserves Congress’s original intent from 2008 by continuing the benefit for Service members serving under Category I duty authority, which covers deployed and operational missions, including contingency operations. Beginning at implementation, only Category I duty will earn credit toward reduced retirement age. Category II duty will no longer qualify, but members will keep any credit already accrued before the change.