Recommendation:
According to current National Guard Bureau and subsequent Air/Army National Guard Directorate Policies, all T32 Active Guard Reserve and Dual Status Technicians are exempt from; all Selected Reserve Incentive Programs; Accession Bonuses associated with a new career field; or reenlistment bonuses. The end result is the full time staff is losing qualified staff to either other government services, where they convert to T5 status and remain in the National Guard, or they leave for the commercial sector for higher paying jobs and again remain in the National Guard and are eligible for these programs. This prohibition is also in direct opposition to the Active Component programs and guidance. It is a disservice to the full time staff who work hard to ensure their units are prepared and meeting all regulatory requirements. They typically have more responsibilities across a broader range of topics than someone serving on active duty at the same grade or pay level. Changing the eligibility standards in all recruitment and retention programs to include both dual status technicians and Active Guard Reserve members will allow for the best qualified members to serve in these critical positions. While the cost of turning on these programs could be substantial, the costs associated with a continuous turn over in the full time staff is far greater. The scales are tipped based on training costs, loss of knowledge in the force, and the benefit these skills will bring into the warfighting force during a mobilization. We should move expeditiously to change guidance and install these incentives for the full time force.