Pay and Benefit Basics

Pay and benefits in the Air National Guard are dependent on skills, rank, experience and pay grade. General guidelines are that those who have been in the guard longer are paid more; those who receive promotions also receive more. Officers, who generally have college-level education, are paid better and have more extensive benefits than enlisted guardsmen. Pay grades differ even among guardsmen of the same rank, with E-1 being the lowest pay grade and O-7 being the highest.

Pay Scales

Air National Guard service members are paid along varying scales. At the lowest pay grade, E-1, service members with less than two years experience receive $204.20 in monthly drill pay as of 2014. They give one weekend of drill service per month, and two weeks of active duty training at some point during the year for at least six years. Their pay grade is higher during the two weeks they're on active duty training. As of 2014, officers' pay starts at $387.37 per month at the lowest pay grade and experience level. Members usually receive promotions with experience, and their pay increases automatically with each year they serve. Service members who are deployed into active duty are paid on the same pay grade as active duty personnel.

Health Benefits

The benefits for service in the Air National Guard are pretty competitive. Among other things, service members are eligible for military health insurance and educational benefits. Members of the Air National Guard are eligible for the Tricare Reserve Select health insurance benefit and may purchase insurance through this program for their families as well. As of 2014, the monthly premium for Tricare Reserve Select is $51.68 for an individual service member and $204.29 for both the service member and his family. The annual deductible for the plan at the E-4 pay grade or below is $50 for individuals and $100 for families. After the deductible, service members pay a portion of medical costs, which varies depending on whether or not the provider is in network. The member's expense is subject to a catastrophic cap — a maximum total healthcare cost of $1,000 in a single fiscal year.

Education Benefits

Members of the Air National Guard qualify for federal education benefits as a reward for their commitment to serve. Service members who spend at least six years in the Guard are eligible for educational assistance from the Montgomery G.I. Bill, which pays a large portion of the costs of college. Service members may also be able to have their past student loans repaid by the military, though eligibility for this program varies.