Federal orders OR STATE ORDERS, ALL RESERVISTS should get the SAME BENEFITS for meeting the same active time requirements.

During the height of the pandemic, reservists left behind their everyday lives on short notice for six month or more to fulfill their military duty,  and they all should be compensated the same.

In one specific example, Marine reservists and National Guardsmen reservists were working side-by-side at the same vaccination site to support the effort - Marines were on state orders, and National Guardsman on federal orders.  Because of the type of orders,  National Guardsmen reservists at the site who were active for 180+ days were granted veteran status alongside veteran's benefits, but Marine reservists were not. 

Some of these benefits can can go a long way, but the way they are granted is inconsistent at best. Benefits for reservists with veteran status include(va.gov):

VA-backed home loan Certificate of Eligibility, GI Bill and other education benefits, support for Veteran-owned small businesses, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), pre-discharge disability claims, disability compensation, disability housing grants, life insurance for self and family, converting life insurance after separation, more life insurance options

Let's build support and send a message to our congressional representatives and senators - that our military brothers and sisters should be compensated fairly, equally, and not one should be locked out of these benefits unfairly.

Semper Fi

Photo from Associated Press