To:      EANGUS Members
From:  EANGUS National Office

Please share the following Roll Call: Drill Weekend Talking Points with other unit members

According to a new Pentagon policy published in February, National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers will receive a Defense Department (DD) Form 214 following their completion of service. DoD Instruction memo dated Feb. 17, 2022, gives the Services three years to implement the change.

The Pentagon action follows language in the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act requiring the DoD to develop a form that documents a Reserve Component member’s entire time of service. This legislation was supported by EANGUS for over four years and has been closely monitored by the EANGUS legislative team.

Currently, National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers only receive a DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) if they serve more than 90 days on active-duty orders. The form NGB-22 documents cumulative National Guard service. The NGB-22 and the Reserve Component’s training documents have proven to be complicated for VA and other state agencies to evaluate when determining eligibility for National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers.

“EANGUS is excited that DoD has finally taken a positive step forward and created this policy to ensure that National Guard and Reserve Component Servicemembers receive a DD 214 upon completion of their service,” said retired Sergeant Major Matthew Krenz, the EANGUS Executive Director. “However, we believe that there should be additional times other than after service when National Guard and Reserve Component Servicemembers should receive a DD 214. The current legislation introduced in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate provides additional criteria for when the DD 214 should be issued, and EANGUS will continue to monitor this legislation moving forward.”

Retired Brig. Gen. J. Roy Robinson, the NGAUS president, testified to Congress last month that he often hears of benefits being denied “from the Department of Veterans Affairs or state agencies because they require a DD-214,” which many National Guard Servicemembers lack.

When implemented, the DoD instruction will ensure National Guard Servicemembers and Reservists will receive a DD-214-1 (Certificate of Uniformed Service, Reserve Component Addendum) upon separation or retirement; the DD-214-1 is a new form created by the instruction.

National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers will still receive a standard DD-214-1 if they serve for 90 days or more on federal active duty for training, full-time training duty, active duty for operational support, or more than 30 days of action on a contingency operation. This instruction does not apply to Guardsmen and Reservists who separate or retire before fully implementing the program. It is also policy and not law. Legislation in both the House and Senate would codify the requirement in law.

Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., and Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio are the original sponsors of the Record of Military Service for Members of the Armed Forces Act (H.R. 7041), which was introduced last month. The EANGUS Legislative Director, Kevin Hollinger, has worked with these Congressional Members’ staff to help push this legislation.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., introduced similar legislation (S. 1291) in the Senate last year, And Sen. Lankford’s MLA, Courtney Fellows, worked diligently on this legislation. Mrs. Fellows also received the EANGUS Militia Award.

Both bills would provide National Guard Servicemembers and Reservists a DD-214 documenting cumulative service at regular intervals, which EANGUS favors, not just at separation or retirement.

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The application period closes on 31 May 2022, at 11:59 pm (MST)

Please note: SDI is unable to offer this scholarship to Guard Members who reside in Connecticut, New York, Washington, D.C., Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, and Guam. 

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The annual conference brings 1,000+ attendees consisting of EANGUS members, National Guard Leadership, State Association Senior Enlisted Leaders, representation from Joint Services, and product end-users.

We are excited to have the National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leaders (CSEL) present at the EANGUS Conference who jointly hold their annual conference at the same location. In addition, many of the Army National Guard Command Sergeants Major, as well as the Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sergeants from the State and Wing Levels, will be in attendance. Furthermore, each year, EANGUS has a hundred or more National Guard Servicemembers attend our annual conference for Professional Development purposes and our Senior Enlisted leaders provide invaluable insight and mentorship to those that attend. The Senior Enlisted Leaders of the National Guard support EANGUS and their participation greatly increases the value that our attendees receive.

www.eangusconference.org

The Foundation has received funding from USAA for  the EANGUS We Care for America COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant and Interest-Free Loan Program.

With thousands of National Guard members and their families facing financial hardships as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the United Services Automobile Association (USAA), the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) We Care for America Foundation, and the American Red Cross are teaming up to help National Guard members and families in need.

Go to the EANGUS-WCFA website for criteria to apply for COVID-19 Grants and COVID-19 Interest-Free Loans.

EANGUS-WCFA Programs

Did you know there are several ways to donate to the We Care for America Foundation?

Want to help make a difference while you shop in the Amazon app, at no extra cost to you? Simply follow the instructions below to select “EANGUS We Care for America Foundation Inc” as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app. They’ll donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us.

How it works: 
1. Open the Amazon app on your phone
2. Select the main menu (=) & tap on “AmazonSmile” within Programs & Features
3. Select “EANGUS We Care For America Foundation Inc” as your charity
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app

OPERATION VETCARE

Operation VetCare was established in 2017 by EANGUS is a program designed to assist Military Service Members, Veterans, and their families who faced special issues or challenges associated with military service. This program has continued to grow over the last several years. Assistance provided through this program may vary based on the limited funds available but may assist by providing support in the form of gift cards for food, clothing, and other necessary items during a service-related crisis.  Through this program, EANGUS has been able to assist hundreds of people during a time of significant need. Click button for more information on how you can support this initiative through donations or to request assistance.

Operation VetCare

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