Expert: James Bell - 9/22/2004

Question
1. Are there any differences in the military and family benefits given to National Guard troops overseas verses Regular full time military personnel?

2. Was there a difference in the death Benefits paid  to families of Military dead after the president declared an end to armed conflict in Iraq as compared to Military death benefits before the end of the war?

Thanks ahead

Answer
Greetings Walter -

Forgive my not responding earlier, somehow your question was dropped from my e-mail.

When a Reservist or National Guardsman are activated and sent overseas, they are on active duty and receive the same benefits as their active duty brethren.

As far as differences to benefits prior to the war versus after, the benefits have not changed in over 30 years.  Although I don't know the specific details of the entire program, I know there is an initial $6,000 tax free payment, and the rest comes later.

The military has a life insurance program called SGLI ... Servicesmans Group Life Insurance.  When I joined in 1980, the basic policy was $75,000.  In the early 80's it went up to $100,000, then $200,000 in the early 90s.

I remember a nasty situation in the early 90s where two C-141s collided over Montana in the middle of the night, killing all 13 crewmembers.  The very night that the policies increased from 100K to 200K.  The military refused to pay out the higher amounts because the accident happened at 11:45 pm LOCAL time ... but the arguement the families made is that everything the military does IN THE AIR is based on Zulu time ... which had already passed midnight.  The military finally conceded, but it took MANY years.

I hope this answers your question.  If not, don't hesitate to write back.  I'll try and respond quicker.

Sincerely,
James Bell