Fact check: What is the current base pay for E-1 to E-9 ranks in the National Guard versus active duty?

1. Summary of the results

The current base pay for E-1 to E-9 ranks in the military is provided in several sources, including ^[1], ^[2], and ^[3], which all list the base pay for each rank, with the base pay for E-1 being $2,319.00, E-2 being $2,599.20, E-3 being $2,733.00, E-4 being $3,027.30, E-5 being $3,220.50, E-6 being $3,276.60, E-7 being $3,788.10, E-8 being $5,449.50, and E-9 being $6,657.30 ^{[1] [2] [3]}. However, none of the sources provide a direct comparison between the base pay for National Guard and active duty. Some sources, such as ^[4], discuss improvements in state active duty pay for National Guard members, which can be higher than federal active duty pay for certain ranks ^[4]. Additionally, sources like ^[3] mention that the pay charts reflect the January 1st 4.5 percent and the additional April 1st 10 percent increase over calendar year 2024's rate of basic pay for the active components of the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key piece of missing context is the lack of explicit comparison between National Guard and active duty pay in the provided sources ^{[1] [2] [3]}. Alternative viewpoints, such as the potential differences in pay between National Guard and active duty, are not fully explored in the sources. For example, ^[4] provides information on state active duty pay for National Guard members, but this is specific to Maryland and does not provide a comprehensive comparison ^[4]. Furthermore, sources like ^[5] discuss differential pay for active reservists and National Guard members, but this is related to postal employees and does not provide relevant information on the current base pay for E-1 to E-9 ranks ^[5]. The sources primarily focus on active duty pay, with limited discussion on National Guard pay, which may indicate a lack of available information or a gap in the analysis ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading as it implies that a direct comparison between National Guard and active duty pay for E-1 to E-9 ranks is available, when in fact, none of the sources provide such a comparison ^{[1] [2] [3]}. This may benefit those who are looking to recruit for active duty, as the lack of clear information on National Guard pay may make active duty appear more attractive ^{[1] [2] [3]}. On the other hand, the limited discussion on National Guard pay may also disadvantage National Guard members who are seeking information on their pay ^[4]. Overall, the potential misinformation and bias in the original statement highlight the need for more comprehensive and transparent information on military pay ^{[1] [2] [3]}.