National Guard member on State Activie Duty (SAD) are temporary employees of the State of Arizona, and are authorized certain benefits.

 

 

  • Standard Operating Procedures for Non-Fire SAD
  • Standard Operating Procedures for Wildland Fire SAD
  • Standard Operating Procedures for Reimbursement of Equipment and Material Used During SAD
   

 

Letter Orders
Due to the often, urgent need to mobilize soldiers/airmen to SAD, a VOCO (Verbal Order of the Commanding Officer) is issued (call-up). Subsequent to the VOCO, a written letter order confirming VOCO by the direction of the governor is issued by the Adjutent General to the SAD member with his/her paycheck. If during this interim period an employer needs verification, Personnel will prepare a memo verifying duty to be performed. Top

 
Pay Roll
Members called to SAD are paid military pay according to the DOD Pay Manual and Military Pay Tables based on years of military service, aviation status, rank and dependent status. SAD pay is calculated on this pay information stored in the Standard Installation Division Personnel Reporting System (SIDPERS) (ARMY) or the Advanced Personnel Data System (AIR). Members must insure the information is up to date in these systems by checking with the unit administrator. Military Pay include Base Pay, Flight Pay, Basic Allowance for Housing II (BAH-II), and basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS). If meals are provided, BAS is not paid. In addition to military pay, enlisted members performing SAD under a declared emergency are authorized an additional $30.00 per day (additional pay provisions do not apply to officers or warrant officers)
  • Fire Duty
    Enlisted Members serving on Fire Duty will be compensated at the Standard Firefighter Rate or the above stated rate, whichever is greater.
 
Payroll corresponds with letter orders. Pay periods end every other Friday, and members are paid two weeks later. Under some conditions it is not unusual for a soldier to receive his/her check 30 days after completion of SAD. Each member will receive a copy of the letter order and a SAD military Pay voucher with their SAD paycheck. If a member believes that there is a pay problem or that they were accounted for incorrectly, they must go through organizational levels to rectify the problem in a timely manner. Top
 

Taxes
SAD members pay FICA?MED, federal, and state taxes. Each member must complete an A-4 (State of Arizona) and W-4 (federal) forms prior to deployment at their home station. The unit forwards these documents up organizational levels to finally arrive at the DEMA State Personnel Office. Members' years-end W-2 forms will reflect total military pay for the entire calendar year. Base pay, flight pay, and $30.00 a day SAD pay will be shown as taxable income. BAQ and BAS will be shown as non-taxable income. If during the year any tax was withheld from allowances, it will be shown properly on the year-end- W-2. Top
 

Workers' Compensation
Workers' Compensation provides medical and wage benefits to a member who sustains an industrial injury or illness which arises out of and within the course and scope of employment. Employment starts when the member reports to his/her respective duty station. Workers' Compensation does not cover commuting to and from work. The Department of Administration, Risk Management Division is the State of Arizona's industrial insurance carrier. There is no policy number because the State of Arizona is self insured.

 

The SAD member must report any injury or illness immediately to their supervisor. It is the supervisor's responsibility to help the member obtain medical attention if necessary.The supervisor should file a Supervisor's Report and an Employer's Report of Industrial Injury. If the injury is serious, call 911 or Urgent Care. Send medical bills for industrial injuries/illnesses through organizational channels the State Personnel Office.
  • Death Benefits
    Per Arizona Revised Statutes 23-1046 under Workers' Compensation Law: In the case of an injury causing death, temporary employees (SAD) are covered under the State of Arizona Workers' Compensation Laws. Benefits are:
 
  • A. Up to $3,000 in burial expenses, payable within one week.
    B. To the Widow/Widower, if childless, 35% of average wage of the deceased:(maxi um wage $2,100 x 35% = $735 per month); to be paid until such spouse's death or upon remarriage with and additional 2 years compensation in one lump sum. Example: A widow for 5 years, and then remarries, receives 7 years pay. payable within 4-6 weeks of receipt of certificate of death.
    C. To the Widow/Widower if children exist, an additional amount of 15% for each child until the age of 18 or until the age of 22 if the child is enrolled as a full-time student. Total compensation is not to exceed 66 2/3% of the average. Payable within 4 to 6 weeks of receipt of certificate of death.     Top
 
Health and Disability Insurance
SAD members do not participate in the State's health, life, or disability income insurance programs. Top
 
Holiday Pay
Paid holidays are authorized for SAD personnel who meet the following criteria:
  • A. Must have been on orders at least five days per week for four continuous weeks immediately prior to the legal holiday.
    B. Must have performed SAD on the regularly scheduled day before and the day after the holiday.
 
If a member is required to perform SAD on a legal holiday or if the holiday falls on the member's regularly scheduled day off, and they meet the above conditions, that member will be entitled to holiday compensation in one of the following forms, as determined by MSO:

  • A. The holiday will be moved to another day within the current pay period, and the member will receive one day's pay for that day (preferred).
    -or-
    B. The member will receive one day's standard holiday pay in addition to the normal day's pay. Standard holiday pay consists of military base pay, supplemental salary (if authorized), and flight pay (if authorized). Holiday pay does not include BAH-II or BAQ.     Top
Travel
 Per Diem- Per Diem is an allowance for meals and travel related expenses. Per Diem is authorized only by the Military Support Officer in coordination with the DEMA comptroller. The SAD member must be in an authorized travel status, and will be eligible for reimbursement at a daily maxi um rate of $29.00. Individual meal reimbursement rates are as follows: Top
Breakfast $7.00
Lunch $7.50
Dinner $15.00
To receive Per Diem, a member must be deployed at least 35 miles from their residence and home station. Under certain conditions local travel per diem is available.
 

Lodging
 The SAD member must be in an authorized travel status to be reimbursed for lodging costs. The original lodging receipt is required. Rates vary per city and/or time of year. Where lodging and meals are provided, reimbursement will not be authorized.

 

Procedures for travel claims are included in the Travel Claims Procedures available from the Military Support Office (MSO) through the Task Force Commander. Top
 

Absence from Employment for Military Duty
 Per Arizona Revised Statutes 26-168, an employer shall not refuse to permit members of the National Guard to take a leave of absence from employment for the purpose of complying with competent orders of the state. The leave of absence shall not affect vacation rights which employees otherwise have, except that an employer need not consider the period of absence as a period of work performed for him/her in determining eligibility for vacation and the amount of vacation pay to which the employee is entitled.

 

A member of the National Guard shall not lose seniority or predence while absent under competent military orders. Upon return to employment, the employee shall be returned to his/her previous position, or to a higher position commensurate with his/her ability and experience as seniority or predence would ordinarily entitle him/her. Top
 
Military Leave
Those Guard members who are called to SAD and work full-time for the State of Arizona or any political subdivision to include public school districts are authorized the use of military leave in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes 26-168 (Absence from Employment for Military Duty). This provision does not apply to federal employees. Civilian employers each have their own leave policies that will prevail for their employees on SAD. Top
 
Driver's License
National Guard members performing SAD must have a valid civilian and military driver's license before driving any vehicle on SAD. Top
 
Employees Helping Employees Fund
This is a fund set aside by the State Employees Charitable Campaign for employees to help one another in domestic of economic crisis. The phone number to call is 888-265-0441. (You will be instructed to enter your ten digit telephone number.) Top
 
Employee Assistance Program
This is a confidential counseling service to assist State Employees who are experiencing problems with job performance because of drugs, alcohol, stress, depression, family and marital conflicts, financial and legal issues and interpersonal conflicts. Their phone number is 602-542-4200. Employee Assistance Program Brochure Top