Duckworth Discusses Incentive Pay Parity with Director of the Army National Guard, Jon Jensen

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke with Lieutenant General Jon Jensen, the Director of the Army National Guard. Duckworth and Jensen discussed the modernization of the General Jones Armory in Chicago, incentive pay parity for National Guard members and ongoing National Guard operations—including wildfire response and COVID-19 support.

“I had a productive discussion today with LTG Jensen today about his priorities for the National Guard, as well as my push to ensure the National Guard and Reserve forces are fairly compensated for maintaining some of the same critical skills as their Active Component counterparts,” Duckworth said. “I look forward to working with him on this important issue and many others.” 

Duckworth successfully secured a provision in the 2022 Committee-passed defense bill that would make sure each service is paying its Guard and Reserve members the same monthly incentive pay for maintaining critical skills and taking on hazardous duty as those in the active component. The provision codifies a modified version of Duckworth’s National Guard and Reserve Incentive Pay Parity Act, which she introduced this May.

Duckworth also sent a letter in May to Gen. Hokansen respectfully requesting that the National Guard Bureau provide full and fair consideration for the General Jones Armory renovation construction project during the national competition for MILCON funding. 

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