Reserve Duty Costs Average Fed $3,000 a Year

Being called to active military duty costs the average federal employee about $3,000 a year, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated, although cautioning that some employees actually come out ahead because their military compensation is higher than their civilian federal pay. CBO made that estimate in assessing a provision in the Senate-passed Defense Department authorization bill for fiscal 2005 which would authorize an increase in federal salaries to pay for the difference between civilian and military compensation for federal employees called to active duty in the uniformed services or National Guard. CBO estimated that such a benefit would be worth $58 million to employees in 2005 and $206 million over five years. The legislation also would authorize retroactive pay for the difference between civilian and military compensation for federal employees activated since October 11, 2002, a benefit to employees