Before that date, reservists had to have been on active duty for 31 or more days for their survivors to qualify for those benefits. To have a good year toward retirement and maintain regular participation in the Reserve, reservists serve a minimum of 12 unit training assembly weekends and two weeks of annual tour. Most reservists participate more than the minimum required days. They receive four days of active-duty base pay for two UTA days. These days are considered inactive duty for training and are also referred to as drill days.
Reservists receive one day of active duty pay for every annual tour day.
They can also pick up pay for serving on man-days in support of either their unit or another unit or to attend a training school. In addition to reserve duty pay, reservists receive quarters and meal allowances depending on their status. Some are eligible for special pays, such as imminent danger, foreign language proficiency and flight pay. Although foreign language proficiency pay is prorated according to the number of days on duty, imminent danger pay was recently changed to pay reservists an entire month s allowance if they serve one day. This is just one example of how reservists have achieved parity with their active-duty counterparts.