37 U.S.C. § 206 (PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES)
§ 206. Reserves; members of National Guard; members of the Space Force: inactive-duty training
(a) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, and to the extent provided for by appropriations, a member of the National Guard, a member of a reserve component of a uniformed service, or a member of the Space Force who is not entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this title, is entitled to compensation, at the rate of 1⁄30 of the basic pay authorized for a member of a uniformed service of a corresponding grade entitled to basic pay—
(1) for each regular period of instruction, or period of appropriate duty, at which the member is engaged for at least two hours, including that performed on a Sunday or holiday;
(2) for the performance of such other equivalent training, instruction, duty, or appropriate duties, as the Secretary may prescribe;
(3) for a regular period of instruction that the member is scheduled to perform but is unable to perform because of physical disability resulting from an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated—
(A) in line of duty while performing—
(i) active duty; or
(ii) inactive-duty training;
(B) while traveling directly to or from that duty or training (unless such injury, illness, disease, or aggravation of an injury, illness, or disease is the result of the gross negligence or misconduct of the member); or
(C) in line of duty while remaining overnight immediately before the commencement of inactive-duty training, or while remaining overnight, between successive periods of inactive-duty training, at or in the vicinity of the site of the inactive-duty training; or
(4) for a regular period of instruction, period of appropriate duty, or such other equivalent training that a member would be required to perform but does not perform because such member was authorized to take parental leave pursuant to section 711 of title 10 or family leave under section 2512 of title 14.
(b) The regulations prescribed under subsection (a) for each uniformed service, the National Guard, and each of the classes of organization of the reserve components within each uniformed service, may be different. The Secretary concerned shall, for the National Guard and each of the classes of organization within each uniformed service, prescribe—
(1) minimum standards that must be met before an assembly for drill or other equivalent period of training, instruction, duty, or appropriate duties may be credited for pay purposes, and those standards may require the presence for duty of officers and enlisted members in numbers equal to or more than a minimum number or percentage of the unit strength for a specified period of time with participation in a prescribed kind of training;
(2) the maximum number of assemblies or periods of other equivalent training, instruction, duty, or appropriate duties, that may be counted for pay purposes in each fiscal year or in lesser periods of time; and
(3) the minimum number of assemblies or periods of other equivalent training, instruction, duty, or appropriate duties that must be completed in stated periods of time before the members of units or organizations can qualify for pay.
(c) A person enlisted in the inactive National Guard is not entitled to pay under this section.
(d)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), this section does not authorize compensation for work or study performed by a member of a reserve component, by a member of the Space Force, or by a member of the National Guard while not in Federal service in connection with correspondence courses of a uniformed service.
(2) A member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve or the Space Force, 1 may be paid compensation under this section at a rate and under terms determined by the Secretary of Defense, but not to exceed the rate otherwise applicable to the member under subsection (a), upon the member’s successful completion of a course of instruction undertaken by the member using electronic-based distributed learning methodologies to accomplish training requirements related to unit readiness or mobilization, as directed for the member by the Secretary concerned. The compensation may be paid regardless of whether the course of instruction was under the direct control of the Secretary concerned or included the presence of an instructor.
(3) The prohibition in paragraph (1), including the prohibition as it relates to a member of the National Guard while not in Federal service, applies to—
(A) any work or study performed on or after September 7, 1962, unless that work or study is specifically covered by the exception in paragraph (2); and
(B) any claim based on that work or study arising after that date.
(e) A member of the National Guard, a reserve component of the uniformed services, or the Space Force may not be paid under this section for more than four periods of equivalent training, instruction, duty, or appropriate duties performed during a fiscal year instead of the member’s regular period of instruction or regular period of appropriate duty during that fiscal year.
(f) A member of the Individual Ready Reserve is not entitled to compensation under this section for participation in screening for which the member is paid a stipend under section 433a of this title.
(Pub. L. 87–649, Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 460; Pub. L. 98–525, title XIV, § 1402(a), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2620; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title VI, § 604(c), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3876; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VI, § 631(c), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1985; Pub. L. 102–25, title VII, § 702(b)(1), (c), Apr. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 117; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title VII, § 702(d), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 371; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 513(g), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1732; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 513(e), title VI, § 603(a), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1093, 1133; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 604, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3287; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, § 607, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2247; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 633(b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 155; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VI, § 602(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3670; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VI, § 601(b), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 288; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title VI, § 601(b)(4), div. G, title LXXII, § 7225(c), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 902, 1705.)
text: Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
206(a)
37:301(a) (less 45 words before proviso and proviso).
37:301(e) (as applicable to basic pay).
Oct. 12, 1949, ch. 681, § 501(a) (less 45 words before proviso), (b) (less 1st sentence), (e) (as applicable to basic pay), 63 Stat. 825, 827; Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, § 20(e), (f), 70A Stat. 629; June 30, 1960, Pub. L. 86–559, § 8, 74 Stat. 282.
206(b)
37:301(a) (proviso).
206(c)
32:303(c).
[None.]
206(d)
37:301(b) (less 1st sentence).
In subsection (a), the words “National Guard” are substituted for the words “National Guard, Air National Guard”, in section 301(a) of existing title 37, to conform to the definition of “National Guard” in section 101(6) of this revised title. The words “member of a reserve component of a uniformed service” are substituted for the words “National Guard of the United States, Air National Guard of the United States, Organized Reserve Corps, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, and the Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service,” since all of those organizations, or their successors, are the reserve components of the uniformed services. The words “who is not entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this title” are substituted for section 301(e) as (applicable to basic pay) of existing title 37. The words “of a corresponding grade” are inserted for clarity.
In subsection (b), the words “National Guard or reserve components” are substituted for the listing of organizations for the reasons set forth above. Reference to “classes of organization,” so far as they relate to the National Guard, are omitted, since there are no classes of organization of the National Guard.
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Prior Provisions
text: Provisions similar to those comprising subsec. (e) of this section were contained in the following appropriation acts:
Pub. L. 98–473, title I, § 101(h) [title VIII, § 8020], Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1904, 1927.
Pub. L. 98–212, title VII, § 722, Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1442.
Pub. L. 97–377, title I, § 101(c) [title VII, § 725], Dec. 21, 1982, 96 Stat. 1833, 1855.
Pub. L. 97–114, title VII, § 725, Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1583.
Pub. L. 96–527, title VII, § 726, Dec. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 3086.
Pub. L. 96–154, title VII, § 726, Dec. 21, 1979, 93 Stat. 1157.
Pub. L. 95–457, title VIII, § 826, Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1248.
heading: Amendments
text: 2025—Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(b)(4)(A), inserted “; members of the Space Force” after “National Guard” in section catchline. Catchline text was editorially conformed to the style used in this title.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(b)(4)(B), in introductory provisions, substituted “Guard, a” for “Guard or a” and inserted “, or a member of the Space Force” after “uniformed service” the first place it appears.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7225(c), inserted “or family leave under section 2512 of title 14” before period at end.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(b)(4)(C)(i), inserted “, by a member of the Space Force,” after “reserve component”.
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(b)(4)(C)(ii), inserted “or the Space Force,” after “Ready Reserve”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(b)(4)(D), substituted “Guard, a” for “Guard or of a” and inserted “, or the Space Force” after “uniformed services”.
2023—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 118–31 amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: “for each of six days for each period during which the member is on maternity leave.”
2021—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 116–283 added par. (4).
2008—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–181 added subsec. (f).
2006—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 109–163 inserted “or by a member of the National Guard while not in Federal service” after “reserve component”.
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 109–364 added par. (3).
2001—Subsec. (a)(3)(C). Pub. L. 107–107, § 513(e), struck out “, if the site is outside reasonable commuting distance from the member’s residence” before period at end.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–107, § 603(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (2), this section” for “This section” and “a uniformed service” for “an armed force”, and added par. (2).
1997—Subsec. (a)(3)(C). Pub. L. 105–85 inserted “while remaining overnight immediately before the commencement of inactive-duty training, or” after “in line of duty”.
1996—Subsec. (a)(3)(C). Pub. L. 104–106 added subpar. (C).
1991—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–25 struck out “of this section” after “subsection (a)”.
1988—Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 100–456 struck out “for a period of 30 days or less” after “active duty”.
1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–661, substituted “entitled to basic pay—” and pars. (1) to (3) for “entitled to basic pay, for each regular period of instruction, or period of appropriate duty, at which he is engaged for at least two hours, including that performed on a Sunday or holiday, or for the performance of such other equivalent training, instruction, duty, or appropriate duties, as the Secretary may prescribe.”
1984—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–525 added subsec. (e).
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2023 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 118–31 effective on Oct. 1, 2024, and applicable with respect to periods of parental leave that commence on or after such date, see section 601(e) of Pub. L. 118–31, set out as an Effective Date note under section 711 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
heading: Effective Date of 2021 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective, and applicable with respect to periods of maternity leave that commence on or after, Jan. 1, 2021, see section 602(c) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note under section 12732 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
heading: Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 100–456 applicable with respect to persons who, after Sept. 29, 1988, incur or aggravate an injury, illness, or disease, or who die as the result of incurring or aggravating an injury, illness, or disease, see section 631(d) of Pub. L. 100–456, set out as a note under section 204 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 98–525 effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 1404 of Pub. L. 98–525, set out as a note under section 520b of Title 10, Armed Forces.