It has been three years since the Texas National Guard mission to secure the border with Mexico began but reports about the Guardsmen down there have been limited.
National news outlets and political parties have reported their differing opinions on the mission, dubbed Operation Lone Star, but any details about what the mission for the actual soldiers on the front line are often left out.
A hearing of the Texas House Committee on Defense & Veterans’ Affairs on Aug. 20, provided more details and some Guardsmen decided to speak out under the condition of anonymity.
One Guardsman revealed he makes more money than he did on active duty but the mission is still a deployment away from home.
He says he volunteered for the mission and was able to request what part of the border he would deploy to.
“When you go, I guess, apply, they ask you where you want to go, and they just completely don’t acknowledge that,” he told Texas Public Radio. “Why are you going to ask me and, you know, possibly get my hopes up that I can be home, and [then] completely ignore my requests?”
According to a report in August of 2023, Operation Lone Star is different from a typical deployment, in terms of compensation for Guardsmen.
National Guardsmen who are deployed to the border are making significantly more than on active duty.
Operation Lone Star is different from the typical deployment in terms of pay.
The lowest-ranking soldiers received $140.00 per day in base pay and benefits and some enlisted soldiers in the upper ranks earned up to $254.73 per day.
According to a document released by the Texas Military Department in 2022, “E5 and below w/ less than 8 years of service and no dependents or E5 and below w/ less than 4 years of service with dependents will make no less than $151 a day + $59 daily allowance = $210.”
The document also states the Army/Air National Guard deployed to the border received hardship duty pay ($500 a month) and imminent danger pay ($225 a month).
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