DE HB407

Repeals § 126 eliminating the positions of Service Officer and Assistant Service Officer in the Department of Military Affairs.

Expands Governor's authority to call out Delaware National Guard members for planning impending emergencies, interstate emergency agreements, training, and other non-emergency functions, and adds authority to call out members sentenced to incarceration by court-martial to state active duty with no pay.

Modifies compensation for National Guard members on state duty: emergency/impending emergency responses receive twice the standard per diem and allowances, while non-emergency training and functions receive standard per diem and allowances.

Repeals § 183 (uniform and equipment allowances for officers) and § 186 (compensation for unused sick leave for technicians), and amends § 185 to clarify that state-employed technicians receive retirement, health, severance, and sick leave benefits under state merit system rules rather than federal military technician program rules.

Adds new § 188 requiring annual briefings for Delaware National Guard members on state-sponsored life insurance benefits, and expands the Delaware National Guard Medal eligibility to include voluntary service for 30+ consecutive days in Department of Defense-designated combat zones.

Amends retirement provisions to require honorable discharge for 25-year service members seeking retirement at next higher grade, and authorizes Adjutant General to establish selection panels and regulations for post-discharge promotion requests.