Final answer:
Military benefits are available to guard and reserve personnel when activated for more than 30 days, reflecting increased responsibilities similar to active duty servicemembers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Guard and reserve personnel qualify for military benefits when they are activated for a period in excess of 30 days. Activation can occur under various circumstances, such as engagement in active duty during wartime, in a national emergency, or as ordered by the president. The period of activation exceeding 30 days enables reservists and members of the National Guard to receive similar benefits to those on active duty.
It is important to note that during the Iraq War, nearly 28 percent of US forces consisted of mobilized National Guard and other Reserve components. The trend of increasing the duties of the Guard and Reserve continues, reflecting the evolving nature and requirements of military service. For example, the Army's top general in July 2012 stated his intention to increase the annual drill requirement from two weeks to up to seven weeks per year, signaling a potential increase in the operational tempo for reservists.
Congress holds the power to call out the National Guard, also known as the militia, as per Section 8 Clauses 15 and 16 of the U.S. Constitution. When called into national service, the Federal government is required to fund their deployment and can govern their actions, though the states retain some control over training and officer appointments.