Several volunteer members of the West Virginia National Guard say they are unhappy with the level of pay they are receiving at the southern border as part of Operation Lone Star.
The troops departed West Virginia late last month for the southern border following a deployment ceremony in Charleston. They are assisting the Texas Military Department with that state's ongoing efforts to secure the southern border.
However, the West Virginia troops were under the impression that they would be receiving the same level of pay as the Texas soldiers. All 54 West Virginia soldiers volunteered to participate in the mission.
It was suggested that the pay scale for the West Virginia troops would be the same as the Texas troops, an unnamed guardsman who asked to remain anonymous, said, adding that the Texas soldiers are making about $7,000 a month.
“That is what we were being shown at the briefings,” the soldier, who contacted the Daily Telegraph, said.
Instead, he said the West Virginia troops are getting a salary closer to $2,000 — a difference of nearly $5,000.
“The majority of the troops are junior listed,” the guardsman added. “So they will be making like $2,000 for this month. And that is being optimistic.”
He added that some of the troops who took the volunteer assignment did so for the pay to help with bills and expenses back home.
“Nobody wants surprises,” he said. “I'm here because I like to do Army…
