Service Members Paychecks During a Government Shutdown?

I've been digging a little into the military as a potential post-high school plan, and came across something I found a bit concerning: what happens to service members' paychecks during a government shutdown? I suppose it's something that could potentially impact me if I decided to enlist. So, are military branches' paychecks still being received during these periods?

In the event of a government shutdown, military servicemembers can indeed experience a delay in their scheduled pay. However, in recent years, legislation has been passed to protect their pay and ensure they receive their salaries in a timely manner even during a government shutdown.

This is due to the Pay Our Military Act, passed by Congress in 2013, which safeguards the pay of active-duty military members and civilian Defense Department employees who support them, even during a government shutdown. This legislation means that during a shutdown, military personnel should still receive their paycheck as normal, albeit with a possible slight delay.

However, the effect of a shutdown on military pay can depend on the length of the shutdown and on Congress’s actions. If a shutdown were to occur, the specifics of how military pay would be handled would depend on the circumstances at the time and whether any new legislation is enacted.

While it seems a bit unnerving, keep in mind that government shutdowns are fairly rare and usually brief when they do occur. But it's a great idea to keep this aspect in mind while making decisions about potential future plans, as it can indeed impact the financial security that comes with military service.