When the national guard or any part thereof is ordered on active duty in the service of the state, the enlisted personnel, the commissioned officers and warrant officers so ordered shall be entitled to the same pay as enlisted personnel, officers and warrant officers of like grade and length of service in the armed forces of the United States and they shall be entitled to the same allowances as enlisted personnel, officers and warrant officers of like grade and length of service in the armed forces of the United States. All payments of pay and allowances under this section shall be made by the adjutant general. No deductions shall be made from the pay of officers or enlisted personnel in active service of the state for dues or other financial obligations imposed by any bylaw, rules or regulations of a civil character. When lodging or meals, or both, cannot be provided by the state, the adjutant general may pay a per diem in addition to the pay and allowances. Nothing in this section shall preclude officers or enlisted personnel in active service of the state from accepting, in lieu of the pay entitlement provided above, greater pay and allowances that may be available from any other government department or agency through cooperative agreement or otherwise.