"the
impossible takes a bit longer....."
Some
Service Members Eligible For Wartime Pay, Benefits
American
Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2001
--
Some active duty and reserve component troops may qualify under
federal law for extra duty pays and benefits for their contributions
in the war on terrorism. For example, guardsmen and reservists called
to active duty by President Bush Sept. 14 in the wake of the Sept. 11
terror attacks on the New York World Trade Center and the Pentagon
are eligible for a variety of contingency benefits, said Navy Capt.
Chris Kopang, DoD director of compensation. Such pay and benefits, he
added, were last enacted during the Kosovo military operations.
Military commanders and unit personnel offices determine service
members' eligibility for contingency pay and benefits, he noted.
Reserve component contingency pay and benefits include:
o
Full basic allowance for housing, determined at the with or without
dependents rate, as appropriate, immediately upon callup.
o
Contiguous U.S. cost-of-living allowance, or CONUS COLA, regardless
of the period of callup, when in support of a contingency operation.
o
Reservists, retirees and retired reservists recalled to active duty
in support of a contingency operation can sell back up to 90 days of
accrued leave during their careers, instead of 60 days under the
normal limitation. Under contingency rules, active duty service
members may now accumulate up to 90 days of leave, instead of 60.
o
Upon release from active duty, reserve component members and their
dependents retain military medical and dental benefits for 30 days or
until they are covered by a civilian employer's health plan,
whichever is earlier. When active and reserve troops deploy on
contingency operations, they may also qualify for:
o
Family separation allowance: $100 a month if member has dependents.
o
Quality of life hardship pay: Troops get an extra $50, $100, or $150
a month, depending on where they serve. Troops getting the most money
are stationed in harsh, austere areas considered as lacking quality
of life found at stateside or similar environs.
o
Imminent danger pay: Troops receive $150 each month if they are
deployed in an area designated as dangerous by the individual
combatant commanders, or CINCs.
o
Hostile fire pay is event-based. Troops who are actually under enemy
fire receive $150 a month. Troops cannot receive both imminent danger
and hostile fire pay.
o
Troops wounded and hospitalized as the result of hostile fire may
receive $150 a month for up to three months while hospitalized.
o
All service members who are provided quarters and meals while
deployed receive an additional $3.50 a day ($105 a month) allowance
for incidental expenses.
o
Storage of service members' personal vehicles is authorized for
those deployed in contingency operations. Upon presidential or
congressional approval, service members deployed in combat zones or
qualified hazardous duty areas may also realize federal income tax
savings, Kopang said. Under this program, all enlisted and warrant
officer pay is exempt from federal tax, while commissioned officers
can exempt up to $5,043.60 a month. Service members deployed in
support of these operations may also be granted delays in tax filing,
with no penalties or interest. Kopang noted that service members in
specialties that provide special pay and require periodic
recertifications, like health professionals and linguists, may have
related certification/recertification testing waived. Members would
then be allowed to up to 180 days after the end of their contingency
deployments to be recertified. The defense secretary may also
authorize members' eligibility for the Uniformed Services Savings
Deposit Program, Kopang remarked. Under this program, service members
may deposit current pay and allowances, less allotments, and receive
interest of not more than 10 percent a year, on deposits of up to
$10,000 per member.
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Do Not Forget - Nor be Weak !!!!
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