military pay cuts?

[oldsoldier]

I was talking to a neighbor last night. She has a son that is in the army and was recently stationed in Germany. He called her yesterday all wound up. They supposidly recieved a letter stating that as a cost cutting move that they ( the soldiers) will NOT recieve any pay for the months of april and may? Has has anyone heard anything about that? I've looked and can't find anything in the news or on-line about it. If it's true how the #@%$ can the :goobermint" do that. Personally I think theres more to his ( nieghbors son) than he's telling. Any clue?

[kyratshooter]

He screwed up big time!!!

I will guarentee you that he has had an article 15 nonjudicial punishment, or a court martial, that fined him two months pay.

It is a big mistake he made too, because I always gave the option to take 4 months half pay. He really ticked someone off! Probably direct disobedience of an order, contraband or he failed a pee-test.

After googling this I found that the loss of military pay is being used as a lever in the budget battle. Someone is threatening to shut down military pay if the continuing motion that is funding our government does not continue and the failure to the Admin to present an acceptable budget closes the government down.

Due to the fact that defense budget is on a two year appropriation seperate from the operating budget this is hardly possible. The government has shut down several times in the past and the military is always paid due to this seperate budget. It will also not affect social security which is a seperate rumor.

[klkak]

Report: Troops May Miss Paychecks in a Shutdown

March 13, 2011

Stars and Stripes [by Derek Turner]

Troops would be forced to work without pay if the federal budget impasse leads to a government shutdown, according to multiple reports citing draft guidance circulating at the Pentagon.

The government has been funded by a series of continuing resolutions since the fiscal year began in October, but the current temporary measure expires on March 18. Should the deadline pass without another extension, servicemembers would begin missing paychecks if the shutdown lasts beyond April 1, the Air Force Times reported. It noted, however, that troops – and Defense Department civilians deemed essential and required to stay on – would receive back pay once the budget situation is resolved.

DOD civilians ruled nonessential would be furloughed in a shutdown and it was not clear whether they would be eligible for back pay.



During the last government shutdown in 1995, servicemembers continued to work and continued to receive their pay.

On Wednesday, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called on Congress to pass a bill that would fund the military regardless of whether an agreement can be reached on the full federal budget. It would be irresponsible for Congress to “continue to fund the Department of Defense by passing two week-by-two week continuing resolutions while we are fighting two wars,” he said in a statement.
©

[klkak]

In other news

DoD to Lift Women in Combat Exclusions?
Week of March 14, 2011

A report released to the president and Congress recently recommends 20 changes in the way the military facilitates diversity, and suggests gender barriers be lifted on all career fields. The Military Leadership Diversity Commission is a group of 31 active-duty and retired officers, enlisted personnel and senior executives from major corporations. The commission is also recommending that the Department of Defense eliminate its combat-exclusion policies, which currently bar women from combat-arms specialties and from assignment in units battalion-size or smaller that have a routine mission to engage in direct combat. The Commission's final report is available on the Military Leadership Diversity Commission website.

[Old GI]

My agency says military will work and be paid in the event of a shutdown. Contractors under a funded contract will work and be paid until the funded contract expires. I'm about as non-essential (civilian) as you can get and I'll go on unpaid leave while the contractors and military that work for me stay on under those terms.

KRS - exactly what I was thinking; fined two months pay? Besides, I don't think an official letter with a specified time would ever hit the street, at least not now.

[kyratshooter]

My opinion of this blackmail falls under the heading of extremely political and I will not risk being banned by stating my ultra conservative thoughts other than to say; You simply do not hold troops hostage to promote domestic policy no matter which party you support or what the policy is.

We have never in my memory failed to pay our troops due to lack of a budget.

[oldsoldier]

You simply do not hold troops hostage to promote domestic policy no matter which party you support or what the policy is.

Yeah I sure wouldn't want to piss off a couple hundred thousand armed men and women by tellin' them " Hey you a'int gettin' paid"

[oldsoldier]

KRS - exactly what I was thinking; fined two months pay? Besides, I don't think an official letter with a specified time would ever hit the street, at least not now.

That's what I thought. He was always in trouble for smoking pot before he went in the army.

[oldsoldier]

[QUOTE=klkak;287284]In other news

DoD to Lift Women in Combat Exclusions?
Week of March 14, 2011

IMHO it's about time. My belief is if you can do the job then it doesn't matter if your male or female. BUT if you can't do it hit the road. I served with several women who I'd have welcomed on my team in a combat situation. As well as men who I would not have wanted on my team playing grade school softball.

[crashdive123]

When I firs went in the Military payday was the 15th and the 30th. I can't remember what year it was, but to "save" money in one fiscal year (November 1st to October 31st for Federal Gov) they (and you know who "they" are) came up with the brilliant idea to shift paydays from the 30th to the 1st. By doing this in October, one Military payday was pushed into the next fiscal year, saving hundreds of millions of dollars on the books. That small change created a big hardship for a lot of military personnel. At the time, an E-5 (Sargent or Petty Officer 2nd Class) with a couple of kids qualified for food stamps in a lot of regions. An E-6 (Staff Sargent or Petty Officer 1st Class) with one kid qualified for WIC in a lot of regions. At the time of the change I was single and making less than 6K a year (or was it less than 5K?). I remember feeling lucky that I was making so much, and loaned out quite a bit to some Shipmates for a couple of days (no interest to those of you that ran slush funds). Messing with military pay is not a good idea.

[Old GI]

When I firs went in the Military payday was the 15th and the 30th. I can't remember what year it was, but to "save" money in one fiscal year (November 1st to October 31st for Federal Gov) they (and you know who "they" are) came up with the brilliant idea to shift paydays from the 30th to the 1st. By doing this in October, one Military payday was pushed into the next fiscal year, saving hundreds of millions of dollars on the books. That small change created a big hardship for a lot of military personnel. At the time, an E-5 (Sargent or Petty Officer 2nd Class) with a couple of kids qualified for food stamps in a lot of regions. An E-6 (Staff Sargent or Petty Officer 1st Class) with one kid qualified for WIC in a lot of regions. At the time of the change I was single and making less than 6K a year (or was it less than 5K?). I remember feeling lucky that I was making so much, and loaned out quite a bit to some Shipmates for a couple of days (no interest to those of you that ran slush funds). Messing with military pay is not a good idea.

You're exactly right. "Look at the money I saved on my watch". A shell game that probably got someone a fat bonus or another star.

[woodsman86]

Hello everyone again. I know I keep doing a disappearing act from time to time. I have been quite busy between divorce, WLC, 42A AIT, and now PCS to Fort Bliss, TX. The life of the Army is great. As for this topic I can assure we are going to be paid no matter the budget problem. Though the DOD did not pay Soldiers for a time back in the 90s, as recalled by an old squad leader I had, we are at war and the defense budget for the war will not be affected. The gov't cannot simply just cut off war funds which include our pay. We all must remember no matter what news agency is reporting, that bad news makes for good ratings but doesn't make it true.

I agree with kyratshooter, he got in trouble and received an Article 15 which the Battalion Commander can take half a months pay for two months and that's one expensive joint if you ask me. The military is making a shift to cut the ranks, so more Soldiers will be getting in trouble for things that may have been looked over before. Less war=less troops

I have had no pay issue to this point and have been taking a lion's share of leave lately, to which I have no complaint

[sushidog]

[QUOTE=oldsoldier;287295]

In other news

DoD to Lift Women in Combat Exclusions?
Week of March 14, 2011

IMHO it's about time. My belief is if you can do the job then it doesn't matter if your male or female. BUT if you can't do it hit the road. I served with several women who I'd have welcomed on my team in a combat situation. As well as men who I would not have wanted on my team playing grade school softball.

There's a lot more to military readiness than passing a PT test or performing well at military stakes. How well will most women do when they see their buddy's liver splattered all over their pretty little uniforms? Lots of male soldiers don't handle that well. What percentage will have the killer instinct of a male soldier, being willing and able to kill that first time without thought or hesitation? Most male solders can't handle that one. I was serving with a new 2lt who broke and ran when he first came under fire. To be fair, he came back about 30 seconds later when the sheer terror wore off and he gathered his wits about him. We called him "Lieutenant break and run" after that. Combat is the hardest, most unnatural thing a man can do, let alone a woman. I'm sure a few will out perform many men, but at what cost? Do we really want to subject them to this horror, which will scar them emotionally for the rest of their life? It's a hard thing for a man to face death. Can we expect a woman to turn and face the guns? Will she turn cold inside, like many combat vets I've known, who have no regard for life anymore? Do we really want to do this as a society? What will become of us if we do?

It's a sad day indeed to see us degenerate to this level. What's next, sending children into combat like some 3rd world armies do? Are there no more rules to combat? Is nothing sacred anymore? Have we no honor? I guess I'm an old fart, cause I just can't see it. Sometimes I wish I were in the grave rather than to see where the US is going, it hurts my heart so.

Chip

[SARKY]

Has anyone noticed that the cuts NEVER affect the politicians?

[Winnie]

There's a lot more to military readiness than passing a PT test or performing well at military stakes. How well will most women do when they see their buddy's liver splattered all over their pretty little uniforms? Lots of male soldiers don't handle that well. What percentage will have the killer instinct of a male soldier, being willing and able to kill that first time without thought or hesitation? Most male solders can't handle that one. I was serving with a new 2lt who broke and ran when he first came under fire. To be fair, he came back about 30 seconds later when the sheer terror wore off and he gathered his wits about him. We called him "Lieutenant break and run" after that. Combat is the hardest, most unnatural thing a man can do, let alone a woman. I'm sure a few will out perform many men, but at what cost? Do we really want to subject them to this horror, which will scar them emotionally for the rest of their life? It's a hard thing for a man to face death. Can we expect a woman to turn and face the guns? Will she turn cold inside, like many combat vets I've known, who have no regard for life anymore? Do we really want to do this as a society? What will become of us if we do?

It's a sad day indeed to see us degenerate to this level. What's next, sending children into combat like some 3rd world armies do? Are there no more rules to combat? Is nothing sacred anymore? Have we no honor? I guess I'm an old fart, cause I just can't see it. Sometimes I wish I were in the grave rather than to see where the US is going, it hurts my heart so.

Chip

Much as I applaude your sentiments and I can fully understand why you feel as you do, women have been fighting on the front line of wars since before the French Revolution. Geurilla armies and Resistance forces have had their ranks filled by women replacing the menfolk who were drafted into the regular Army. Then there's the women who took it upon themselves to defend their homes and families.
I'm not saying women must fight on the front line, but I see no reason to stop them either.

[Winnie]

Over here, it's not so much the politicians, as the Councillors(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_council). Some are paid more than the Prime Minister.

[OhioGrizzLapp]

Also, politicians voted to NOT raise the pay scale of the military for KOLA ....same thing for folks on Social Security, 2 years in a row now, they voted to not raise the KOLA or even give any KOLA. There will be a 3 year moratorium on adding KOLAS for Military BELOW the rank of E8........now aint that some crafty shnanigans to make sure the upper ranks get paid and the folks that do the work get screwed yet again.

[oldsoldier]

sushidog.....Agreed to an extent. IMO 99% of the women in the military likely would not want a combat role, not counting some of the female pilots I knew. However I served with a few females I'd sure not want to mess with. I think there are women wo wouldn't be the least bothered by combat. Look at some of the women in isreal or the mossad. You do make some good points and I agree with them. I think it would be harder for a man to serve in combat with a women than visa versa because many of them would be worrying about watching out for the woman than themselves or their team mates. In that case it may be a danger to others to have a women in combat. At least until that "macho" mind set can be changed.
I as my screen name suggests am an old soilder started in 1977. But even then I felt the same.

[sushidog]

Winnie, thanks for the comment. I feel that men and women have different roles to play. I too have served with many women in the combat support and service support roles. Any yes, sometimes they are required to fire a weapon in defense of their position/lives. I certainly recognize the rich history and invaluable contributions that the fairer sex has had serving in the military. All have a role to play when a nation goes to war, however I view a man's role more suitable to the combat arms than women who's nature is more towards nurturing, building, repairing, transporting, coordinating, administration, planning etc. These are vital roles which women could fill to free up suitable men to sacrifice their lives, body parts and sanity on the crucifix of combat. I certainly don't want to penalize women in any way, rather I seek to protect them and spare them the raw horrors of war, as much as is feasably possible. I recognize that every soldier's basic role is to shoot, move and communicate, so all must be proficient in the combat arts. However, choosing to put women directly in a combat situation does not make maximum use of their skills and talents to our maximum advantage. I feel it diminishes us as a society to sacrifice the mothers or future mothers of our children on the altar of the battlefield.

Chip

[sushidog]

Oldsoldier, I hear what you're saying. I served with a few "life takers and baby makers" myself. In 1977 I was in Ft. Riley, Kansas, home of the Big Red One (the first and finest infantry division.) You know what they say, "If you're going to be one, you might as well be a big red one!"

Chip