George Dickel
August 22, 2003, 10:59 AM
Article from the local newspaper in Clarksville, TN where the majority of the 101st ABN families live.
Danger pay about to drop
Fort Campbell soldiers' familes angry about Sept. 30 expiration
By CHANTAL ESCOTO
The Leaf-Chronicle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Though Fort Campbell soldiers are still risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, their families back home are about to see a cut in the extra pay they've seen during deployment.
Imminent danger pay gives additional money to soldiers dealing with uprisings, civil war, terrorism or wartime conditions. The payouts were increased in April from $150 a month to $225.
Family separation pay, which helps the families of deployed soldiers, also increased in April from $100 to $250 a month.
But the two increases -- totaling $225 -- are set to expire Sept. 30.
The increases were approved because of the nature of the deployments. The Sept. 30 cutoff was set up because the pay was temporary, and no one knew how long the military would be deployed.
The Department of Defense has urged Congress to stick to the expiration because the increase is unfunded.
"How can they stop that?" asked Wendy Mills, wife of a 101st Airborne Division soldier.
"With soldiers being killed in Iraq almost daily, how can they say the soldiers are not in imminent danger? I want to know how they could look family members of soldiers who have died over there in the face and tell them their soldier was not in imminent danger?"
Defense Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness David S.C. Chu said the intent isn't to lower total compensation, but such payments can't be called imminent danger pay.
The Pentagon would rather pay the troops through other means.
Among these are hardship duty pay and incentive pay, he said.
Hardship duty pay kicks in when living conditions are below what most members in the United States experience. Incentive pay goes to soldiers who perform additional duties such as parachute jumping, demolition of explosives or handling of fuel.
Washington legislators representing Tennessee say they will do whatever it takes to ensure the extra pay continues.
U.S. Rep. John Tanner (District 8) and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (District 7) said they will oppose any cut in these promises of pay.
"She is on record well before this issue, talking on the floor of the House about military pay and her belief that it is simply not sufficient compensation for the service of our men and women in uniform," said Ryan Loskarn, press secretary for Blackburn, in an e-mail response.
"When this issue hit the radar last week, Congressman Blackburn's office was in touch with the White House and congressional committees to get the facts on this."
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Sen. Lamar Alexander, both of Tennessee, are also adamant about supporting imminent danger pay at its current rates.
Defense officials haven't worked out the details of what will happen after Sept. 30, in part because Congress may still approve extending the increases, which the department would then have to find a way to pay for, Chu said.
I want to see Under Secretary Chu and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld drag their sorry, cowardly butts to Irag, put on military uniforms and walk around Baghdad for awhile. Maybe these self serving scumbags would get a better idea of what "imminent danger" is and what it takes to make yourself be a target 24/7. If these two were men instead of gutless eunuchs they would be pounding on the desks of every Representative and Senator who opposes funding the increase and demand they do the right thing. They won't because they are afraid of losing their jobs and positions of privilege. Never mind that soldiers are being maimed and killed every day in Afghanistan and Iraq, just as long as Chu and Rumsfeld keep their jobs. It is obvious that neither of these bottom dwellers have ever served in any capacity in the military because they have no concept of how a leader takes care of his people.
Soldiers make so little pay as it is and then to deny a piddling pay increase that doesn't even come close to compensating them for the level of risk they face is beyond disgusting. I hope there is a special place in Hell for scum like these two. I am developing such a hatred and disgust for politicians and bureaucrats. If one were laying on the ground choking to death, I could just walk by and let them die with no remorse.
Rant off, but I dont' feel much better.
Danger pay about to drop
Fort Campbell soldiers' familes angry about Sept. 30 expiration
By CHANTAL ESCOTO
The Leaf-Chronicle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Though Fort Campbell soldiers are still risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, their families back home are about to see a cut in the extra pay they've seen during deployment.
Imminent danger pay gives additional money to soldiers dealing with uprisings, civil war, terrorism or wartime conditions. The payouts were increased in April from $150 a month to $225.
Family separation pay, which helps the families of deployed soldiers, also increased in April from $100 to $250 a month.
But the two increases -- totaling $225 -- are set to expire Sept. 30.
The increases were approved because of the nature of the deployments. The Sept. 30 cutoff was set up because the pay was temporary, and no one knew how long the military would be deployed.
The Department of Defense has urged Congress to stick to the expiration because the increase is unfunded.
"How can they stop that?" asked Wendy Mills, wife of a 101st Airborne Division soldier.
"With soldiers being killed in Iraq almost daily, how can they say the soldiers are not in imminent danger? I want to know how they could look family members of soldiers who have died over there in the face and tell them their soldier was not in imminent danger?"
Defense Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness David S.C. Chu said the intent isn't to lower total compensation, but such payments can't be called imminent danger pay.
The Pentagon would rather pay the troops through other means.
Among these are hardship duty pay and incentive pay, he said.
Hardship duty pay kicks in when living conditions are below what most members in the United States experience. Incentive pay goes to soldiers who perform additional duties such as parachute jumping, demolition of explosives or handling of fuel.
Washington legislators representing Tennessee say they will do whatever it takes to ensure the extra pay continues.
U.S. Rep. John Tanner (District 8) and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (District 7) said they will oppose any cut in these promises of pay.
"She is on record well before this issue, talking on the floor of the House about military pay and her belief that it is simply not sufficient compensation for the service of our men and women in uniform," said Ryan Loskarn, press secretary for Blackburn, in an e-mail response.
"When this issue hit the radar last week, Congressman Blackburn's office was in touch with the White House and congressional committees to get the facts on this."
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Sen. Lamar Alexander, both of Tennessee, are also adamant about supporting imminent danger pay at its current rates.
Defense officials haven't worked out the details of what will happen after Sept. 30, in part because Congress may still approve extending the increases, which the department would then have to find a way to pay for, Chu said.
I want to see Under Secretary Chu and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld drag their sorry, cowardly butts to Irag, put on military uniforms and walk around Baghdad for awhile. Maybe these self serving scumbags would get a better idea of what "imminent danger" is and what it takes to make yourself be a target 24/7. If these two were men instead of gutless eunuchs they would be pounding on the desks of every Representative and Senator who opposes funding the increase and demand they do the right thing. They won't because they are afraid of losing their jobs and positions of privilege. Never mind that soldiers are being maimed and killed every day in Afghanistan and Iraq, just as long as Chu and Rumsfeld keep their jobs. It is obvious that neither of these bottom dwellers have ever served in any capacity in the military because they have no concept of how a leader takes care of his people.
Soldiers make so little pay as it is and then to deny a piddling pay increase that doesn't even come close to compensating them for the level of risk they face is beyond disgusting. I hope there is a special place in Hell for scum like these two. I am developing such a hatred and disgust for politicians and bureaucrats. If one were laying on the ground choking to death, I could just walk by and let them die with no remorse.
Rant off, but I dont' feel much better.