Some Service Members Eligible For Wartime Pay, Benefits
By Gerry J. Gilmore
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.
|