Posted on 05/26/2011 4:16:49 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner
Army chiefs have decided to end a supplement paid to each member of the regiment for parachuting. It is worth more than £2,000 a year.
The MoD is struggling with an estimated £1 billion shortfall in its budget for the current financial year. Cutting the so-called Para Pay bonus will save more than £4 million a year. But it will be a significant blow to up to 4,000 soldiers just back from a gruelling tour of Helmand, many of whom take home little more than £1,000 a month.
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The wage cut for the Paras has already been signed off by the head of the Armys resources and plans unit and goes before ministers in the coming weeks. It comes on top of a two-year pay freeze.
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Privates, earning little more than £12,000 a year after tax, will be worst hit. Even some junior NCOs, who can earn up to £25,000, told The Daily Telegraph they would struggle to pay their bills after losing the payment.
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Scores of soldiers are already threatening to walk out, regimental sources said. The long-term damage this will cause will have a seriously disproportionate effect, said a senior Parachute Regiment officer. It doesnt send a great message for a service thats supposed to value its people.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
The soldiers who defend our country are never paid enough.
Taking what little they get away from them is the work of those who would never fight for their own protection. It happens here and I now see it is the same in the UK.
On his death bed...his last words to his sons:
“Stay together, pay the soldiers and forget everything else.”
excellent point. ...they even officially pay for multiple wives, and all the children from each.
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