Reduction of military combat pay and other issues with military treatment in Iraq

Kay Bailey Hutchinson ^ | 8/31/2003 | Darrell Mathis

[CO_dreamer]

How can this be happening? Is there something going on I'm not aware of that would explain this?

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[KantianBurke]

hope u have ur flame suit on. Anone who questions why the Bush administration won't pony up the money for our troops but sure can dish out the billions for AIDS in Africa gets attacked. Sad really.

[CO_dreamer]

Well, heck, I don't care. It seems outrageous that some poor GI stuck in 120 degree heat getting shot at every day pulls extra duty for having a grubby uniform when they can't even buy a new one without having relatives at home ship him one for $800. It's beyond outrageous. Does this have to do with the privatization of supply functions or what?

I'm not blaming Bush, but I think we need some answers.

[Coop]

Doesn't sound legit to me.

[newcats]

I'm not blaming Bush, but I think we need some answers.
Why not? Is he not the CinC? Is he not aware of this?
IMO Bush is a military booster only when it comes to the contractors. His actions (or even better inaction) show that he doesn't actually care about the average GI.
Dousing myself with flame retardant.

[CO_dreamer]

True, ultimately, responsibility rests with the CinC, but the CinC doesn't make every stinkin decision down to ordering uniforms and setting up supply depots.

It's his responsibility to correct problems like this and I sure as heck hope somebody is raising a major stink about it.

[mrsmith]

If this is a real letter Senator Hutchinson will put them in touch with an officer who deals with dependents' concerns ( can't remember what they're called).

None of this letter makes any sense.

The GI gets a uniform allowance, BAS, etc. No GI needs 200 bucks a month support.

[tazman3]

No way this is true. Worst case, this Private's been playing poker on his off time and doesn't have any cash left.

In all the reports about what soldiers in Iraq and Afganistan want, uniforms isn't one of them. Well, OK, one guy wanted a desert hat.

Any they DO get combat pay.

[mrsmith]

"retired Navy Chief"

BZZZZZZZZZZT!

No navy chief would ever write something that showed so much ignorance of our military.

I hope you noticed that this is NOT a government site.
Senator Hutchinson has no relationship to the congress.org.

[Coop]

His actions (or even better inaction) show that he doesn't actually care about the average GI.

Congratulations! You have vaulted into first place for the coveted SPOTD award!!! Your parents must be very proud.

[boxerblues]

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2003/n09262003_200309264.html

the letter is BS, if this soldier is buying anything out of pockets it because he wants something different than the Army provides.

Congress Sends $368 Billion Appropriations Bill to President By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2003 -- Congress has sent the fiscal 2004 Defense Appropriations Bill to President Bush for his signature.

The $368.2 billion bill funds the basic necessities for the department through Sept. 30, 2004. The administration already has submitted separate, supplemental bills to cover the cost of the global war on terrorism.

The average military pay raise is set at 4.1 percent. However, the pay raises are targeted, with raises ranging from 2 percent to 6.25 percent. The lowest-ranking service members would receive the 2 percent raise. Noncommissioned and commissioned officers at middle levels of their respective pay scales will receive the higher numbers.

The bill also increases the basic allowance for housing to reduce current 7.5- percent out-of-pocket expenses to 3.5 percent. The change puts the housing allowance on the slope to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses in fiscal 2005. When then-Defense Secretary William Cohen announced this housing initiative on Jan. 6, 2000, out-of-pocket expenses averaged 19 percent.



Overall personnel accounts are pegged at $98.5 billion. The bill supports an end- strength of 1.388 million active duty military personnel and 863,300 selected reserve personnel.

The bill provides $128 million for the continuation of increased rates for imminent danger pay and family separation allowances, and provides $88.2 million for 12 additional weapons of mass destruction civil support teams. The bill also provides $15.7 billion for the Defense Health Program.

The bill also fully funds the president's $115.9 billion operations and maintenance request. That level funds land forces training, tank training miles, helicopter flying hours, ship steaming days and Air Force and Navy flying hour programs. It also supports the Defense Department's goal to fund facilities sustainment at not less than 93 percent in all branches of the armed forces.

Procurement is set at $74.7 billion in fiscal 2004. Among other items, this provides $3.6 billion for 22 F-22 Air Force fighter aircraft, $2.1 billion for 11 Air Force C-17 airlift aircraft, $228 million for 19 Army Black Hawk helicopters, $2.9 billion for 42 Navy F/A-18E/F fighter aircraft, $1.5 billion for 11 V-22 aircraft and $355 million for 350 Navy Tactical Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The bill also includes $724 million to buy Navy and Air Force Joint Direct Attack Munitions, as well as $11.5 billion for shipbuilding, including one Virginia-class submarine, two Trident SSGN conversions and three DDG-51 destroyers. Future starts, including $1.5 billion for the next-generation CVN-21 carrier, $168 million for the littoral combat ship and $1 billion for the DD(X) program to produce a family of advanced technology surface combatants also are included.

The research and development portion of the budget is pegged at $65.2 billion. Major programs in that include $1.1 billion for the Army's Comanche helicopter, and $4.3 billion for the Joint Strike Fighter.

Procurement and research and development, defense officials have said, are the heart of the administration effort to transform the U.S. military to face the challenges of the 21st century. "What we've laid out in our plan is a balanced approach to the various accounts," said a senior defense official. "We have been deliberate in ensuring that the operations and maintenance accounts and procurement accounts will not rob each other."

But the future could hold problems once the Defense Authorization Bill passes. "We don't know what Congress is going to do," said the official. "The Congress has some legislation pending up there, or being debated, that clearly could drive costs up. That's something we're concerned about."

Two proposals that could affect the defense budget are an expanded concurrent receipt program and putting in place a Tricare for Reserves program. Both would be extremely expensive, and would create difficulties in preserving the transformation portion of the budget, defense officials said.

[TADSLOS]

My son has been in Iraq since day one of the war. Recently he contacted us very upset because he was told his uniforms where not inspection ready and he would be placed on extra duty. He was told that he needs to contact family or friends back in the U.S. to purchase new uniforms and correct patches. The Army does not have the time or resources to provide uniforms to each and every service member in Iraq (stated to him via his chain of command).

If true, which I highly doubt, there is grounds for an IG investigation. Having been a commander on several different occasions, I cannot fathom a commander or a chain of command making such demands on a soldier in a combat zone, placing him on extra duty for merely having worn out uniforms and telling him to contact friends and family to correct his deficiencies. If, by some remote possibility, this is true, then the whole cahin of command forcing these requirements needs to be sacked - immediately. However, I'm extremely suspect of this letter.

Either this PFC isn't telling the truth (or covering up the real story) in order to get out of hot water, or the father has misinterpreted the extent of the problem, OR, most likely, this letter is a plant to discredit the Bush administration (based on the last few summary comments).

I questioned my son as to why the Army did not purchase these uniforms for him, he responded that they only provide two sets initially (cost deducted from his pay)

This is total B.S. Enlisted soldiers don't have their initial issue of any uniform deducted from their pay. Besides, these are most likely, Desert BDUs (not specified in the letter). These are issue items for everyone deploying to theater, including officers. You cannot buy them in the clothing sales store.

[tbpiper]

My son got 3 days R&R at a 'resort' in Duhok (sp?), near the Turkish border. He had to pay $60.00 for the priveledge. The place had a swimming pool but they couldn't use it because it wasn't part of the contract. There was a computer connection there so we had a chance to chat with him. He had a lot of trouble sleeping. It was the frist time since March he'd slept in a real bed.

[Coop]

The letter's a joke, no doubt.

[Coop]

Why did he have to pay $60? The folks are selected for R&R normally by recommendation from their commanders. The travel should have been free, and I'd be surprised if the lodging wasn't taken care of. Did he have to pay for his food???

[AbnSarge]

As an Army Infantry First Sergeant, this sounds a little shaky in a wide variety of areas. The mother who drove 1000 miles to Campbell never heard of the telephone order, UPS, and the web-sites that most of the junk-shops have?

The kid also wouldn't be the first E-3 to bitch and moan about "inspection-ready" after being repeatedly caught by his First Sergeant for not maintaining his gear as well as conditions allow (or for not buttoning his buttons, for that matter).

[CO_dreamer]

Actually, no I did not see that. Or rather, I saw the address, but managed to forget that .org was not the same as .gov.

[tbpiper]

Why did he have to pay $60?

I don't know.

Did he have to pay for his food???

I believe so.

[CheneyChick]

The kid also wouldn't be the first E-3 to bitch and moan about "inspection-ready" after being repeatedly caught by his First Sergeant for not maintaining his gear as well as conditions allow (or for not buttoning his buttons, for that matter).

LOL. That's the truth!