Guard troops wait for promised post-deployment pay

Associated Press ^ | Febraury 17, 2010 | Martiga Lohn

[Cheap_Hessian]

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Thousands of National Guard soldiers who served extra-long deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflicts were supposed to get paid time off when they came home three years ago.

Now, they may finally be about to get their money after years of frustration.

An Army spokesman said Wednesday that 6,800 Army National Guard soldiers are in line to receive the tardy checks. Among those still waiting: About 2,500 of Minnesota's Red Bulls with the 34th Infantry Division, who served the longest tour of any military unit in Iraq as part of the 2007 troop surge. A Minnesota Guard spokesman said that group should get $10 million.

Staff Sgt. Katie Blackwell of Champlin, Minn., who spent 16 months in Iraq as part of a nearly two-year deployment with the Minnesota Red Bulls from 2005 to 2007, estimates she and her husband, also a Guard soldier, together are owed $8,000.

"We've been overseas to fight for our country. When I came home, I didn't expect to have to fight on the home front," she said.

The Pentagon's fix comes after intense pressure from members of Congress and as Minnesota legislators were considering appropriating state money to make up for the unpaid federal dollars.

[2banana]

who spent 16 months in Iraq as part of a nearly two-year deployment

That is a very LONG tour - for any active or reserve unit.

[DesertSapper]

16 months is a very tough deployment. I had to put up with 4 month deployments to Kuwait, twice . . . both were not fun. If that area didn’t have black gold under the sand, it would be worthless.