This is the third time I’ve seen the story here. As someone who has first hand knowledge of the change, let me tell you combat pay isn’t being pulled. The old rules were that you only had to be in a Immiment Danger Area for 1 day to receive an entire month’s worth of combat pay ($225). What you would get would be a lot of what I term “War Tourists” who would show up on the 30th and leave on the 1st, thus getting two months of combat pay for a few days. Also, you would get “Tourists” who would only seem to show up in Iraq/Afghanistan to drop off their gear as they would spend many days in Germany on “official business.” The DOD has broken down the $225 into $7.50 daily incraments (sp) and will now distribute it on a daily basis. Personally I think this is a good idea to combat waste. Also, while we’re at it we should look at was consitutes an Immiment Danger Area. As of now places like Turkey (a PCS post), Kuwait, and Manas (where Soldiers/Airmen can take MWR trips off post), receive combat pay. That makes no sense. If anything I’d rather see the Korea guys get combat pay before those posts since they have an entire enemy Army North of them and everyone knows the job of the 8th Army is to act as a speedbump long enough for the rest of the military to get to Pusan.
You are right on point about this. I’m getting all on mine. The new system seems like a good idea to me.