DoD plans cuts to list of areas qualifying for danger pay

[Airbornelawyer]

Links:

Stars and Stripes
"Pentagon eyes trimming list of areas rating imminent danger pay"
http://www.stripes.com/news/us/pentagon-eyes-trimming-list-of-areas-rating-imminent-danger-pay-1.229765

Washington Post
"Improving conditions spur Pentagon move to trim danger pay list by 18 countries"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/better-security-triggers-pentagon-to-adjust-danger-pay-list-56000-troops-may-lose-extra-pay/2013/07/11/3f3d0580-e9ee-11e2-818e-aa29e855f3ab_story.html

Washington Times
"Pentagon: 56,000 troops could lose danger pay"
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/11/pentagon-56000-troops-could-lose-hazard-pay/

I like how the Washington Post made sure to include the Administration's positive spin in their headline. I would reserve judgment until I actually see the list of countries now deemed improved, but not WaPo apparently.

For what it's worth, here is the basic information on imminent danger pay from DFAS: http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/specialpay/hfp_idp.html

[JimP]

The problem is that you could be dodging rockets and mortars in Balad, IZ and your buddy could be sucking down sodas at the movie theater in Qatar. Both get danger pay. It needes to be massively scaled back in my opinion.

[Airbornelawyer]

Agreed. But as I indicated, the question isn't whether you scale back the list of qualifying AOs, but which countries end up getting cut.

For example, Jordan is one of the countries being talked about, even though we may be on the verge of escalating our presence there in connection with the civil war in Syria. Also, as we have seen from Khobar Towers to 9-11, you often don't know just how imminent a threat is until the buildings are falling and the bodies being recovered.

I suppose you could create a lower pay tier for lower risk, but still risky areas. Qatar, for example, is not Iraq, but neither is it Germany.

I would also be concerned if political and diplomatic concerns affect the decision. In Benghazi, for example, we saw an apparent effort by the State Department to downplay how bad the security situation was so as not to call into question the wisdom of the Administration's Libya policy.

[MR2]

Fort Bragg soldiers say cuts to danger pay would hurt morale, not worth savings (http://fayobserver.com/articles/2013/07/10/1268845?sac=fo.local)

[Guy]

The problem is that you could be dodging rockets and mortars in BaladAfter awhile, if the IDF does NOT hit very "f**king" close and I mean: "Your Bose noise canceling headphones with music blaring and you do not wake up..."

You just ignore it. Or, you'll be running to bunkers all night long waiting for the "All Clear" signal/siren.:o

[Mills]

After awhile, if the IDF does NOT hit very "f**king" close and I mean: "Your Bose noise canceling headphones with music blaring and you do not wake up..."

You just ignore it. Or, you'll be running to bunkers all night long waiting for the "All Clear" signal/siren.:o

I am all for it as long as they do it right. Like differentiating places such as KAF and a VSP site..........Actually, scratch that........screw cutting danger pay, why don't we just get the mouth breathers and rule creators out of country and save even more.

[Surgicalcric]

...why don't we just get the mouth breathers and rule creators out of country and save even more.

Because they have to eventually be promoted to Chief of Staff and SMA positions - where else are they going to learn to destroy morale, create regs that are meaningless, and redefine ROE that benefits the enemy.

[FlagDayNCO]

Perhaps someone at the Insane Revenue Service figured out that many of those places also rate as tax havens. All that "REVENUE" not being realized.

[SF18C]

Hmmm let me contemplate this on my furlough day!

Seems the only ones the pol-cats won't screw over is themselves.

[JimP]

After awhile, if the IDF does NOT hit very "f**king" close and I mean: "Your Bose noise canceling headphones with music blaring and you do not wake up..."

You just ignore it. Or, you'll be running to bunkers all night long waiting for the "All Clear" signal/siren.:o

I'm with you Guy, I'd wake up long enough to see if it was coming closer or further and the turn over ang go back to sleep. Funny story about dodging seven rockets that clanged down at Biap once when I was out running. Not one detonated after they skidded down the runway around me. Figured the need to go change my shorts an a different running route.
Stay safe. Jim