Pentagon recommends tiered system for combat pay

BMT · 06-22-2012, 05:20

Troops who are not near the fight can sometimes get more in combat pay and tax benefits than those who are getting shot at on the front lines, said Thomas Bush, who directed the review.

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/06/pent...tem-combat-pay

BMT

**Eagle5US** · 06-22-2012, 06:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMT

Troops who are not near the fight can sometimes get more in combat pay and tax benefits than those who are getting shot at on the front lines, said Thomas Bush, who directed the review.

Once again someone who doesn't know the facts....

Everyone gets the same considerations for pay...notice in the article where he said it was directed at OFFICERS - who are limited in their receipt of CZ tax exemption to the pay of the SMA. Any pay that they receive over the SMA's pay is taxed. WHile it may appear that an Officer gets "more pay" it is because he gets more money out of the chute. HFP and IDP are dolled out consistently at the same rate between all service members.

Further, Officers in CZ do not get the tax exemption for any bonuses received where enlisted members do.

I'm all for upping bullet slinger's combat pay vs providing the same pay and exemptions for the chucks in Quatar, but it would seem more appropriate to simply get rid of the "Combat Pay benefits" in the places where there have been no documented enemy action for the past 36 months or so.

Destrier · 06-22-2012, 08:15

I would rather see more pay for deployed soldiers regardless. Call it whatever you like, the effect of being away from family etc is the same.

Besides, most of us would run toward the sound of the fight regardless of getting combat pay.

**Pete** · 06-22-2012, 08:41

A penny here - a nickle there and pretty soon you're talking real money.

Another cost savings for the Military at the expense of the troops.

Another "us against them" proposal that sounds good on paper - but just another way to shave some money out of the budget.

How long before the troops are walking back from the DZ because there is not enough money for fuel - and it gets called training?

How many months ago did they pro-rate HFP to the day from the month? While done to cut down on abuses - it hit the grunt coming and going the most.

A penny here - a nickle there..............

**PRB** · 06-22-2012, 14:34

How about tiered PTSD compensation...for those that saw combat and those that imagine it

blacksmoke · 06-24-2012, 08:34

How about some "my old lady ran around on me when I was deployed, and I can't afford to pay child support and day care pay."

greenberetTFS · 06-24-2012, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRB

How about tiered PTSD compensation...for those that saw combat and those that imagine it

You've hit that one right on the 25M target...........

Big Teddy

**PRB** · 06-24-2012, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenberetTFS

You've hit that one right on the 25M target...........

Big Teddy

On that note there are some Maroons pushing to get PH's awarded for PTSD!
WTF over?

greenberetTFS · 06-24-2012, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRB

On that note there are some Maroons pushing to get PH's awarded for PTSD!
WTF over?

I honestly hope that never happens and end up degrading a medal where you must shed your blood to earn the right to wear.............

Big Teddy

**Eagle5US** · 06-24-2012, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenberetTFS

I honestly hope that never happens and end up degrading a medal where you must shed your blood to earn the right to wear.............

Big Teddy

It's already happened my friend. The PH is now awarded for "mTBI" aka mild traumatic brain injury, aka concussion, aka "I was in the third vehicle back from the IED and got it documented that I had a headache once we got back from patrol".
There is no shame for some now serving in our ranks...though they are serving, they will make damned sure thy get more out of it than they put into it.

scooter · 07-03-2012, 00:29

For what its worth, I've known some of those "dirtbags" with mTBI who have problems years later with double vision, headaches, memory issues, and difficulty concentrating who were denied any sort of compensation or recognition for a medical problem set directly caused by hostile action.

**Eagle5US** · 07-03-2012, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooter

For what its worth, I've known some of those "dirtbags" with mTBI who have problems years later with double vision, headaches, memory issues, and difficulty concentrating who were denied any sort of compensation or recognition for a medical problem set directly caused by hostile action.

These are not people considered to have mTBI. These people have a postconcussive syndrome post MTBI (Moderate). MTBI is demonstrated by documented symptoms requiring medical treatment for a period of more than 6 months after injury.

It is difficult to associate / blame problems "later in life" to a single incident that happened years previous because there is no way to predict the future of what the "normal degradation of function" for THAT INDIVIDUAL would have been if they had led a perfectly risk free life.

You may recall the flap about silicone breast implants "causing" mental changes, chronic pain disorders, memory issues etc in women back in the 80's...until enough women were studied and it was found out it had little to nothing to do with the implants - it was simply that statistically a portion of the population complains about that stuff as a normal part of their getting older / life process.