Pentagon gives time off not pay for longer tours

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, April 18 (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Wednesday it would give U.S. troops time off rather than cash bonuses when their combat missions are extended, but insisted the decision was not linked to budget woes.

"The budgets and constraints on the budgets were not binding or determinative in this," said Michael Dominguez, the Defense Department's principal deputy under secretary for personnel. "We weren't concerned about the budget."

He said time off was more consistent with a culture of service.

"We weren't trying to find some metaphysical balance between the service you are rendering and buckets full of gold," he said when pressed by reporters on why additional pay was not offered.

"What we were concerned about is a recognition device for telling people, look we know we're asking you to do something extraordinary but something that was consistent with the ethos of service and something that was connected in a reasonable, logical way with, look if we use you hard we're going to give you some time off."

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N18308085.htm

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and what happens when they don't make it home. :mad:

and in no way critical of your post.

Back in my olden days, I could offer a Sailor a hundred bucks or Friday afternoon off, they'd always take the time off. The kids loved their liberty as I did when I was one of them.

Per your post, I see no reason the all powerful Pentagon can't do both, bonuses and time off.

but what happens if they don't make it home from Iraq?

The simian will not come to see them buried

That's for sure

conversation my wife and I have had with some friends who are luke warm bush supporters and really rah-rah about Iraq, but we don't talk politics much. Their daughter has been dating a young man for several years. He recently joined the Army Reserves. My wife said he may go to Iraq. The friend said no way, that won't happen. Well, guess what, he's got orders to Iraq. And the friends reaction? Get them married asap (for insurance purposes.) While I am in full support of the offering of the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance I was somewhat taken aback by their "solution."

Also banking and investment fees are cheaper. My sister married the son of a soldier and her family gets all these advantages.

And I say that's little enough.

"Under the new Pentagon policy, active-duty troops will get one day off for every month their deployment extends beyond 12 months in a three-year period. If deployment extends to more than 18 months out of 36, two days per month will be granted."

So, for spending an extra year in a highly dangerous combat zone (with about 1% chance of being killed, and 5% chance of being seriously injured) they would get a bit more than two weeks extra vacation.

People were asked to work overtime to cover the shifts and were given all kinds of comp time as reimbursement. But since the understaffing was a constant problem, it was hard to use any of the time you were accumulating. Lots of employees would quit just to cash out and then if they didn't find another job, apply for rehiring in a few months. Good luck doing that in the military.