NY Reservists Asked To Return Iraq Pay

(thanks to flyarm for passing this article on to me)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/23/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/23pay.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

New York City’s Reservists Are Asked to Return Iraq Pay
By ANDY NEWMAN
September 23, 2006


When they were called up for military service in the wake of 9/11, hundreds of uniformed city workers in the Reserves faced the suspension of their city health and pension benefits. The city offered them an option: it would keep paying their salaries and continue their benefits, but when they returned they would have to repay the city their city salary or their military pay, whichever was less.

Sgt. Joseph Mastrota waiting for other officers to arrive for a meeting at Fort Hamilton to discuss their options in dealing with the city.
On its face, the offer made sense. And many reservists had only a few days to get their affairs together before shipping out — hardly enough time to consult accountants. Nearly all took the deal. As the war dragged on, more than 1,600 city employees, mostly police officers, signed up for the benefits program.

Now the bills from the city are coming due, for far more than many veterans imagined they would have to pay — as much as $200,000 — and often for more money than they ever received.

Continued at above link

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While not in the reserves myself, I have answered many a question about pay and benefits for those called up. ANY that are now claiming they are shocked by having to pay back their military pay to NYC while getting their full base pay and benefits must have a IQ of 62. They get 22 days a year for normal military reserve leave training (above normal vacation and sick). If called up Rudy Giuliani for the first gulf war also gave them full pay. more recently Bloomberg also did this policy. Yes they may have to do more on their IRS forms at the end of the year. Understand many/most stay in the reserves due to the extra reserve pay and reserve retirement they get, not thinking forward that they may actually get called up for a action such as Iraq.

The part about not having to pay "housing allowances" that are included in military income is currently being worked on

I'd like to hear of a better deal anywhere for those in the guard or reserves.