military pay blog

Concurrent Receipt in 2011?

February 1st, 2010

Last year, in his budget, President Obama proposed “to expand concurrent receipt of military retired pay and Veterans Disability Compensation to all retirees receiving disability retired pay.” We tracked the progress of the Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009 closely, and we were disappointed when we found the bill failed, even with overwhelming support, because, from what it boiled down too, the bill did not meet the “PAYGO” rules.

This year, a similar proposal is in the 2011 budget – but, unlike last year, the verbiage actually states, (Read the rest of the story…)

Average 4.2% Increase in 2011 BAH

February 1st, 2010

President Obama’s 2011 budget request for Department of Defense, released officially today, requests an average housing allowance increase of 4.2 percent, as well as a variety of monthly special skill-based payments, enlistment and reenlistment bonuses, and other benefits.

Family support programs grow over 3% – some of the main increases are $87 million, to expand availability for affordable, high-quality child care services at over 800 child development centers both in the United States and overseas – $37 million, for expanded counseling and assistance services, from (Read the rest of the story…)

No Sea and Sub Pay Increase for 2011?

January 26th, 2010

Congressman Jerry McNerney (D)(CA-11) introduced H.R. 4440, Combat Operations and Medical Benefit Authorization for our Troops (COMBAT) Act, on Jan. 13, 2010. The bill is to amend title 37, United States Code, to increase the maximum amount for the military special pays known as hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, hazardous duty pay, family separation allowance, and “to increase other special and incentive pays to recognize the service of members of the Armed Forces and encourage recruitment and retention.”

Currently, the bill has one cosponsor:
Rep Hall, John J. (D)(NY-19)

The pay increases proposed are monthly amounts unless otherwise stated. (Read the rest of the story…)

Navy SRB Guidance as of 22Jan2010

January 22nd, 2010

The latest Selective Re-enlistment Bonus (SRB) guidance, NAVADMIN 028/10. (Read the rest of the story…)

Back Online with New Chart Up

January 15th, 2010

Yesterday, I called Congressman Joe Wilson’s office in DC to ask about the methodology he used to determine a 1.9% pay raise for 2011. As I thought, he used what congress has been doing since 1999 to help eliminate the pay gap and bring military pay more inline with the private sector by adding an additional half percent to the Employment Cost Index (ECI). I only had the question because I misread the ECI back in October; I read civilian 1.5% vice the useful indicator of the private sector reading of 1.4%. The ECI is what the president uses to determine his pay raise proposal. With the state of today’s economy, combined with an election, this should prove to be a very interesting year to watch.

I would have had the updated 2011 military pay proposal chart up sooner, but for the past two days I have been consumed with reloading Windows and all my other programs back on to my home computer. My computer crashed. How did it happen? Here is my theory, (Read the rest of the story…)

Employment Cost Index

October 30th, 2009

Today, the latest Employment Cost Index (ECI) percentages were released. What makes today’s release important is that it is the figure used to determine the military pay proposal for the 2011 defense budget. As you may be aware, last years figure was 2.9% – the figure used by President Obama for his proposal to congress (congress subsequently added .5% (to 3.4%) which was signed into law 28 October). This years figure is 1.5% – the question will be, will congress again add an additional .5% or will congress, in the coming election year, state the military pay and allowances are now in balance with the private sector? Time will tell. I do find election years much more entertaining

Now, look over to the sidebar, and take a look at the thermometer widget for Valour-IT (Team Navy), click on it and give what you can. Veteran’s Day is just around the corner, your gift will go to veterans in need. If you require more motivation than it being a righteous cause, (Read the rest of the story…)

FY10 SRB Levels Announced

August 27th, 2009

As expected, the Navy Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program (SRB) seems to be making a comeback for 2010. NAVADMIN 250/09 states without surprise, “Contingent upon receipt of congressional defense appropriations for FY10 or enactment of a  continuing resolution authority, levels listed in para 4 below are effective as of 01 October 2009 and pre-certification requests will be accepted 35-120 days prior to the desired reenlistment date.” Congress needs to ensure they get the 2010 Defense Budget in front of the President for signature prior to the beginning of FY-2010. So far the defense budget has hit only a few snags but should be ready in plenty of time making a continuing resolution unnecessary (my fingers are crossed ).

NAVADMIN 250/09 has been superseded by NAVADMIN 028/10 as of 22 Jan 2010. (Read the rest of the story…)

DFAS Retired Pay Newsletter

August 8th, 2009

Today I received a newsletter from DFAS which discusses various issues about military retired pay. I have been retired for about 2 1/2 years and this is the first letter I can remember getting…

One section of it did catch my eye, retiree recall. The Army is ending their current program but basically how it works is if you retire before you have 30 years of active service you can be recalled up until your 30 year point. In the Navy we transfer to the Fleet Reserve until we are officially retired at our 30 year point. My example is I transferred to the Fleet Reserve December 31, 2006 with 26 years of creditable active service but (Read the rest of the story…)

Navy SRB Suspended Until FY 2010

June 11th, 2009

The good news is the Navy is retaining a very high quality workforce, the bad news is bonuses for reenlisting in FY-2009 have been suspended.

From the NAVADMIN, “Temporarily suspending the SRB program and the acceptance of any new requests for the remainder of this fiscal year. These changes are effective immediately. Those requests which have been received by pers-811 through OPINS prior to 1600 central daylight time, 10 June 2009, will still be processed IAW refs a, b and c.”

Read the NAVADMIN here; (Read the rest of the story…)

Question for Congressman Filner

May 22nd, 2009

I read “Memorial Day: Putting Our Troops and Veterans First” by Congressman Bob Filner. In it he describes a number of initiatives congress has completed which those of us who are/have served appreciate very much. I thank him and his colleagues for their actions.

One issue I do have with the article, (Read the rest of the story…)