2010 Defense Budget Released
May 7th, 2009
Today, President Obama released his proposal for the 2010 defense budget. The budget proposal is usually released by a president during the month of February which allows enough time for debate in congress and signature into law by the beginning of the next fiscal year. With this late release I am concerned we may see another year that military members will have a delay in pay much like that of 2008 where pay had to be retroactively paid back.
DoD Releases Fiscal 2010 Budget Proposal
President Barack Obama today sent to Congress a proposed defense budget of $663.8 billion for fiscal 2010. The budget request for the Department of Defense (DoD) includes $533.8 billion in discretionary budget authority to fund base defense programs and $130 billion to support overseas contingency operations, primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan….
Support for the Troops and Their Families
The fiscal 2010 base budget proposal includes $177.5 billion (Read the rest of the story…)
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The Military Pay Gap
April 3rd, 2009
Considering the military pay gap is, by reports, 2.9% and a increase of 2.9% (President Obama’s proposal) or the 3.4% increase (based on the House and Senate’s proposal) combined with the economy declining it stands to reason the gap may be proclaimed as closed by the next election season.
The problem is I think the way the gap is figured is not a fair measure (Read the rest of the story…)
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Been a Busy Pay Day
March 31st, 2009
Today has been a busy do for those of us that try and keep up with all the pay issues that come up.
Today was a big day in the United Kingdom as their government announced it accepted the recommendation of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body of 2.8% basic military salary increase for officers and all other ranks. The pay raise will take effect April 1, 2009.
Here in the United States, our Senate Armed Services Committee (Read the rest of the story…)
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Navy Stabilizes Force
March 19th, 2009
First comment is, Add the American Forces Press Service with the Navy Times that should capitalize Sailor!
Prologue: When retention and recruiting do well it has been the manpower gurus natural response to pull billets from recruiting duty, reducing the workforce by as much as 25% or more. Then when times get tough the knee jerks the other way and those same manpower gurus pump the force, seemingly over night, back to the numbers we see today. Often times the increase in the size of the force is too late. One example is 1997 and there are many others.
Hopefully we have learned our lessons of the past.
Onward.
At the end of the current Navy force reduction, manning of ratings (Read the rest of the story…)
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NEW Lower SRB Levels
March 12th, 2009
The $90,000 cap for Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) and new lower multiples will become effective 1 May 2009. All SRB award levels NOT listed below are reduced or remain at zero.
The drop in levels, I would think, are not budget related as much as manning levels in the rates that experienced a drop. The SRB has always been a retention tool, retention good in a rating – little to no bonus. Retention and recruiting are at levels we have not seen in years.
The NAVADMIN; (Read the rest of the story…)
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Commissaries Stop Selling-Redeeming CertifiChecks
February 27th, 2009
To help get the word out here is a notice sent to Commissary store directors today.
ATTENTION STORE DIRECTORS/CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGERS
Subject: IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OPERATIONAL ALERT # 13 CertifiChecks Store Directors, Please ensure this information is disseminated to your customer service employees immediately and actions 1-5 are completed by COB today.
Effective immediately, due to an extremely difficult economic environment, CertifiChecks, Inc. has ceased operations.
1. Commissaries are to stop selling and redeeming CertifiChecks
immediately.
2. Remove all door and register decals related to CertifiChecks.
3. Post the attached signage, “Notice to our Customers” in locations
highly visible to the customer.
4. Provide customers wishing to redeem CertifiChecks with the following information:If you have CertifiCheck gift certificates which you would like to submit for potential reimbursement, please remit to:
CertifiCheck, Inc.,
Attention: Redemption Department,
435 Shoup Mill Rd,
Dayton, Ohio 45414.5. Remove any references to CertifiChecks from your store web page.
6. Store Directors must notify installation command, chaplains, and
other installation activities that may be impacted.
7. Stores are to inventory (count) the number of unsold CertifiChecks
on hand and return them by Federal Express or United Parcel Service
(UPS) or registered U.S. Mail to:DeCA Headquarters
Attn: RM, Accounting
1300 E Avenue
Fort Lee, VA 23801
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Budget Proposal Would Fix Concurrent Receipt
February 26th, 2009
This year looks more promising; 2011 Chapter 61 concurrent receipt discussion
Reading further in the defense section of the 2010 budget outline it looks as if the issues with concurrent receipt of retired military pay and VA disability pay will finally be fixed!
The Budget also contains a proposal to expand concurrent receipt of military retired pay and Veterans Disability Compensation to all retirees receiving disability retired pay. Under current law, the prohibition on concurrent receipt means that these benefits offset each other so that disabled military retirees cannot receive full DOD retirement and Veterans disability payments. When the offset is removed, disabled military retirees would receive additional monthly compensation.
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President Obama Budget Proposes 2.9 Percent
February 26th, 2009
Information taken directly from the “FY2010 Budget Outline” released by Office Management and Budget which is an outline of President Obama’s 2010 federal budget.
Increase Pay for Men and Women in uniform.
After years of asking more and more from our troops and their families, this Budget reflects the priorities of an Administration that is committed to caring for the servicemembers who protect our security and the families who support them. The Budget includes funding for a 2.9 percent pay raise for men and women in uniform, an amount that will improve their purchasing power.
See the proposed 2.9% (Read the rest of the story…)
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February 2009 Navy SRB
February 11th, 2009
The latest Navy SRB message is out today! (Read the rest of the story…)
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2010 Defense Budget Slowed
January 26th, 2009
According to the press release the 2010 defense budget will be delayed because “the new administration will need more time for a substantial review of the submission“. I think they should be following the same due diligence for the recovery bill.
UPDATE: President Obama has released a budget online today, 26 Feb, that indicates a military pay raise of 2.9%
My educated guess was accurate! Here is the 2010 military pay raise proposal by President Obama of 2.9%.
As also reported the nitty, griddy details of the budget will not be released until the spring. My main worry at this point is a delay in the beginning of this budget process could lead to delays in final approval which equals pay delays in the first months of 2010 (remember 2008?), that is never a good thing. (Read the rest of the story…)
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