DoD finally issues policy to reimburse troops for body armor, equipment

[maddezmom]

Under pressure from Congress, the Department of Defense has belatedly issued its policy for reimbursing service members who supplied their own protective, health or safety equipment for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Private purchases of body armor, combat helmets, ballistic eye protection and hydration systems are covered by the policy, with reimbursement of up to $1,100 per item — including shipping costs — covered for items purchased from Sept. 11, 2001, through July 31, 2004. Current service members, and those who deployed but have since left the military, are eligible.

The list of covered items is far less than envisioned by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., the primary sponsor of the reimbursement program approved by Congress last year as part of the 2005 Defense Authorization Act. In addition to body armor, helmets and hydration, Dodd wanted reimbursement to cover protective equipment for military vehicles, close combat optics systems, communications devices, Global Positioning System receivers or other essential items not provided by the military for people deployed on Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom or Noble Eagle.

DoD’s reduced list, certified as critical items for deployed service members by Undersecretary of Defense David S.C. Chu, is the result of negotiations with the services. Pentagon spokeswoman Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke said in written responses to questions that the program is designed “so that the services may request that additional items be certified for reimbursement.” Defense and service officials started, she said, “with the basic protective items that we think service members may have purchased most frequently.”

more:http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1157923.php

[Nickster]

1. How about just buying the stuff up front for the troops?

Wonder what those troops that have to support a family thought when faced with the choice, "do I pay the mortgage for my family or do I buy one piece of protective equipment for myself?" "well maybe I can afford it next month..."

I wonder how many troops died because they couldn't afford personal body armor?

Bastards......all of them DoD pukes

[MADem]

2. Cheap, miserable bastards

It is a disgrace that they went without gear in the first place, and reprehensible that they will not reimburse for scopes and whatnot.

[txaslftist]

3. Are they gonna reimburse the guys who died for lack of armor?

[BlueIris]

4. Seems like this reimbursement would have been more useful to our troops

you know, BEFORE THEY WENT TO WAR.

[BlueIris]

5. Er, can I post a really DUMB question...

I Googled and still couldn't quite figure it out--are the reimbursements being provided for members of all branches of service or just members of the AF?

[BlueIris]

6. Psssst. I know that it's a dumb question, but--

the reimbursements do go to all troops, right?

[nickgutierrez]

8. It sounds like it goes to all branches of the service

The reason I say that is because it looks like this is becoming DoD policy - not just AF policy.

I could be wrong, though.

[Porcupine]

7. Why can't they sell candy bars like my kids do for school?

Car Wash? Bake sale? Who's to say the Guv'mint is supposed to provide for every bonus some troop wants? Let them earn the bucks for the extras!






irony off.

[Neil Lisst]

9. How can they still not have proper equipment?

If you want evidence that our news organizations are not doing their job, look no further than this one topic. While the right talks of supporting the troops, they refuse to get it done.

They can move heaven and earth for one long-gone, mouth breathing comatose, body, but they make Maw and Paw go into debt to buy Junior body armor.

UnFRIGGINbelievable!!


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Neil Lisst progressive comic
http://www.webcomicsnation.com/neillisst/