Stop-lossed troops could get extra monthly money

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Stop-lossed troops could get extra monthly money
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, September 27, 2008

WASHINGTON — Stop-lossed troops could begin receiving an extra $500 in their paychecks starting next month if Congress can put the finishing touches on its budget plans this weekend.

But plans to make the payouts retroactive to 2001 are on hold despite previous support from lawmakers.

A proposal in the 2009 defense appropriations bill, passed this week by the House as part of a massive omnibus budget measure, provides $72 million to compensate servicemembers kept on active duty past their expected separation date.

The legislation calls for detailed information from the Defense Department on the use of the stop-loss policy, noting that it "remains a concern as it may undermine the morale of the nation’s servicemembers and the voluntary nature of the Armed Forces."

Under current rules military officials can keep servicemembers in the ranks after their enlistment contract is complete if they fill a critical need or are deployed within 90 days of their expected separation date.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=57700