Military Pay

[T. Dean]

The New York Times recently ran an article by columnist Bob Herbert, entitled "Strapped." The article dealt with the fact that men US soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan have had problems with getting their pay on time. A congressional commitee found that in just one Colorado Natiional Guard unit "all 62 encountered pay problems ... During extremely limited phone contact, soldiers called home only to find families in chaos because of the inability to pay bills due to erroneous military duty."
The problem is evident throughout all the branches of the military but the National Guard seems to have the most problems because their payroll system is the most faulty and out-of-date.
Herbert also wrote of a report by the non-partisan General Accounting Office. One part of the report state states," Four Virginia Spec. Forces [members] who were injured in Afghanistan and [were unable to] recieve entitled duty pay and related health care."
The director of the Defense Finance and Account Service has said that a new payroll system will be unveiled in spring 2005 but told Herbert that he doubts they will meet that deadline.

I cannot even imagine what it must be like for the soldiers who have to risk their lives and on top of that have to worry about whether or not their families are being taken care of of whether or not they'll recieve proper medical care if they are injured.

[Leo Wyatt]

My prayers are with the soldiers and their families. I know I am a wife of an Sergant. Got news that he is not going to Germany after all. He is staying here and in Nov he is going back to Iraq. He done fought in the war. He has to go back. Better spend time with him while I can. I am proud of him though.