JACK ARMY, scanning my sector!
I'd like to see it go further than that. If we can forgive debt from 3rd world countries, why not from our wounded? Just pay them, and the families, and take care of them. The debt shouldn't exist.
I know that's simplifying, but this really irritates me, the men and women who take the brunt of the force deployment also take the brunt of financial burdens. I know some of the young single guys don't manage money well - heck, I didn't at their age either. But let's think about what they are giving up if they're wounded, too.
I have a hard time not agreeing with the above comment.
But in the end, and I hate saying this...but in the end there needs to be better communication within the Soldier's situation. His wife or family (the ones getting the money) should know that the day he gets wounded and evac'd out of theatre that he will stop qualifying for combat pay.
I make no appologies for the DoD, US Army, or DFAS...but any one in the system long enough to get some rank knows the rules to the game. A spouse should immediately place that "combat pay" or extra pay that her and her Soldier knows the Army will come for...put it immediatley aside. If it means moving it to a savings account...then so be it. But at the very least don't spend it.
As I ETS'd I had become pay-short (3 months without a jump) as I had known I was a pay-hurt and wasn't in the mood to go chasing a jump down...I was ETS'ing and moving my family back to L.C. So I took that 3 months jump pay and put it aside in my mind. And as I out processed the Army took it...and I was okay.
Is that the same as some E-4 or E-5 at Walter Reed losing $3k? In principle yes. In practice no...they have more on their minds. But in the end the Soldier and his/her spouse need to cover their 4th point of contact...because even though the Army and the guys at the hospital mean only the best for those warriors...the machine is too big and will hurt people unintentionally.
CL
Commenting by HaloScan
