God and Country

In the wake of the announcements that the combat mission in Iraq has “ended,” the US military took some pains to acknowledge that its troops still serve in a combat zone, and their combat and incentive pays will continue:

Servicemembers deployed to Iraq will still receive hostile fire/imminent danger pay, hardship-duty pay, and incidental expenses. Some troops will qualify for family separation allowances. Also, all pay for warrant officers and enlisted members is tax exempt, while officers are exempt from taxes for up to $7,611.30 each month they serve in an eligible area.

“These pays compensate a member for the arduous conditions and additional burdens and dangers associated with being deployed to a combat zone,” Eileen Lainez said.

According to the article, the special pays and tax-exclusion are in effect due to the region’s status as a “combat zone,” which is declared by virtue of Presidential executive order.  Of course, the fact that combat continues in Iraq isn’t lost on most people.)

In that regard, despite the “end” of the combat mission, servicemembers will continue to receive combat pay until President Obama alters the status of Iraq as a combat zone.

US Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA) has proposed increasing the amount of special military pays, most of which are directly related to combat deployments.  When US military members are deployed to combat areas, they receive several financial considerations:

• Their military pay earned in the AOR is exempt from income taxes
• They may be entitled to hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, hazardous duty pay, and a family separation allowance.

Rep. McNerney’s proposal would make the following increases:  Read more…