Some to Lose Hundreds in Pay Monday (Military Housing Allow Cut)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,74425,00.html

Untold numbers of servicemembers residing off base will see their next paycheck shrink by as much as $250 -- and many of them may not even know the blow is coming.

Disbursing shops at several 1st Marine Division and 1st Force Service Support Group battalions surveyed over the past week said they learned only recently about the elimination of "geographic rate protection" under the Basic Allowance for Housing.

The change, outlined in Marine Administrative Message 315/01 and slated to take effect Monday, shelves a DoD policy enacted nearly five years ago. The old policy allowed servicemembers to retain higher housing allowances even when they moved to cheaper neighborhoods, said Master Sgt. Ervin Ramos, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge for the Consolidated Personnel Administration Center, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base.

“It’s money that you don’t rate,” Ramos said. “Some Marines will have to prepare themselves for the pay cut.”

[Fescue4u]

1. Logically it makes sense

If you move to a high cost area they give you extra $$$, if you move away it makes sense that you no longer should get it.

But geez, what shitty timing for something like this. the economy in the dumper, war is going on.

Sounds like they could at least phase it in, or do a better job of preparing their members.

[RamboLiberal]

3. If I'm reading the article correctly it's based on average costs

in the area. But with damn housing prices doing nothing but going up - and IMHO worse than the internet bubble, they're only forcing their military members to move further and further away from many bases.

Not a dissimilar situation many lower-middle class workers are facing in many areas of the country.

[AndreaCG]

2. Another case of Bush screwing servicepeople

While Halliburton steals billions.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Ah yes but they suport the troops all the way

haven't you heard?

:sarcasm: