President Bush’s decision to withhold signature of the 2008 defense bill effectively cut off payment of several special and incentive pays, including enlistment and reenlistment bonuses. Though the impasse delays payment of bonuses intended for those in uniform as well as persons who are considering entry into the military, the latter will likely feel its impact most severely. Unable to guarantee incentives, recruiters in particular face a tougher time convincing potential recruits to join. "If we signed a contract today for a bonus, we have to be clear that . . . we can’t guarantee it," said Bill Carr, the deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy, in a press release. Active-duty service members, who have seen similar deadlocks have comparable effects on bonus payments in recent years, are less likely to balk, Carr said. In a related matter, Bush authorized payment of a 3 percent increase beginning Jan. 1 for all service members. If and when the bill becomes law, and under the likely assumption that the approved 3.5 percent pay raise will not change, service members can expect reimbursement for the half-percent shortfall retroactive to Jan. 1.
AF Offers Post-Deployment Leave
Beginning Jan. 19, active, National Guard, and Reserve Air Force members who deploy for 12 months or more during a 36-month period are eligible for additional leave. According to the Air Force Personnel Center, the amount earned by active-duty members will vary depending upon the duration of a deployment. To qualify for the Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence leave, active-duty members must have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, or locations in those theaters that include Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, or Manas, Kyrgyzstan, since Jan. 19, 2004, as part of operations. Post-Deployment/Mobilization Absence time can be combined with regular leave, but not with passes or post-deployment stand-down time. Active-duty members must use it within 12 months of returning from deployment or moving to a new permanent change of station or duty assignment. Airmen should request the leave on their Air Force Form 988, "Leave Request/Authorization" with Block 8 marked as permissive TDY with the reason annotated as PDMRA. For more information, contact base personnel officials or the Air Force Contact Center at DSN 665-5000 or (800) 616-3775. Those eligible for the leave will earn:
* one day per month for total deployment time between 12-17 months;
* two days per month for 18-23 deployed months; and
* four days per month for 24 months or more of deployed time.