How much extra should our Servicemembers recieve for being put at risk in countries with Ebola outbreaks?

2014-10-09T13:48:42-04:00

So apparently DoD has decided to be so generous by providing our troops with a whopping $400 extra per month for deploying to Africa to fight the spread of Ebola. Wow, really? A Soldier who goes to Korea, or any other unaccompanied tour, also gets the $250 in Family Separation Allowance. And many places, such as Korea, can qualify for up to $150 in Hardship Duty Pay. But there is no Imminent Danger Pay in Africa? Half the continent is at war and our troops are going in to combat (and potentially contract) and extremely deadly disease. Also, forget any kind of tax incentives, since they are not in a combat zone. A Soldier can go TDY to school and make more than these folks will make in such a dangerous place.

So, how much should they get? I would sure think more than a measly $400 extra would be in order. Anyone else think the same? Or should they just suck it up, follow orders, and be happy with the $400?

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20141009/BENEFITS02/310090049/Troops-fighting-Ebola-will-earn-up-400-extra-per-month

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2014 1:50 PM

2014-10-09T13:50:44-04:00

Good point. I think the $400 is minimal!

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 11:12 AM

2014-10-15T11:12:04-04:00

1SG Brown--this selfish service stuff always annoys me. Extra dollars don't make an operation more safe. Consider that we volunteer, we get paid. We are fortunate not to be drafted with very low pay and little or no compensations for serving our country. Today , are we totally mercenary like the Hessians? Motivated by coin?
Last week folks were whining about what kinds of medals they should get before the operation even started. It's the every-body-deserves-a-trophy-for-showing-up mentality.
Revolutionary War soldiers hardly lived to get paid. Civil War and other vets rarely had paymasters catch up with their deployments. And on to WWII where there were few special pays other than JUMP. And here we are today filling fists fulls of dollars until we end up with a whole pyramid of extra pays to compensate for low base pay...sure, fair pay for a fair day's work is great--but we need money for better equipment, better housing, better food, clean water....and of course, we all want promotions, how about we do our job and accomplish the mission FIRST? Let leadership work on it while we get the job done. Have some trust and faith they will do so--they always have. George Washington and others used their own food and money to take care of soldiers and so will we!

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 11:13 AM

2014-10-15T11:13:13-04:00

CSM Bentley--I'm all for taking care of the troops, but before I dip into the budget, I want to ensure we have the best equipment and protective gear before sending anyone in harm's way. If we don't that $400 isn't worth anything except to next of kin. I don't want to write that letter.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 11:18 AM

2014-10-15T11:18:34-04:00

I've heard the soldiers from RIID heading out there are being put on TDY, vs being deployed. That means no weapons/no gear, and no combat or hazard duty pay.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2014 3:26 PM

2014-10-20T15:26:08-04:00

Tough to put a price on life. Or death.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Oct 21 at 2014 11:14 PM

2014-10-21T23:14:38-04:00

$400 isn't enough

Response by SGT Timothy Byrd made Oct 22 at 2014 1:10 PM

2014-10-22T13:10:17-04:00

I personally feel that the government needs to stop trying to be the Police & savior of the world. That would alleviate all the money that is being spent & not that it would happen but that money could go towards making sure our military has proper equipment, pay & proper "updated" housing. Our troops don't need to be unnecessarily put in possible danger of a deadly virus since we can ban all incoming flights that originated from these areas entering the USA. Any American that was in this area needs to be temporarily put in quarantine to ensure they are not carrying the disease.