Removal of Imminent Danger Pay

This may cause a lot of hurt feelings, but (if the ArmyTimes is actually accurate) the DoD has revised the Imminent Danger Pay list to remove areas such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro. I'm sure many of those who are looking at upcoming deployments to these areas will surely be upset at the loss of the pay, however, as we've shared in previous discussions, we ARE in a time of necessary cutbacks. As much as I hate the thought of LOSING pay when it takes an Act of Congress to get any sort of slight increase, I Completely agree with the removal of Imminent Danger Pay from non-combat areas. It is in my opinion that this should have been done years ago. Why is the same imminent danger pay given to service members in places like Dubai and Bahrain as those who are ACTUALLY in danger like Iraq and Afghanistan? It bothered me then and I'm glad to see that if we have to endure cuts in benefits that HOPEFULLY that come from appropriate places and not from more crucial areas.

I understand that this may upset a few people, my opinion is mine and mine alone, but here are a few sources to review before you become upset over removing Imminent Danger Pay from certain areas like Kuwait. You can clearly read the data pointing the lack of deaths by any hostile action.

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140103/BENEFITS/301030014/No-more-imminent-danger-pay-20-areas

http://war-on-terror-casualties.findthedata.org/d/b/Kuwait

No more imminent danger pay for 20 areas

The Defense Department has removed 20 areas from its list of locations that qualify for imminent danger pay, effective June 1, potentially affecting tens of thousands of troops.