What do you think of congress blocking Pentagon proposed cuts to TDY pay?

2015-03-08T11:23:14-04:00

http://www.stripes.com/news/house-bill-blocks-cuts-to-temporary-duty-per-diem-1.332773

The Pentagon recently proposed cuts to per diem pay in order to bring down costs. I'm interested to hear the communities opinion on this.

"The Defense Travel Management Office said the changes create an incentive for Defense Department travelers to find cheaper long-term lodging. Extended-stay hotels offer kitchenettes and refrigerators so “people aren’t eating out at an expensive restaurant every day,” DTMO director Harvey Johnson said in an October DOD News report."

Federal unions did not approve and promptly made their dissatisfaction known to several congressmen.

“The Pentagon should not put the biggest burden of spending cuts on the backs of workers,” Kilmer (D-Wash) said in a statement. “We need to ensure that workers and servicemembers can find decent lodging while traveling to support military mission.”

Opinion: I've been TDY several times in my short career. I ate ham sandwiches and drank tap water. Per diem has always seemed like a bonus... and a bit excessive. We get by every month on our base pay, BAS and BAH. Being out on temporary duty may result in some increased costs, but I've found that it's an opportunity to make extra cash.

Bottom line: Per diem is excessive. If they cut it, we would either cut costs with it, or just receive less 'bonus' pay. My two cents.

Expanded Discussion: Congress has blocked proposed cuts on several occasions (tanks and spare plane engines come to mind), yet they still mandate that the military reduce costs. Why don't they listen to the leaders of our organization?

House bill blocks cuts to temporary duty per diem

A House proposal would reverse the Defense Department decision to slash per diem allowances for long-term temporary duty.

Response by TSgt David Holman made Mar 8 at 2015 11:43 AM

2015-03-08T11:43:43-04:00

It is kind of a double edged sword to be honest. It would probably save "a little" money at best, but it wouldn't be the worst cut they could make. As long as they are making the cuts with a scalpel and not a hatchet, people shouldn't be too out of pocket for a TDY. When you look at it, we are already given a monthly allowance for food (and before people start flaming me, BAS is intended to "off set" the cost of meals for the member, not the members family... that is why there is no "with dependent rate")

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 6:16 PM

2015-03-30T18:16:17-04:00

I applaud the proposal by Congress. Over my 30 years of active duty, I never had one of those sweet TDYs that made me rich, but I knew several people who did. Six-month TDYs - in Germany - two hours from home, and drawing full per diem. Something like hitting the lottery. And one guy I knew hit that lottery once - was home virtually every weekend, went to Bosnia or Kosovo once a month for the tax break - and then was extended for another 180 days of TDY, so he hit the TDY lottery twice!

It really is fraud, waste and abuse of the system. I think any honest look at those sorts of TDY trips would reveal that the people are taking advantage of the system. Plain and simple.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 10:47 PM

2015-04-01T22:47:01-04:00

Pentagon (whomever is doing this) needs to examine their hearts and stop screwing veterans and the safety of our country.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 1 at 2015 10:49 PM

2015-04-01T22:49:01-04:00

Mixed feelings. CONUS TDY with reimbursement for actual costs with a ceiling paid off the Government Card and didn't stuff much extra money into my pocket. Most of my overseas TDYs as a senior officer pretty much worked the same way. Exception was some of my long term squats in Camb/Thai/Laos/HOA or wherever that per diem was reduced to 50% as you don't eat 3 squares at Outback Steakhouse every day. Much of the abuse is triggered by the issuing authority not putting the right endorsements on the orders. I had a DKCS that made sure my Command's orders had the right stuff on them. We were typically spread over 15 GOA's at once so it could get tricky. Crossing the dateline was always a problem liquidating as you had two receipts for lodging on the same day.

Bottom line, if the reductions take money out of the member's pocket to perform the duty, then it becomes broke the other way.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 11:10 PM

2015-04-01T23:10:25-04:00

On one hand, I think there's definitely folks who take advantage of the system, and I can see where that temptation lies. On the other, we are also getting stiffed on our end when it comes time for that travel voucher to be paid. I am currently waiting on a travel voucher to be paid from orders that ended in October 2014. If I weren't in "Mission Critical" status, that unpaid voucher would be negatively affecting my credit score unjustly, since the issue is not on my end. It feels like a "who's cheating who" scenario at times.