Posted on Mar 8, 2015
What do you think of congress blocking Pentagon proposed cuts to TDY pay?
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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?
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?
TDY
Army
Budget
Congress
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 5
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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.
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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.
Bottom line, if the reductions take money out of the member's pocket to perform the duty, then it becomes broke the other way.
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Pentagon (whomever is doing this) needs to examine their hearts and stop screwing veterans and the safety of our country.
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SSgt (Join to see)
That's okay you guys need this help and the poor guy who has a family needs this when they are abroad. It is not all about me.
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