[The Black Knight]

URBAN LEGEND ALERT!

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/combatpay.asp

Calm down, everyone. Combat pay HAS changed. But not like this says. Originally, if you spent only 1 day in theater, you got combat pay for an entire month. They have changed to the member receiving a certain amount per day ($7.50), which will add up to exactly the combat pay amount you usually receive for the month ($225) if you are there the entire time. If you are only there for two days, then you only get 16 bucks. Our unit received this briefing, I’m just sourcing Snopes because its easier.

Truth be known, I like this change. There’s nothing more frustrating than when a ground pounder spends an entire month downrange and gets the same sum as guy who shows up for two or three days as a maintenance guy on a rotator. In fact, I’ve known people who intentionally delayed their return stateside to the 2nd of the month, to get an entire month of combat pay.

Although I agree with the overarching argument that the military is getting the raw end, this isn’t one of them. It pays people based on how long they are in theater.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It’s now pro-rated by days in the month I see, which is fair enough, but is it also pro-rated by days on which shooting battle actually occurs versus days when the enemy force is lurking and isn’t shooting?

[douginthearmy]

Holy Crap! 49 responses before anyone even questioned the source or the info! And this is at least the second thread on this I have seen myself. FReepers, I know you hate Obama, but this is the dangon internet for crying out loud. Check your sources.

In fact, I’ve known people who intentionally delayed their return stateside to the 2nd of the month

This was SOP when I was in. Anyone with enough rank to influence their own flight arrived on the 25-30th and left on the 1st-5th.

[Grizzled Bear]

Screw that. I’ll be impressed when the pRESIDENT throtles back on Mobama’s vacations with her entourage. Vaca Gal’s expenses likely dwarf all of our warriors’ Combat Theater pay, combined!

[Safetgiver]

In the VN war, I was told by an ANG B-52 driver he transported loaded 52’s to Viet Nam once a month, dropped his load(Rolling Thunder) went back to California, went back to his job as a cop and received his ANG monthly required drill AND combat pay. Never actually saw VN, in his monthly 40 minutes over the country during the entire four years he did this.