New Military Pay Raises Legislation Makes Biggest Changes Since 1949
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NOTICE TO HAWAII MARINE READERS We hope you will enjoy this special readers during the holiday season The Military Sun Press, published twice edition of the Military Sun Press, crea- when HAWAII MARINE is not pub- each year, is in no way connected to the ted especially for HAWAII MARINE lished. U.S. Marines or the U.S. government. Hawaii Marine Week of December 30, 1999 - January 5, 2000 I tary n Press MV4.0M8830338,33,03M34.3 DFAS set to distribute new military pay raises Legislation makes biggest changes since 1949 ARLINGTON, Va. (Army News Service) - issue the newly authorized payments. As The Defense Finance and Accounting Service, anticipated, these changes have had a tremen- the Department of Defense agency that pays dous impact on DFAS pay systems and work- soldiers and other service members, will get load, but DFAS is committed to providing most newly legislated pays and entitlements timely and accurate pay to all service mem- out to the troops in January. bers. "DFAS is ready to pay our uniformed mem- All military members will receive their basic bers and entitled individuals," says Gloria pay increase in the first payday after the New Harris, Deputy Director for Military Pay, in Year. Likewise, increases for other entitle- response to sweeping changes in military pay ments, such as enlistment and reenlistment and entitlements made in the National bonuses, nuclear bonuses, special warfare and Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year surface warfare officer bonuses and the elimi- 2000. nation of dual compensation offset, have either The act contains some of the biggest changes already started, or will be once the military since the 1949 pay reform act that established service notifies DFAS of the eligibility of a the current entitlement program for the member. nation's military. The changes include two Several increases, such as foreign language basic pay increases during FY 2000, imple- proficiency, career enlisted flyer incentive and mentation of ten new entitlements, increases judge advocate continuation pays, cannot be to eight existing entitlements as well as repeal paid until both policy and required personnel of the dual compensation/pay cap restrictions information are provided to DFAS. and introduction of a retirement bonus for However, in all cases, service members will those choosing to return to the REDUX retire- be paid, in full, any retroactive entitlements ment system. back to the date authorized by law or by their In April 1999, DFAS recognized the poten- service, as soon as possible following receipt of tial magnitude of these proposed legislative required entitlement information by DFAS. A changes and began working with the Office of few of the entitlements, such as the retirement the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense REDUX bonus, have future effective dates and (Military Personnel Policy) and the military are not, therefore, scheduled for payment. services to establish policy guidance and iden- According to Harris, although these changes tify eligible members so that DFAS could come at a time of high activity for DFAS due to update affected service members' pay final Y2K preparations, closing out the final accounts. payroll and preparing to issue over six million Since that time, DFAS has established W-2s to DFAS customers, paying the either automated or manual procedures to "warfighters" is DFAS' #1 priority. DoD defers decision on cuts by Paul Stone issue, it's a total force issue," "In the last three years, with a American Forces Press Service the reserve chief said. "There's guard and reserve force that is been a dramatic change in the about 25 percent smaller than F. L. Morris photo WASHINGTON (AFPN) - way we're using the force today a decade ago, we are using Defense Secretary William compared to when the decision reserve component personnel Cohen has deferred plans that to make the cuts was made." at a rate of about 13 million Ship shape would have cut another 25,000 For example, Cragin said duty days a year." personnel from Army several years ago DoD This change, Cragin said, is the that Navy sailor Yvonee, Brandon and Jason Pearce enjoy the colors of the annual Pearl Harbor Holiday Lights at National Guard and Reserve. was using reserve component the equivalent of adding 35,000 Pearl Harbor Naval Station Dec. 23. The Navy family caught the spectacle right at dusk. The 1997 Quadrennial personnel at a rate of about men and women to the active Defense Review had recom- one million duty days a year. end strength of the total force. mended reserve component cuts of up to 45,000 personnel. Reductions of 17,000 in the Army National Guard and 3,000 in the Army Reserve Marines face pain in relentless pursuit of gain have already been completed. Charles Cragin, principal MARINE CORPS BASE time averages 12 minutes deputy assistant secretary of CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. per mile. About a third of defense for reserve affairs, said - To achieve a dream, those starting completed the three factors prompted defer- Marines endured a foot- run in time. ment of the cuts. First the pounding, water-sucking test "Typically, only one or two Army is currently conducting a of heart Nov. 20. Reconnais- of 10 pass the indoctrina- redesign of Army National sance Company, Headquar- tion," Dean said. "Most Guard divisions and is develop- ters Battalion, 1st Marine Marines who come out are ing a new vision of how the Division, presented 15 aspir- physically capable of the Army will work and fight in ing Marines with an indoctri- standards, but they don't the next century. nation challenging not only want it bad enough." "Secretary Cohen did not their physical fitness but The run trail weaved along want to do anything at this their mental fortitude. "We Basilone Road, between time that would hinder those are looking for Marines who Camp Horno and the bridge plans," Cragin said. won't quit," said Sgt. Troy leading to the School of Second, DoD will begin the Dean, 1st Marine Division Infantry. The National process of conducting another Recon schools noncommis- Anthem played while QDR in January 2001, which sioned officer. Once in a Marines trudged past morn- will provide another opportunity recon unit, these Marines ing colors in front of the 1st to analyze existing force struc- will be tasked with extreme- Marine Regiment Command tures and future requirements. ly challenging missions, such Post. Third, and perhaps most as swimming for hours in Some Marines showed important Cragin said, DoD is black, frigid water. signs of deliriousness - talk- highly dependent on reserve During a mission, recon ing to themselves, or to invis- component forces for opera- Marines are inserted behind ible people they thought tions throughout the world. enemy lines to collect crucial were next to them. They "We couldn't do it without intelligence. Marines taking dropped their packs after fin- them," he said. "They are criti- the challenge started shortly LCpI. Joseph R. Chenelly photo ishing at the Horno training cally important, and in many after dawn with a modified tank's entrance. instances they have at least a physical fitness test. A two- During the pool portion, Marines swam 25 meters while holding a 10-pound brick above the water's surface. It With a step off a ledge 10 majority of core competencies minute push-up test accom- did not matter if the Marine stayed above the water, as long as the brick did not get wet. meters above the chilly needed in ongoing operations." panied the standard break, then take off for a minutes each. A one-minute Next, Marines tackled the water, the swim portion was He cited civil affairs and med- pull-ups, crunches and three- one-mile formation run in rest was granted between 0-course again; many start- under way. Marines wore ical specialties as examples. mile run. boots and utilities to Camp each exercise. Test subjects ed showing some wear. Sev- utilities, minus boots and Cragin said current missions "Maximum effort must be Horno's obstacle course. were held to strict standards. eral didn't meet the time socks. in Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait and put forth the entire time," Each leatherneck gets four "The eight-count body- requirement the second time A timed 500-meter swim over Iraq are heavily depen- Dean said. "We drop anyone minutes to maneuver builders are the most failed through. helped warm up the shiver- dent on reserve forces, and who isn't putting out 100 through the obstacles and event," Dean said. A four-minute period to ing leathernecks. Only pointed out that a total of percent the entire time." sprint back to the starting "A lot of times Marines hydrate and prepare for the breaststroke and sidestroke 32,000 reserve component ser- Only a first-class PFT is line. After conquering the don't fully understand the next event, the rucksack run, were permitted during the vice members have supported acceptable, along with a min- course, they completed hello exercise. A Marine can tech- followed. Each man wore an event. They tried not to the Bosnia mission during the imum of 42 push-ups in two Dollies, flutter kicks, eight- nically fail two events and ALICE pack containing a 40- inhale water while sounding past four years. minutes. After the PFT, can- count bodybuilders and still pass overall if we deem pound sandbag throughout a "This is not just an Army didates get a one-minute mountain climbers for two appropriate." nearly five-mile run. Passing See Pain on A-3 A-2 Military Sun Press December 30, 1999 - January 5, 2000 INDIVIDUALS COUPLES GROUPS Highest ranked enlisted man Communication Problems Relationship Difficulties Stress Trauma Sex Abuse *Financial Stress Grief Deployment Problems Co-Dependency Self-Esteem Depression Anxiety ACOA Issues Eating Disorders Years Of Experience Counseling Military Confidentiality Respected L CHAfAPU S/PRIME praises Sailors based in Japan PHYLLIS Z.