‘Stop loss’ to end

[unhappycamper]

SecDef announcement expected
Policy has been referred to as a backdoor draft


‘Stop loss’ to end
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 18, 2009 19:27:49 EDT

Soldiers under stop-loss orders will begin receiving a $500 monthly allowance on April 1, Army officials said Wednesday.

The announcement followed a briefing at the Pentagon where Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he has approved a plan to eliminate stop-loss by March 2011 and pay $500 a month to soldiers under those orders.

The $500 monthly payments will be retroactive to Oct. 1, 2008. Eligible soldiers who are no longer under stop-loss orders will get their money in a lump sum, and that money will be paid in May and June, at the latest, said Lt. Gen. Michael Rochelle, the Army G-1.

Each monthly payment is tax-free if soldiers are in the war zone and taxable if they are in the U.S., said Col. Larry Lock, the division chief for compensation and entitlements. The same rules apply to soldiers who receive a lump-sum amount, he said.

On average, soldiers are under stop-loss orders for five to eight months, said Maj. Gen. Gina Farrisee, director of military personnel management.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_stop_loss_031809/%2e