Editorial: Expedite Warrior Pay

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Editorial: Expedite Warrior Pay

The political fortunes of the Army’s campaign to implement Warrior Pay of up to $1,500 a month to reward soldiers for cumulative time served in a war zone have come up against a hard deadline that could mean the difference of whether payouts begin next fiscal year or are put on hold for at least another year.

the Army and Defense Department didn’t send a formal Warrior Pay proposal to Congress until May 28 — deep into the legislative process for the fiscal 2009 defense budget.

Not surprisingly, congressional aides requested the Army retool the proposal, and time is running out on getting that work done and approved before the 2009 bill is completed.

If an updated proposal isn’t in the pipeline before the July 4th congressional recess, the plan likely will be dead for another year.

So it’s time to put the pedal to the metal — with soldiers on their third, fourth and fifth combat tours, it’s not right to let this plan languish any longer.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/community/opinion/army_editorial_warrior_062308/