By JEFFREY COLLINS and RUSS BYNUM, Associated Press
Updated 3:25 am, Wednesday, October 2, 2013
...In military towns across the U.S., the political battles in the nation's capital are directly affecting the bottom line as military contractors and other small business brace for the worst — already forced to cope with mandatory budget cuts and promised reductions in the size of the nation's armed forces.
Now they're taking another blow, this time from the budget battle in Washington.
"Nobody is making any decisions in Washington for the whole year. This is nothing new. This is just a complete failure for 18 months," said Kent, whose company revenues have already dropped amid uncertainty over mandatory military budget cuts in 2012. "Our plans for expansion have been on hold for this whole year. If anything, we're making plans for contraction."
Kent is hardly alone in Fayetteville. As with large numbers of contractors and business operators in military towns across the United States, business boomed during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one of the deepest recessions in decades made barely a ripple....
Can President Obama please sign an Executive Order to end the confusion of our troops? Thank you. Many Americans would rather they be home, but, in the light of that not happening, the troops have a right to their clear understandings.
Confusion reigns over troops' danger pay in shutdown (click here)
Oct. 1, 2013 - 05:22PM
...For the roughly 54,000 troops currently deployed to Afghanistan, danger pay provides an additional $7.50 a day, or a maximum of $225 a month. Troops in other designated countries or waterways also are eligible for the incentive pay.
A spokesman for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Navy Cmdr. Bill Urban, said the Pentagon has not made a final determination about whether troops will receive danger pay and similar incentive pays.
The question will likely be resolved before Oct. 15 military paychecks are processed by the Defense Finance and Accounting Services.
I think "Normal Duty Status" causes some confusion about Combat Pay.
This was the President's Message:
“Those of you in uniform will remain on your normal duty status. The threats to our national security have not changed, and we need you to be ready for any contingency.
“Ongoing military operations, like our efforts in Afghanistan, will continue. If you’re serving in harm’s way, we’re going to make sure you have what you need to succeed in your missions. Congress has passed, and I am signing into law, legislation to make sure you get your paychecks on time. And we’ll continue working to address any impact this shutdown has on you and your families.
“To all our DOD civilians, I know the days ahead could mean more uncertainty, including possible furloughs. And I know this comes on top of the furloughs that many of you already endured this summer. You and your families deserve better than the dysfunction we’re seeing in Congress. Your talents and dedication help keep our military the best in the world. That’s why I’ll keep working to get Congress to reopen our government and get you back to work as soon as possible.
“Finally, I know this shutdown occurs against the background of broader changes. The war in Iraq is over. The war in Afghanistan will end next year. After more than a decade of unprecedented operations, we are moving off a war footing. Yes, our military will be leaner, and as a nation we face difficult budget choices going forward.
“But here’s what I want you to know. I’m going to keep fighting to get rid of those across-the-board budget cuts, the sequester, which are hurting our military and our economy. We need a responsible approach that deals with our fiscal challenges and keeps our military and our economy strong. And I’m going to make sure you stay the greatest military in the world—bar none. That’s what I’m fighting for. That’s what you and your families deserve.”
Shutdown to idle stateside military commissaries (click here) Oct. 1, 2013 - 06:09PM
The $13.5 million Norfolk Naval Shipyard Scott Center Annex Commissary in Portsmouth, Va., opened in May. The military is closing all of its domestic commissaries starting Oct. 2, although overseas stores will remain open. (Rick Brink / DeCA)
...About 12 million people — including military personnel, retirees and
their families — are eligible to shop at the 246 commissaries on
military installations worldwide. The commissaries typically carry
everything a national supermarket chain would — including brand-name
products — but at much lower prices than their commercial competitors.
The
military is required to sell goods at its commissaries at cost. While
there is a 5 percent surcharge on all products to help pay for new
commissaries and improve existing ones, there is no sales tax on the
products sold....The Affordable Care Act won't change Tricare coverage, but many beneficiaries have heard otherwise. Has anyone told you your benefits would change?
