THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 5, 1996 TAG: 9606040350
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: MILITARY UPDATE
SOURCE: TOM PHILPOTT
LENGTH: 71 lines
The Senate Armed Services Committee plans to improve military pay and benefits next year, but it's $1 billion short of the package approved in May by the House National Security Committee.
Though both committees agreed to add $12.9 billion to the Clinton defense request, the Senate panel wants more of the extra cash for weapon systems; less for personnel. And without apologies.
``We think we adequately funded the personnel and medical accounts,'' said a Senate staffer.
Military people might disagree. Key initiatives in the House version of the 1997 defense authorization bill not found in the Senate bill include:
An extra $473 million to fully fund military medical programs. Without it, military hospitals and clinics will have no choice but to deny care to tens of thousands of older beneficiaries.
An extra $200 million for military construction, including more for housing.
$38 million to raise dislocation allowance 25 percent and lower out-of-pocket travel costs during reassignments.
$34.5 million to establish a variable housing allowance ``floor'' to help junior enlisted families live off base in high-cost areas.
$14 million to pay a temporary lodging expense of up to $110 a day to junior enlisted members, a feature they are denied when moving to their first duty assignment.
Though the Senate package suffers in comparison to the House's version, both seem rosy against the administration's pale request. More importantly, some key provisions appear in both bills, virtually assuring approval by the full Congress later this year. Here's a rundown:
Pay raise - Basic pay and basic allowance for subsistence would climb 3 percent in 1997.
Allowance increase - Basic allowance for quarters would rise at least 4 percent, to provide an extra $2 to $5 a month in tax-free allowances depending on a member's rank.
Auto storage -Members for the first time would be able to store privately-owned vehicles at government expense when shipment overseas is prohibited.
POV-shipment travel - Members would be reimbursed for travel to and from port to arrange shipment or recovery of privately-owned vehicles for overseas assignment.
Shipboard allowances - Single members in grade E-5, when on sea duty, would be assigned space in barracks ashore or, if unavailable, would receive housing allowances.
Shipboard couples - Payment of full housing allowances, plus family separation pay, would be authorized to one member of a joint military couple if both husband and wife are assigned to sea. Each now forfeits housing allowances while at sea if in pay grade E-5 or below.
Special forces pay - All Army Special Forces soldiers, and Army Rangers eligible to wear the ``V'' insignia would receive $110 a month in special duty assignment pay.
Career enlistments - Careerists with 10 or more years in service would be able to sign indefinite enlistments to cover their obligation until retirement.
Dental officer pay - Dental officers, including reservists, would receive special incentive pay. Details are said to vary between the House and Senate bills and were not immediately available.
Tricare portability - Participants in TRICARE Prime could remain enrolled in the health maintenance organization when moving between health care regions. Participants now must disenroll before moving and re-enroll afterward. MEMO: Comments and suggestions are welcomed. Write to Military Update,
P.O. Box 1230, Centreville, Va. 22020, or send e-mail to:
milupdate@aol.com by CNB