IF there is a US Govt shutdown...

[PessOptimist]

I was on active duty during the last government shutdown.


Today I read on Yahoo and other places that military PAY will stop.

Tonight I heard on ABC news that military PAYCHECKS will stop. While looking at e-mails I found this link:

Service members would earn pay during shutdown
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123250403

The headline makes you think everything is OK until you read the story and realize it says EARN pay during a shutdown but be PAID later.

I don't remember what the exact dates of the last "shutdown" were but according to one source they were from 14-19 Nov 95 and from 16 Dec 95 to 6 Jan 96. I do not remember not receiving pay and I am sure I would remember that.

Is there something different this time?

Not trying to alarm anyone but based on the af.mil story, I would be asking questions.

Thank You for your service.

PO

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

Last time the military had a budget for the year, they were haggling over other appropriation bills.

This time, no one has a funding bill...

 

[Frixxxx]

They canceled the training weekend.....

I will not be drilling this month.

It is hard enough to get prepared to go, but we also have people who fly in to participate.....They're out the cash!

 

[Nate]

Ive heard statements to both sides of this. "We WONT get paid", and "thats crazy, of course the military will get paid".
My opinion, It would have been nice to get an official warning with ample time if we are to go 4 weeks without pay.....backpay or not. I first heard of this about 3 weeks ago. That gives the average soldier one paycheck to budget & prepare.....not possible. Keep in mind the average sidleir I see is about 21, consumes alot of beer, and makes about $2k a month before taxes....minus life insurance and any TSP donations, etc.
This morning I poked around the net before reading this thread and came across articles on The Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011, officially called House Resolution 1297. HR 1297 search results came up with "beer" something something.

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.1297:

 

[pmcint01]

Civilians will most likely NOT get paid!


No back pay for furloughed feds predicted
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=47523&dcn=e_gvet

 

[PessOptimist]

Last time the military had a budget for the year, they were haggling over other appropriation bills.

This time, no one has a funding bill...

Thanks RMI. Believe it or not I thought of that on the way to work this morning, but wasn't sure what happened in 95.

If nothing else gets done, I hope 1297 goes somewhere. It doesn't appear to have moved for a week.

 

[JTH]

The rumor mill is running amuck over here, yet nothing offical has come down through the chain.

My take: The military will get paid period. You won't have soliders not meeting their financial obligations, it just won't happen, so don't freak out about it.

 

[jpcavin]

Just had a meeting with upper management. Military are required to work and military pay will be delayed. Pay for the 15th will be on time but the rest is uncertain. They are hoping that something will be resolved by then, but as it stands right now...expect delays.
Tell that to the fighting troops with families to support back home. This is disgraceful!

 

[JTH]

The rumor mill is running amuck over here, yet nothing offical has come down through the chain.

My take: The military will get paid period. You won't have soliders not meeting their financial obligations, it just won't happen, so don't freak out about it.

Tell that to the fighting troops with families to support back home. This is disgraceful!

Like I said, it's not going to happen.

 

[James48843]

Regarding a potential military pay stoppage-

Don't worry- you'll still eat. Go google the 1861 Feed and Forage Act, passed during the Civil War, providing that local Military commanders can go out, and round up cattle to kill and feed their troops, and buy forage for their horses. I kid you not.

That's what it meant in 1861 when it passed. It has since been used in more recent budget emergencies to make sure the Army can stay in the field-



Soldiers won't go hungry even if there isn't a budget bill passed.

Read more about it here:
http://www.ombwatch.org/files/budget/feedandforageact.pdf

An extract:

Historical Examples of the Use of the Feed and Forage Act​

Despite its age, the Feed and Forage Act has been invoked in a modern context. Generally, this authority has been used for ongoing conflicts, rather than to initiate an offensive action.

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4 The following are recent examples of when it has been invoked and/or used:

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In 1968, 1969, and 1972, the Department of Defense used it to support the Vietnam War and other military operations in Southeast Asia.5

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In 1990, the Department of Defense, under Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney's leadership, invoked the act to make obligations during Operation Desert Shield – the military action leading up to the start of the Persian Gulf War. A total of $1.6 billion was obligated.6

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In 1994, the act was invoked to support a mission to restore democracy in Haiti. DOD obligated $126.3 million more than was appropriated for the year. $123 million was obligated under Army operation and management, which is an account in the DOD budget that covers a wide assortment of expenditures, while about $3 million helped activate Army reservists.7​

•​

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In 2001, the Bush administration invoked the act immediately after the September 11 terrorist attacks occurred, as Stan Collender wrote in his May 8 column. However, Congress acted swiftly enough that an appropriations bill was enacted prior to DOD obligating any funding under the act's authority.8 ​

More on the 1861 "Feed and Forage Act":
http://www.ombwatch.org/files/budget/feedandforageact.pdf

 

[Bquat]

Like I said, it's not going to happen.

I agree with you, There will be a Continuing Resolution, if only for the military. No congressman will allow military personnel go unpaid while in combat. This is just trying to get more of the public to get involved to add pressure for a decision to get made. Just like saying US Customs will not be watching the boarder during a shutdown. Just my 0 cents.

 

[jpcavin]

Not concerned about the military, I know they will eat. Was concerned for the families. However, Navy and Marine Corps Relief will not shut down so I supposed they can rely on that if the worst came to pass.
Don't think the worset will come to pass but aware that it's not impossible either.

 

[PessOptimist]

Not concerned about the military, I know they will eat. Was concerned for the families. However, Navy and Marine Corps Relief will not shut down so I supposed they can rely on that if the worst came to pass.
Don't think the worset will come to pass but aware that it's not impossible either.

I too am mainly concerned about the dependents and the people living off base.

Many people think that all military families live in base housing. NOT. Many still think all groceries are supplied for free. NOT. (they never were) If BAQ and BAS stop, most landlords are not going to take a rain check. If pay stops, grocery stores are not going to give stuff away.

The military will not let any of the troops subsisting out of the dining facility starve to death. The ones allowed to subsist seperately may be screwed. Unless they choose to eat themselves and forget their wives/children. If they do they will have to pay a BIG surcharge at the dining facility. It is not as free nor as simple as some try to make it.

I hope there is no shut down. It seems that no one on either side want's anything else. The POTUS's hope and change motto changes meaning daily

 

[jpcavin]

I hope there is no shut down. It seems that no one on either side want's anything else.

I just think that if they keep extending week after week that they will just continue to bicker and not come up with a budget. It's a shame that adults have to be put in "time out" to get them to do their jobs.

 

[PessOptimist]

In the FWIW department, I was just on the mypay site getting my LES and saw this notice:

Due to the potential shutdown of the federal government, we have "taken down" all Leave and Earnings Statements (LESes) or "Advice of Pays" for Active Duty Military and Reservists. We will re-post LESes when we receive more information on the shutdown or enacted legislation that authorizes pay beyond April 8

All military will get paid on April 15.
If a CRA or appropriation is not passed before April 15, military members will be paid on April 15 for the period of April 1-8, approximately one half their normal mid month pay.
If a CRA or appropriation is passed by Tuesday, April 12, military members will receive their full pay for duty served from April 1-15 on April 15.
If a CRA or appropriation is not until after April 12, DFAS will pay military members for the period of April 9-15 within 3 days of an appropriation or CRA being passed.

In case you are wondering, I am paid by DFAS but am not a DOD employee. DFAS has been taking in outside jobs these last several years

 

[jpcavin]

In the FWIW department, I was just on the mypay site getting my LES and saw this notice:



In case you are wondering, I am paid by DFAS but am not a DOD employee. DFAS has been taking in outside jobs these last several years

So I assume you are military? Not understanding the point being made about DFAS taking in outside jobs.

 

[PessOptimist]

So I assume you are military? Not understanding the point being made about DFAS taking in outside jobs.

Sorry to be cryptic. I am not active duty military. I am retired military. I work for DOE. DFAS handles our pay. DFAS also takes care of paying a few other federal agencies.

From Wiki (I know, I know, but it seems pretty accurate)

DFAS pays all DoD military and civilian personnel, retirees and annuitants, as well as major DoD contractors and vendors. DFAS also supports customers outside the DoD in support of electronic government initiatives. These customers include the Executive Office of the President, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Broadcasting Board of Governors."