Discussing this with a colleague last night. There are so many people who try to get out of deployments for one reason or another. Some I feel for, like the multiple almost back to back deployments. Especially the at sea deployments.
I know you typically get some additional TAD type pay for deployment, but it's a pretty trivial amount. And I know if you deploy longer than 7 months you get something like an additional $350 or so a month.
But what if you got a substantial pay boost during deployment? Like $5/day for the first 3 months, and $10/day for the next 3 months, and $15/day thereafter? For an average 6 month deployment, that's an easy $1350 extra pay. For officers, not a huge difference, but for junior enlisted that's a lot.
I'm sure many of y'all have dealt with junior enlisted, or an occasional senior enlisted or officer, that tried getting out of deployment for some reason or another. Some have faked illness or injury. Some have threatened to kill themselves. And some have been legitimately going through a tough time. But do you think it would make a difference?
I think it might make a slight difference for some, and you'd have some people volunteering to go. I doubt it'll ever happen anytime soon though.
I know you typically get some additional TAD type pay for deployment, but it's a pretty trivial amount. And I know if you deploy longer than 7 months you get something like an additional $350 or so a month.
But what if you got a substantial pay boost during deployment? Like $5/day for the first 3 months, and $10/day for the next 3 months, and $15/day thereafter? For an average 6 month deployment, that's an easy $1350 extra pay. For officers, not a huge difference, but for junior enlisted that's a lot.
I'm sure many of y'all have dealt with junior enlisted, or an occasional senior enlisted or officer, that tried getting out of deployment for some reason or another. Some have faked illness or injury. Some have threatened to kill themselves. And some have been legitimately going through a tough time. But do you think it would make a difference?
I think it might make a slight difference for some, and you'd have some people volunteering to go. I doubt it'll ever happen anytime soon though.