Episode 77 – Government Shutdown

The U.S. Government shut down over the last weekend. I wanted to learn and talk about what happens to the military when this happens. It is more than simply troops don’t paid. There are real consequences when the government is not paying troops. There is a great Military.com article that goes over the major areas that are impacted by a government shutdown. Military.com – How government shutdown would impact pay & benefits .

NOTE: The following is the article from Military.com, and are not my words. I used this because it summarizes the scope of the issue concisely.

                                                           Troop Pay

Although active duty troops and Guard and Reservists on active duty orders are expected to show-up for work during a shutdown, they will not get paid unless Congress passes a separate piece of legislation to do so. Such a bill was awaiting action from the House and Senate Saturday.

Without that legislation, known as the Pay Our Military Act, troops will receive partial paychecks Feb. 1 only for days worked prior to Jan. 20.

Troops Killed in Action

Newly bereaved family members would not receive the Pentagon’s $100,000 death gratuity during a shutdown or military-funded travel to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, or elsewhere for the dignified transfer or military funeral or memorial.

VA Disability Pay & GI BIll Benefits 

However, during the last shutdown in 2013, VA officials warned that if the closure extended beyond several weeks, disability checks were unlikely to go out to more than 5.1 million veterans.

Military Moves and Travel

Military families about to make a permanent change of station (PCS) move or troops preparing for temporary travel (TDY) have their travel on hold until after the shutdown, according to guidance issued by the Defense Department late Jan. 19.

Those who have already departed on military move orders can complete their move, according to the guidance. Those in the midst of TDY travel should return to their duty station, the guidance states

Medical Care on Base

While military hospitals and on base dental clinics will stay open for emergencies, inpatient care and acute care, all other types of care — including elective procedures and primary-care appointments — will be canceled until the shutdown is lifted.

On-Base Child Care

On-base military child care centers will stay open on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether they are seen as “essential.” Users should contact their specific Child Development Center (CDC) for details.

On-Base Schools

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools will stay open during a shutdown. However, all extracurricular activities, such as sporting events, will be canceled, the guidance says. On-base schools that are operated by local school districts are not be affected by a shutdown.

Commissaries

Stateside commissaries, however, will close by Tuesday night, officials said, while those outside the U.S. and in some rural locations will remain open since they are considered “essential.” Those include two stores in Guam, a store in Puerto Rico, and commissaries at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport and Fort Irwin in California; Coast Guard Station Kodiak and Fort Greely in Alaska; and Dugway Proving Ground, Utah.

I think our congressmen forget that games they play involve real Americans, not pawns a chessboard……

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