Navy cuts re-up bonuses | Stars and Stripes (http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60810)

"Thousands of sailors will lose millions of re-enlistment dollars as the Navy makes drastic changes to its Selective Reenlistment Bonus program next month.

The Navy announced the revamped bonus levels in a fleetwide message last week, listing changes to hundreds of job specialties across three enlistment zones that range from the first-term sailor to those with up to 14 years of service.

The change affects more than 33,000 sailors. The SRB budget was cut by $45 million from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2009, according to Navy Personnel Command officials.

In all, 446 SRBs were decreased or eliminated. A handful of job specialty ratings maintained their current bonus levels, and 69 job bonuses went up. Those increases were primarily in nuclear engineering, ballistic missile defense, computer and special warfare.

Individuals in those specialties can receive as much as $90,000 for a single bonus, particularly in the nuclear engineering field. But even those bonuses might be reduced by October.

"Because this is a market-based bonus, and because we’re in unprecedented times, it’s expected additional award levels revisions will occur this fiscal year," according to Navy Personnel Command."

Navy cuts re-up bonuses | Stars and Stripes (http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60810)

"Thousands of sailors will lose millions of re-enlistment dollars as the Navy makes drastic changes to its Selective Reenlistment Bonus program next month.



How can one "lose" what one doesn't have yet?

How can one "lose" what one doesn't have yet?

Picture say two E-5 sailors, identical in rank and both currently eligible for SRB in upcoming re-enlistments, one a month before the other. But let's say that the cut in SRB occurs between the first's enlistment and the second's. That second sailor is screwed, isn't he. He WAS entitled and had anticipated getting it, until the cut. So he basically lost it.

Picture say two E-5 sailors, identical in rank and both currently eligible for SRB in upcoming re-enlistments, one a month before the other. But let's say that the cut in SRB occurs between the first's enlistment and the second's. That second sailor is screwed, isn't he. He WAS entitled and had anticipated getting it, until the cut. So he basically lost it.

You are aware that SRB changes are announced in advance of the changes to allow for people to make decisions right?

You are aware dates you can re-enlist before your enlistment runs out vary right? You can re-enlist early if you want.

You realize that you are not "entitled" to jack####, you may "qualify" for SRB based on rate/creo at the time of re-enlistment but you are not "entitled" to anything other than base pay and 3 squares, hence the "B" in "SRB" meaning "bonus".

You realize SRB multiples are continually reviewed and change periodically based on manning levels and rate/rating weaknesses and shortfalls right?

I wouldn't cry about this. In 1965 I reenlisted for 6 years off the coast of Viet Nam and got, tax free, a grand total of $1,500. I will admit though that it paid half of what my new car cost at the time. I reenlisted not for the money but for the fact it was my chosen life and my duty to the Country.

Correct me if I am wrong....but, aren't a lot of the jobs that are being cut in the military going to contractors instead?

My 20 yr old is currently changing his MOS because the Army is doing away with the "culinary arts" MOS and they are changing it all over to contract

Correct me if I am wrong....but, aren't a lot of the jobs that are being cut in the military going to contractors instead?

My 20 yr old is currently changing his MOS because the Army is doing away with the "culinary arts" MOS and they are changing it all over to contract

Could be, could be the skill is being absorbed into another MOS, could be the skill is not required anymore or it could be more cost effective to outsource.

How can one "lose" what one doesn't have yet?
Same way a budget increase of 5% being reduced to a budget increase of 4% is a budget cut to the democrats.

Correct me if I am wrong....but, aren't a lot of the jobs that are being cut in the military going to contractors instead?

My 20 yr old is currently changing his MOS because the Army is doing away with the "culinary arts" MOS and they are changing it all over to contract

Does that mean the Army will no longer have cooks?

Does that mean the Army will no longer have cooks?
No. Army will still have cooks, they just won't be soldiers. They will be contractors making more $$ than the soldiers they are cooking for.

Wirelessly posted (Change we can believe in!: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.7) 320x240; VZW; Motorola-Q9c; Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard)

SRB is only for keeping critical jobs manned. Pete's right, they are not entitled to it.

If the Navy can meet it's retention numbers without SRB that is something to celebrate.

If unemployment continues to rise SRB should keep falling. It's a pretty basic concept.

Does that mean the Army will no longer have cooks?



Sure, there'll be cooks. They'll all be paid by KBR.

You are aware that SRB changes are announced in advance of the changes to allow for people to make decisions right?

You are aware dates you can re-enlist before your enlistment runs out vary right? You can re-enlist early if you want.

You realize that you are not "entitled" to jack####, you may "qualify" for SRB based on rate/creo at the time of re-enlistment but you are not "entitled" to anything other than base pay and 3 squares, hence the "B" in "SRB" meaning "bonus".

You realize SRB multiples are continually reviewed and change periodically based on manning levels and rate/rating weaknesses and shortfalls right?

Thanks Pete, you saved me an awful lot of writing... I was thinking the same exact thing!

No. Army will still have cooks, they just won't be soldiers. They will be contractors making more $$ than the soldiers they are cooking for.


See how well those budget cuts work? :lmao:

No. Army will still have cooks, they just won't be soldiers. They will be contractors making more $$ than the soldiers they are cooking for.

See how well those budget cuts work? :lmao:

While the contractor might have a bigger gross pay, nobody is funding 100% of his medical and dental or supplying his family with housing and subsidised groceries

So yes, it costs a lot less to outsource

No. Army will still have cooks, they just won't be soldiers. They will be contractors making more $$ than the soldiers they are cooking for.

While the contractor might have a bigger gross pay, nobody is funding 100% of his medical and dental or supplying his family with housing and subsidised groceries
So yes, it costs a lot less to outsource

my boy isn't married and he has to pay for his meal card(he lives in the barracks)

my boy isn't married and he has to pay for his meal card(he lives in the barracks)

You do not have to pay for your meal card. You can have a meal card or you can give it up and get a stipend added to your check.

my boy isn't married and he has to pay for his meal card(he lives in the barracks)

His meal card cost are paid for by the military taking back his Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS). This is an allowance given to a military member to offset the cost of food and other items when living off-post. If one lives on post than naturally the Army will take that money back as it is not needed.

You do not have to pay for your meal card. You can have a meal card or you can give it up and get a stipend added to your check.

There is only one of my boys that isn't paying for a meal card and that would be the 18 year old....he is currently in school....however, he has told me the same thing that the other 2 did, they have to pay for a meal card as soon as they get a duty station....maybe it's a Army/Air Force thing?

No. Army will still have cooks, they just won't be soldiers. They will be contractors making more $$ than the soldiers they are cooking for.

They said the same thing in the 80's ans 90's.. and it usually goes ok until you explain that infantrymen have to be fed where ever they maybe.. no matter the weather, the situation or the threat level. Civilians usually don't react well to cooking in a mobile kitchen in a war zone. Though now adays, you have MRE's for Breakfast and DInner than T-Rats for lunch (your hot meal) and to cook them you just throw a huge tin of food into a barrel of boiling water..

Just like firemen.. there a VERY few, but there are still some on active duty (many more in the reserves) in case the need arises that they have to be somewhere a civilian firefighter won't go. And if you know of anyone contemplating military service.. GREAT opportunity. They get more training in the first six months than 90% of professional firefighters get in an entire career.

:itsbob:

There is only one of my boys that isn't paying for a meal card and that would be the 18 year old....he is currently in school....however, he has told me the same thing that the other 2 did, they have to pay for a meal card as soon as they get a duty station....maybe it's a Army/Air Force thing?

Then he is being paid BAS of $323.87 in addition to his base pay.

Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) (http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/pay/bas/)

Then he is being paid BAS of $323.87 in addition to his base pay.

Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) (http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/pay/bas/)

Yea, the 20 yr old was getting that until he got to his duty station and then it was taken away....the 18 yr old is currently getting it until he gets to his permanant duty station

The 23 yr old is currently getting all kinds of stuff(seperation pay, cola, base salary, and something else) and is getting something taken out because of his meal card(not sure how much)

Yea, the 20 yr old was getting that until he got to his duty station and then it was taken away....the 18 yr old is currently getting it until he gets to his permanant duty station

The 23 yr old is currently getting all kinds of stuff(seperation pay, cola, base salary, and something else) and is getting something taken out because of his meal card(not sure how much)

Well being it is the Army and having them carry cash is not a good idea I bet they probably have them buy Lunch tickets and milk tokens at homeroom.

Well being it is the Army and having them carry cash is not a good idea I bet they probably have them buy Lunch tickets and milk tokens at homeroom.

I'm sure that Bob is going to come back with a witty response as soon as BG explains your post to him.

Yea, the 20 yr old was getting that until he got to his duty station and then it was taken away....the 18 yr old is currently getting it until he gets to his permanant duty station

The 23 yr old is currently getting all kinds of stuff(seperation pay, cola, base salary, and something else) and is getting something taken out because of his meal card(not sure how much)

Please see my earlier post!

Well being it is the Army and having them carry cash is not a good idea I bet they probably have them buy Lunch tickets and milk tokens at homeroom.

No....it's right after PT :biggrin:

Well being it is the Army and having them carry cash is not a good idea I bet they probably have them buy Lunch tickets and milk tokens at homeroom.

For 80% of the Army, and all the other services who's main mission is to support the Army, that is probably true.

Me, I've eaten my share of green eggs.. (and if you don't get the punch line, you never will)

For 80% of the Army, and all the other services who's main mission is to support the Army, that is probably true.

Me, I've eaten my share of green eggs.. (and if you don't get the punch line, you never will)

:killingme Both my Army boys told me about that

Then he is being paid BAS of $323.87 in addition to his base pay.

Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) (http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/pay/bas/)They used to call this ComRats or commuted rations but it was for those of us who lived out in town. If we used the chow hall, we would have to pay. From the link, it looks like everyone is getting it now.

Could be, could be the skill is being absorbed into another MOS, could be the skill is not required anymore or it could be more cost effective to outsource.

I remember reading something a while back (under you-know-who's administration) about a movement to get soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen out of the business of doing anything that didn't have anything to do with combat arms. In other words, civilians would do anything that didn't deal directly with going into harm's way. I didn't think that that had gained a lot of traction, but it may have.

Our next homework assignment: find out where in the life cycle that movement is, if it is. That could/would radically change the face of our military. Effectively, you would ever be a combat veteran who's been shot at, or you would be a civilian.

No....it's right after PT :biggrin:

For the Chair Force, it's right before nap time.

:biggrin:

For 80% of the Army, and all the other services who's main mission is to support the Army, that is probably true.

Me, I've eaten my share of green eggs.. (and if you don't get the punch line, you never will)


In the Navy, we tend to eat our eggs soon after they're cooked. I have had green scrambled eggs out of C-rat cans...they were pretty nasty. Eggs tend to turn green with too high a heat, too long a cooking time, and/or reaction with whatever container they're in, because you know the military isn't going to spring for the better quality food preparation equipment. Expensive, yes; quality, not so much.

There are probably regulations governing heat and cooking time that have to be followed, regardless of whether they produce a palateable food product or not.

Did find an interesting link a while back:

Face of Defense: Soldier’s Efforts Bring Fresh Eggs to Troops (http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49541)

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq, April 11, 2008 – Through the efforts of a Multinational Division Baghdad soldier, deployed troops can once again enjoy fresh eggs as one of their breakfast options after the nutritious staple was banned from Iraq for a year.

In the Navy, we tend to eat our eggs soon after they're cooked. I have had green scrambled eggs out of C-rat cans...they were pretty nasty. Eggs tend to turn green with too high a heat, too long a cooking time, and/or reaction with whatever container they're in, because you know the military isn't going to spring for the better quality food preparation equipment. Expensive, yes; quality, not so much.

There are probably regulations governing heat and cooking time that have to be followed, regardless of whether they produce a palateable food product or not.

Did find an interesting link a while back:

Face of Defense: Soldier’s Efforts Bring Fresh Eggs to Troops (http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49541)

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq, April 11, 2008 – Through the efforts of a Multinational Division Baghdad soldier, deployed troops can once again enjoy fresh eggs as one of their breakfast options after the nutritious staple was banned from Iraq for a year.

Powdered eggs are yellow, and yummy! (with a ton of ketchup on them) :killingme

There's a reason they used to put those mini bottles of Tobasco sauce in the C-rat boxes. The smart money was on not eating anything that resembled meat or meat-like products. That was like, not a pleasant way to take a top-down enema.

Sure, there'll be cooks. They'll all be paid by KBR.

Army cooks:
:killingme

Powdered eggs are yellow, and yummy! (with a ton of ketchup on them) :killingme

In the Army.. cold and wet, and the 1SG come around with breakfast after a LONG cold night.. Green ages were a welcome sight.. Powdered eggs didn't turn green in the mermite cans, only REAL eggs.

When the eggs were green we were HAPPY!!