October 21, 2009

From the Office of the Secretary of Defense:

 

FACT SHEET: Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay

 

DoD Announces Plan To Provide Retroactive Special Pay
To Those Affected By Stop Loss

 

Summary:

The Defense Department announced today plans to provide Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay to service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009. 

What is the Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay?

Eligible personnel will receive a payment of $500 per month for each month (or any portion of a month) that the member was retained on active duty due to Stop Loss.

Who is Eligible for the Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay?

Service members, including members of the Reserve components, former and retired members, are eligible if they served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009, while their enlistment was extended, or whose retirement was suspended due to Stop Loss. Service members who were discharged or released from the Armed Forces under other than honorable conditions are not permitted to receive Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.  

How are Claims Submitted?

Service members may begin submitting their claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay on Oct. 21, 2009.  In accordance with the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, all applications must be submitted to the respective services no later than Oct. 21, 2010.  Service members must provide documented proof they were Stop Lossed with their claim.  Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim.

Where Do I Go for Additional Information? (United States Department of Defense News)

Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil/ or send e-mail to RetroStopLossPay@conus.army.mil

Navy: send email to NXAG_N132C@navy.mil

Marine Corps:  https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss

Air Force:  http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss or send e-mail to stoploss@usmc.mil

 

Background on the Use of Stop Loss:

Stop Loss provides a valuable and critical tool to quickly retain and generate forces to surge in a major conflict.  However, as deployment schedules stabilize, the department must then adapt and minimize its use of Stop Loss.   

The Secretary of Defense announced in March a comprehensive plan to eliminate the current use of Stop Loss, while retaining the authority for future use under extraordinary circumstances. The department’s goal is to cut the number of soldiers Stop Lossed by 50 percent by June 2010, and to eliminate the regular use of Stop Loss by March 2011.

The Army Reserve and Army National Guard began mobilizing units without employing Stop Loss beginning in August and September 2009, respectively.  The active duty Army will deploy its first unit without Stop Loss by January 2010.  Army currently has approximately 5200 soldiers under Stop Loss for an average of 7 months each.  DoD estimates approximately 185,000 personnel are eligible for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.

The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act gave the DoD 120 days from June 24, 2009, to establish Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay implementation rules that outline the process for certifying claims by active, reserve, retired, or former service members. 

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