WASHINGTON – Congressman Bart Gordon announced today that the U.S. Department of Defense is making special payments available for service members who have had their enlistments involuntarily extended since September 11, 2001.
“It takes a tremendous amount of courage for service members to continue standing in harm’s way when they’ve been apart from their families for so long,” said Gordon who voted for the 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act, which established this new initiative. “While no amount of money can make up for the burden of extended deployments, I hope these payments will help our soldiers know how much we appreciate their commitment and honor their service.”
The U.S. Department of Defense is providing service members with $500 for every month they were held under stop loss orders between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2009. Since 2001, more than 185,000 service members have been held under stop loss orders.
Service members from all branches of the military, including members of Reserve units, can submit claims for retroactive stop loss pay until October 21, 2010. Each service member will be required to submit documented proof that they were stop lossed. Family members of deceased service members may also apply for payments.
For specific information about how service members from each branch of the military can apply for payments, please visit the following websites:
Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil
Navy: send an email to – NXAG_N132C@navy.mil
Marine Corps: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss
Air Force: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss
“While each branch of the military would like eligible service members to apply online, if you don’t have access to the Internet, you can call my office for assistance,” added Gordon.
Those who have questions or need assistance with the application process should call Congressman Gordon’s Murfreesboro office at (615) 896-1986.
