Pentagon approves pay boost for long deployments

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http://hamptonroads.com/2014/09/pentagon-approves-pay-boost-long-deployments

Pentagon approves pay boost for long deployments
By Corinne Reilly
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 19, 2014

Navy sailors who serve long deployments will soon have extra money in their pockets, starting with thousands who've been in the Middle East for months aboard Norfolk-based ships.

The Pentagon on Wednesday approved a bonus for sailors and Marines deployed longer than 220 consecutive days. For each day they're away beyond that, service members will receive an additional $16.50.

For sailors with the Bataan amphibious ready group, which passed the 220-day threshold this week, that will amount to roughly $500-$600, depending on the date they get home. The amphibious transport dock Mesa Verde and the dock landing ship Gunston Hall are deployed with the Bataan, which is among the U.S. ships that have helped launch airstrikes on Islamic State militants in Iraq. The three ships are due home late next month.

Sailors deployed aboard the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush will get the extra pay, too; they left in mid-February and will soon hit the 220-day mark. They're expected back late this year.