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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 21, 2009

CONTACT: Ed Gilman, 202-225-6306

MainersWho Served Under Stop Loss Orders CanNow Submit Claims

WASHINGTON, DC - Beginning today, special payments are available toover 185,000 service members who have had their enlistments involuntarilyextended since September 11, 2001, providing $500 for every month they wereheld under stop loss orders. Michaud, Chairman of the House Veterans' AffairsSubcommittee on Health, urged Mainers today to submit claims for the paymentsthat are due to them.

"These wars have taken a toll on many Mainers and their families.  Iencourage all of Maine's service members and veterans who are eligible for thispayment to submit claims.  This payment is the least a grateful countrycan do for our nation's heroes," said Michaud.

Service members may begin submitting their claim for Retroactive Stop LossSpecial Pay today.  All applications must be submitted to the respectiveservices no later than Oct. 21, 2010.  Family members of deceased servicemembers should contact the appropriate military service for assistance infiling their claim.  A detailed fact sheet on the special paymentsproduced by the Department of Defense can be found below.

FactSheet: Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay

DoD announces plans to provideretroactive special pay to those affected by Stop Loss

Summary:

The Defense Department announced today plans to provide Retroactive StopLoss Special Pay to service members who had their enlistment extended orretirement 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 toStop Loss.

Who is Eligible for the Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay?

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

How are Claims Submitted?

Service members may begin submitting their claim for Retroactive Stop LossSpecial Pay on Oct. 21, 2009.  In accordance with the 2009 SupplementalAppropriations Act, all applications must be submitted to the respectiveservices no later than Oct. 21, 2010.  Service members must providedocumented proof they were Stop Lossed with their claim.  Family membersof deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service forassistance in filing their claim.

Where Do I Go for Additional Information?

Background on the Use of Stop Loss:

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

The Secretary of Defense announced in March a comprehensive plan toeliminate the current use of Stop Loss, while retaining the authority forfuture use under extraordinary circumstances. The department's goal is to cutthe number of soldiers Stop Lossed by 50 percent by June 2010, and to eliminatethe regular use of Stop Loss by March 2011.

The Army Reserve and Army National Guard began mobilizing units withoutemploying Stop Loss beginning in August and September 2009, respectively. The active duty Army will deploy its first unit without Stop Loss by January2010.  Army currently has approximately 5200 soldiers under Stop Loss foran average of 7 months each.  DoD estimates approximately 185,000personnel are eligible for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.

The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act gave the DoD 120 days from June24, 2009, to establish Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay implementation rulesthat outline the process for certifying claims by active, reserve, retired, orformer service members. 

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