Military Minute 28 Jan 24

I’m Papa Penguin and this your Military Minute.

It appears Congress is actually looking out for the troops by authorizing the increase in family separation pay. FSA helps offset the separation of families. My first few deployments while I was in actually cost money. We would lose BAS and FSA was like $9. A deployment would cost me and mine about $200 a month. And no sweet, sweet tax free combat pay to offset it. Congress is looking to make sure that doesn’t happen but DoD dosen’t seem in a hurry to spend the money. Perhaps the SECDEF is still trying to get through all his voice messages and emails when he pulled a Houdini?

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-military/2024/01/23/pentagon-can-boost-pay-for-separated-families-to-400-but-hasnt/

Just when you think Congress is doing some good their lack of connection to anything resembling reality peeks its head out. They are confused why troops have TBI if they are firing things that make a big boom. I’m not making this up. I wonder how many forks get used during soup days in the Congressional cafeteria?

https://www.navytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2024/01/19/senators-demand-dod-answers-on-troops-self-inflicted-brain-injuries/

Last we’ve got the VA’s CTO giving the tech industry a dressing down for not beating down the doors of their local VA looking for jobs. I don’t know how many tech geeks Charles actually knows, but I’ve yet to meet one who takes kindly to being talked down to like you are a disappointed parent. YOU’RE NOT THEIR REAL DAD!

Here’s a hint for all potential employers. Telling potential employees they should be grateful to work for you is not a very successful recruitment strategy. It may work for a cult but the VA ain’t the Marine Corps.

https://www.navytimes.com/management/2024/01/19/va-hopes-to-convince-tech-workers-that-public-service-matters/

And that’s your Military Minute.