Guard members sent to Middle East face possible pay cuts

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- For spouses of Missouri National Guard soldiers called to active duty in the war on terrorism, loss of companionship is bad enough.

Then there's the loss of income many face because the military doesn't pay as much as the soldiers made in their regular jobs back home. There's uncertainty about how long the soldiers will be gone, and constant fear that a husband or wife will be harmed in the line of duty.

And now, unless Congress renews stipend increases approved in April for soldiers sent away from their families and into a war zone, many are facing a pay cut on Oct. 1.

"They kind of forget that these guys have families and jobs and lives of their own," said Melissa Chambers, whose husband, Michael, is a sergeant in the National Guard's 1138th Military Police Company.

In April, "hostile fire" pay for soldiers in a combat zone rose from $150 to $225 per month, and "separation pay," for soldiers away from families jumped from $100 to $250 a month. Those increases are set to expire Sept. 30.

For soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said it intends to keep the bonuses, according to the Department of Defense.

But members of the 1138th, who were deployed to the Middle East in April and spent most of their time in Kuwait, recently were moved to Qatar and out of the war zone.

That has left families of reservists stationed in surrounding countries uncertain about whether to expect a pay cut. Denise Emert, a family support lead volunteer for the 1138th, told the unit's families not to get too worried until they see their next paychecks.

"Since it's really not definite, I've told them not to freak out," Emert said.

Potential pay cut

The potential pay cut would represent about one-eighth of the income -- equal to a car payment -- for Emert, the mother of two small children whose husband, Ray, worked as an emergency medical technician for a Springfield hospital before his call-up.

"If I have to cook macaroni and cheese instead of going out for pizza three times a week, I'll do that," Emert said.

Chambers said her family loses $1,500 a month for the time her husband spends away from his civilian job as a plumber. A secretary, Chambers said she would make do, but would have to cut out such luxuries as weekend movies.

She said the long tour of duty has strained families, who feel proud of their husbands' service but are weary of their absence. The tours officially have been extended to April, but there are no guarantees that the soldiers will come home even then.

"I try not to expect anything before April," Emert said. "It only sets you up for disappointment."