News Briefs, Oct. 15, 2014

Navy authorizes hardship duty pay

To compensate Sailors and Marines for extended deployments, Hardship Duty Pay – Tempo (HDP-T) will be paid to Sailors and Marines, active duty and reserve, deployed beyond 220 consecutive days, effective Sept. 17, 2014. The Department of the Navy HDP-T proposal was authorized for two years. Sailors and Marines will receive HDP-T on a prorated daily basis of $16.50, not to exceed a monthly rate of $495, when they are operationally deployed beyond 220 consecutive days. For units currently deployed, consecutive days prior to Sept. 17 will count when determining eligibility for payment. Additional details will be provided in coming weeks.

Keep tuned at www.military.com for more.

Navy announces holiday mailing deadlines

The Naval Supply Systems Command’s (NAVSUP) mail-by dates for pre-Dec. 25 deliveries of holiday cards, letters, and packages were released.

For mail addressed to/from:

APO/FPO/DPO AE zips 090-098 (except 093); AA zips 340; AP zips 962-966

• Priority Express Mail Military Service: Dec. 17

• First-Class and Priority Mail (letters/cards and packages): Dec. 10

• Space Available Mail: Nov. 26

• Standard Post Mail: Nov. 8

APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP 093

• Priority Express Mail Military Service: N/A

• First-Class and Priority Mail (letters/cards and packages): Dec. 3

• Space Available Mail: Nov. 26

• Standard Post Mail: Nov. 8

Domestic Mail (For Ships in Port and Personnel on Shore Duty in the U.S. mailing to U.S. destinations-not including APO/FPO)

• First-Class Mail: Dec. 20

• Priority Mail: Dec. 20

• Priority Express Mail: Dec. 23

International First-Class Packages and Priority Mail addressed to Africa and Central and South America should be mailed no later than Dec. 2.

International First-Class Packages and Priority Mail addressed to Asia/Pacific Rim; Australia/New Zealand; Canada; Caribbean; Mexico, Europe; and the Middle East should be mailed no later than Dec. 9.

DoD vehicle shipment issues explained

Peak moving season, a contract protest, litigation and insufficient transition time all have played a part in challenges to the Defense Department’s program to ship privately owned vehicles overseas and back to the United States under a new contract. However, the new contract moves more responsibility for performance within established timelines to the contractor, IAL. IAL must reimburse the government and servicemembers for damages, rental cars, and on a case-by-case basis for inconvenience. For claims information for IAL, call 1-855-389-9499, Option 3, or email claims@ialpov.us. The email address for the TRANSCOM inspector general’s privately owned vehicles customer support team is usarmy.scott.sddc.mbx.pov-ig-response@mail.mil.

AF makes part of enlistment oath optional

The Air Force has instructed force support offices across the service to allow both enlisted members and officers to omit the words “So help me God” from enlistment and officer appointment oaths if an Airman chooses. The Air Force will be updating the instructions in the coming weeks, but the policy change is effective now. A legal opinion by Department of Defense General Counsel made the change possible.

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