Sailors and Marines serving aboard the USS Carl Vinson on its upcoming deployment could qualify for new special pay under a proposal being considered by Navy and Marine Corps officials.
The Marine Corps Times reports "Mission Hardship Duty Pay - Tempo" would amount to $17 a day for each day a sailor or Marine is deployed at sea beyond 220 days.
Vice Adm. Bill Moran, chief of naval personnel, told the Marine Corps Times:
“We’ve had a goal for a while now to get the recognition that these longer deployments [deserve]; we’re asking a lot of sailors and their families. The CNO and [Navy Secretary Ray Mabus] have been strong on trying to compensate sailors when we ask them to do these hardship deployments.”
The Vinson is slated to deploy at the end of this month for a period of nine months, which works out to about 270 days.
Moran said he's hopeful the Office of the Secretary of Defense will approve the new special pay before the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
