Friday, November 30, 2007

Wounded warriors entitled to keep bonuses

Soldiers who become ill or are wounded while on active duty are entitled to keep all recruitment bonuses due them.

The Army reiterated that policy Nov. 21, after a wounded Soldier inadvertently received a letter from the Army stating he would be required to pay back any enlistment money he received.

“If you are ill or were injured while on duty, the Army will not ask you to repay any portion of your recruitment bonus,” said Brig. Gen. Mike Tucker, assistant surgeon general for Warrior Care and Transition. “This money will stay in the hands of our Soldiers.”

Army policy prohibits what is described as “recoupment” when it would be contrary to equity and good conscience, or would be contrary to the nation’s interests. Those circumstances include, for example, “an inability to complete a service agreement because of illness, injury, disability or other impairment that did not clearly result from misconduct.”

The Army is looking into the specifics behind former Soldier Jordan Fox, who was injured while serving in Iraq. Fox told news media he had received a letter from the Army stating he would be required to repay a $3,000 enlistment bonus.

The general said Soldiers who have received letters from the Army asking for repayment of a recruitment bonus should contact the Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline to report the issue as soon as possible.

“If there’s a problem, we are going to fix it,” Tucker said. “We are committed to honoring our warriors and families in transition.”

The hotline is staffed by subject-matter experts 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help speed the resolution of issues pertaining to wounded Soldiers and their families. Callers will receive responses within 24 hours. For those who live in the United States, the hotline’s number is 1 800-984-8523.
Soldiers and families may also call from overseas assignments via the Defense Switch Network 312-328-0002 and within the U.S., 328-0002.

The hotline also receives messages via e-mail at: .