armed forces

armed forces

VETERANS

Stop Loss Special Pay

Service members, veterans and beneficiaries of service members, whose service was involuntarily extended under the Stop Loss program between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, are eligible for benefits under the 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act, which established Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.

The act provides $500 for each month/partial month served in stop-loss status. The average benefit is $3,700. To receive this benefit, those who served under stop loss must submit a claim for the special pay by Oct. 21. By law, there is no authorization to make payments on claims that are submitted after Oct. 21, officials said.

Eligible members should print, complete and sign Department of Defense Form 2944, Claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Payment. Next, they should choose the appropriate method for submitting the claim form and available supporting documents based on their service specifications, which can be found on their service’s website.

DEPLOYED

In Afghanistan

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Elaine M. Vatter, a 2006 graduate of Reynolds High School, Greenville, Pa., recently began a five-month deployment to Afghanistan while assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, home-ported at Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Miss. Vatter joined the Navy in August 2006.

Serving in Kuwait

Army Sgt. Michael R. Miller Jr. left Fort Hood, Texas, in August to serve as a computer program specialist at Ali Al Salem Airbase, Kuwait. Miller, son of Mike and Kathy Miller of Youngstown and brother of Bonnie, graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 2003. He joined the Army Reserve in 2001 and signed up for active duty in May 2004. He has been stationed in Kaiserlautern, Germany, Djibouti, Africa, and 13 months in Bagram, Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, he earned his bachelor of arts degree in computer sciences, specializing in safety programming.

Pakistan assignment

Marine Corps Lance Corporal Robert Waring, a 2009 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School, recently was promoted to his present rank and has been deployed to Pakistan with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Division, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He is the son of Eileen Waring of Campbell.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Marine Corps: Pfc. Bradley J. Stockdill, son of Jeannie M. and William S. Stockdill of New Castle, Pa.

Navy: Seaman Justin M. Malizia (Poland Seminary High School, ’96, Youngstown State University, ’00), son of Barb A. and Wade A. Malizia of Poland; Seaman Apprentice Nathaniel E. Berrios (East Liverpool High School, ’05); Seaman Joshua R. Altier (Chaney High School, ’02), son of Cathy M. and Robert T. Altier of Youngstown.

Items of note for the Armed Forces Digest can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780, or e-mailed to alcorn@vindy.com