Norfolk, Va. – Vice Adm. Bill Moran, the chief of naval personnel, released a lengthy memoTuesday afternoon updating how Navy pay and bonuses will be affected by the government shutdown.
Sailors will get bonuses and those in war zones will get danger pay they’re entitled to, according to the memo and the Navy Times.
However, sailors’ ability to enter into new contracts or change their pay may be limited because the civilian personnel specialists who process them will be furloughed.
-The number of new bonus agreements, including enlistment and re-enlistment, “will be limited during the shutdown,” the memo said. Those re-enlisting during the shutdown for a selective reenlistment bonus must have a end-of-obligated service date during the shutdown period, according to the memo.
– Sailors won’t be able to get new tuition assistance money until the civilians who run the Navy College Offices return. But the service will continue to pay out existing TA contracts.
– No boards will be convened during the shutdown.
– Fall advancement results, for active-duty sailors and reservists, may be delayed.
There are 1,774 sailors set to be advanced Oct. 16. If the shutdown goes long enough, the Navy may be delayed in giving them their new pay, which must changed by Oct. 10 to start processing.
The new guidance adds one more caveat — sailors’ pay and benefits will be hit hard if the Treasury Department runs out of money, as it is set to do in mid-October unless lawmakers raise the debt ceiling.
