WASHINGTON — They’ve sent out letters and fliers and have tweeted and pleaded, but Pentagon officials are still struggling to give away a huge cache of money to troops and veterans.
The Defense Department said yesterday that as of last week it had spent only $300 million of $534 million approved by Congress as special pay for service members forced after Sept. 11, 2001, to serve beyond their enlistment terms.
The money was approved in 2009 and troops were supposed to claim it by October. But Congress has just extended the deadline for a fourth time — to March 18.
The payment is $500 for each month or partial month the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine was forced to stay on active duty and is on top of the regular pay received at the time.