catsix, when your paycheck is screwed up, you have recourse. You can take it up with your payroll office and probably have a check cut quickly. If not, you can take it to the state labor commission, who can make your payroll office jump for fear of a hefty fine.
Airman does not have those options. His paycheck is completely at the mercy of an employee who does not have any interest whatsoever in whether her work is accurate or not. He can’t take disputes to the state, or even to the congressman. His division chief had to step in and force the payroll office to take responsibility for their mistakes. That’s right. Nothing would get fixed without a lot of pressure from the unit. This isn’t bonus money, or an advance, or anything “extra”. This is money that is owed him under the terms of the contract that he signed with the Guard. Now the Guard essentially isn’t living up to its end of the contract.
This is what Dave does, in exchange for his pay:
[ul]
[li]Goes to work from 7:45 am to 4 pm[/li][li]Occasionally flies late in the day, or overnight or for a weekend.[/li][li]Goes to his drill weekends once a month. He does not make extra pay for that. If his unit can spare him, he gets an extra day off.[/li][li]Attends training schools out of state at the Guard’s convenience. If he misses Christmas (as he did last year for basic training), too damn bad. Right now, he’s in the Cascade Mountains in Washington State, freezing his buns off to learn how to survive capture. [/li][li]He can’t call in sick. If he doesn’t feel well, he has to go to work, go to sick call, and hope he can be sent home. [/li][li]He may have to go to war. I don’t want him to go, and I don’t think he’s too crazy about the idea himself. But it’s what the Air Force does.[/li][li]He’s required to meet weight and physical standards. If he can’t, for whatever reason, out he goes.[/li][li]If he’s accepted into the regular Air Force, he can be sent to some pretty lousy places, with or without his family.[/li][/ul]
Now, you may argue that Dave knew what he was getting into when he joined. And he did. He loves what he does, and he loves that he is serving his country and keeping us all safe. Everything he does, he does for about two grand a month, plus intangible benefits (like college tuition [assuming he can find the time to use it] and free healthcare for himself and his family).
Mistakes happen. I’m willing to accept that. A bonus might not be paid when expected, or travel reimbursement might be slow in coming. But for God’s sake, he gives a lot to his unit. And for that, he deserves the courtesy of an accurate paycheck, paid on time and with no hassle.
Robin