Corps wants $2-3K bonus for captains

[unhappycamper]

Corps wants $2-3K bonus for captains
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 27, 2008 18:34:47 EST

The Corps’ personnel chief asked Congress Wednesday to create a special $2,000 to $3,000 bonus for Marine captains as a reward for finishing their initial service obligation.

Lt. Gen. Ronald S. Coleman, deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs, described the payment as similar to the $300 cash he received when he completed a combat tour in Vietnam.

The $2,000 to $3,000 payment is enough to cover the cost of the initial set of uniforms needed by a Marine officer, Coleman said.

Coleman raised the issue at the very end of a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s personnel subcommittee about the 2009 defense budget, which does not include the Corps’ proposed junior officer bonus.

Coleman, making clear he was raising the issue because it is a priority of Commandant Gen. James Conway, said the Marine Corps isn’t asking for the $30,000 bonus for company-grade officers offered by the Army because it does not have the same problem retaining junior officers. Instead, the service just wanted to provide a small payment of recognition.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/02/marinebonus_031008/