8 Nov 05: Well, 1 Oct 05 has come and gone and still no HDIP. Nevertheless, I'm still optimistic that it will come in the not-too-distant future. A large part of the problem is that the AF has been in a money crisis the whole FY05 year and finding the money to pay HDIP (about 8 million) has been made more difficult. As you probably know, HDIP was AUTHORIZED but not funded. That means the Services decide if they will pay it and if they decide to pay it, they have to find the money for it since the Congress didn't appropriate any money.
What can you do? I'm so optimistic that the AF will find a way to pay it so I don't think you need to do anything at this point. I know it is frustrating...for all of us. We've been working this for 30 years and will work it another 30 years if we need too; we will never give up. I will keep you informed so you may decide for yourself when to write your elected representatives. They are responsible for this situation by not appropriating money for it -- it's not entire the AF's fault.
16 Jun 05: An effort is underway that will probably result in HDIP for military firefighters beginning 1 Oct 05. The proposal is to pay any firefighter that wears PPE (including instructors) $150 monthly. ARC firefighters would get it after 30 days of continuous service (mobilized or training status).
15 Mar 05: The Bonus Review Board blessed the HDIP. It will now go forward to the next board but the date for the next board meeting has not been announced. Keep the faith...there's no reason to believe HDIP will not happen; it just has to go through the process to get it implemented.
1 Feb 05: Update. The Bonus Review Board is scheduled for 2/3 Mar 05. This is where we present our case for paying HDIP to AF military firefighters.
9 Jan 05: An AF Bonus Review Board determines what special duty pays are provided to AF members. The case for AF firefighters receiving HDIP will be presented to the next board which will meet in February. Keep the faith. There are many AF senior leaders committed to this effort and will not rest until it happens.
31 Oct 04: The text of Title 37 as amended by the 05 NDAA.
14 Oct 04 - We believe that the "authorization" is going to happen. However, you need to know a couple of things about it. First, it's in the National Defense Authorizations Act (NDAA). This means that it's authorized but no money comes with it. Each of the services have to figure out how to pay the bill. I ask you to be patient! We've waited decades to get this far so it will only take a little longer before HDIP is reflected in your paychecks. The AF will have the largest bill to pay because they have more military fire fighters. Nevertheless, we'll figure it out and make it happen.
13 Oct 04 - After decades of hard work from a lot of people, HDIP for military firefighters was included in the FY05 National Defense Authorizations Act (NDAA)!. Thanks to our friends in the AF Sergeants Association (AFSA), who took the lead and did the lobbying behind the scenes (we aren't allowed to do that) while we fed them the data they needed to make their case. Here's the news release from the AFSA. Believe me, this was a long and difficult fight and I'm very glad it's over...and that you won the fight!!!
8 Oct 04 - UPDATE
Please be aware that we're watching the HDIP legislation. It has been tied up in conference committee for months now and we're hopefully optimistic that it will survive the political process. Here's the latest:
The legislative director of Air Force Sergeants Association regarding the Firefighter HDIP: He said that the 05 NDAA has been reported out of conference and that both Armed Services Committees passed/approved the provision for Firefighter HDIP (contained in H.R. 4200, section 615). The conference report was heading to the full body of both the House and Senate for approval. If they vote today before recess, rumor is that the president will sit on the bill until just prior to the next debate (not tonight's) to leverage any political gain.
The NDAA has the BRAC language in it as well so there may also be some rhetoric from Congress about killing the bill or voting against it (depending on the individual members districts), but the Military Coalition of AFSA, MOAA, AFA and NCOA don't think its a large threat. That said, once the bill passes, it will be up to the various Service Secretaries to pay the HDIP.
It appears that we've gotten a bit of good news and now we just have to wait and let the process run its course.
9 Jul 04 - UPDATE
Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP) is include in HR 4200, the House version of the National Defense Authorizations Act. It is not included in the Senate version. The differences in the two bills will have to be resolved in conference committee. Now would be a good time to remind your representatives that you expect them so support HDIP for military firefighters. It's the right thing to do. Here is an excerpt of the bill.
The Air Force has been pursuing HDIP for military firefighters for years (decades actually). In FY04, the AF again proposed legislation and it was "almost" successful. It made it all the way to the OMB before it was killed.
For FY05, legislation has been introduced in the Senate (S. 2355) to add military firefighters to the list of those that get HDIP. Here are two pages from the 28 Apr 04 Congressional Record that address S.2355:
The approach is to get HDIP into the FY05 National Defense Authorization Act (FY05 NDAA) which is in development - this is where the funds to operate the Department of Defense is appropriated. If the legislation is added to the FY05 NDAA, chances of success improve exponentially.
The Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) has been the catalyst for getting HDIP into the political arena. They have lobbied tirelessly and we need to say "thank you." Their efforts have resulted in the insertion of the legislation at the top rather that from the bottom as we have to do it.
The bill has only been introduced. It needs support and co-sponsorship. Now would be a good time to ask your congressman and senators to add their support to the effort. You may find out who your representatives are and contact them by visiting this web site. Be sure to mention S 2355 in your communications. Here is a sample letter you can modify to send to your representatives...thanks to SrA Logan Rodgers.
Note to civilian firefighters: The AF operates most of its fire departments with a mix of civilian and military firefighters, working side-by-side in the same fire stations, on the same vehicles, doing the same job. The hazardous nature of firefighting is recognized in the GS-081 standard for civilian firefighter positions and they are compensated with appropriated grades. The military firefighters only get standard military pay, without any special recognition for the hazardous nature of firefighting. It could be argued that military firefighters are even more exposed to the hazards since they deploy to wonderful vacation spots around the world, encountering large quantities of munitions, munitions-laden aircraft, and people that don't necessarily appreciate their being there. Providing HDIP is small compensation for this duty and is the right thing to do. We have always supported efforts to improve pay for our civilian firefighters which are usually more successful due to the ability of civilian firefighters to lobby through their labor organizations. Now we may finally have an opportunity to do something good for our military firefighters.
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