By Remember when the voluntary evacuation of US military families from Japan was supposed to just be a plane ticket to Korea and that was it? Well now it is has according to the Stars & Stripes turned into a paid vacation for the family members who have taken advantage of the program:
U.S. family members who left Japan under the military’s “voluntary departure” program stand to pocket a considerable amount of money, depending on whether they flew home to stay with family in North Dakota or chose to lie on the beaches of Waikiki.Some 7,000 family members from five U.S. military bases have departed mainland Japan so far amid fears of radiation leaking from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, left crippled by the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
But the departures are generating a measure of controversy, with some military community members blasting their neighbors for taking “paid vacations.” Others defend the decision, saying fears of a nuclear crisis, repeated earthquake aftershocks and concerns for their children’s safety made heading back to the United States the only real option.
Each family member who leaves Japan under the voluntary departure program is entitled to lodging, meals, a daily stipend for incidentals and a $25 daily family travel allowance. [Stars & Stripes]
Read the rest at the link but many of the spouses are staying in Honolulu where a spouse with two kids will be paid up to $21,975 for their first month in Hawaii. The minute that the US Air Force offered free lodging and per diem anywhere that pretty much assured a bunch of people were heading for Hawaii. I guarantee if the US Air Force just offered tickets to Korea with military lodging and a per diem there you would not have as many families leaving Japan looking for a free vacation.
2:14 am on March 31st, 2011 1
Eh, the tax payers pay it…Go for it….It's the American way…
I wonder when that all really began? I wonder if it began with the advent of the insurance industry? We're a nation in which – as long as more and more citizens are being milked – we could care less about costs or harm. — You're not really hurting anybody — any single body —- you're just taking a pinch of flesh from lots and lots of people and corporations —– which was fine for a long time — until the selfishness of our society has led to the ultimate inability to pay for it all – no matter how much of the society we milk…
4:30 am on March 31st, 2011 2
"I guarantee if the US Air Force just offered tickets to Korea with military lodging and a per diem there you would not have as many families leaving Japan looking for a free vacation."
Which is really weird because Cheju is a much better spot than Hawaii… Especially if you can get in at the Hyatt or Shilla down on the Southern coast…
7:29 am on March 31st, 2011 3
Some one screwed the pooch on that one.. They should have stipulated "Home of Record"… I guess no one thinks of the longer term anymore, just the here and now..
7:33 am on March 31st, 2011 4
If you get caught intentionally ripping off the taxpayer like this you should lose your citizenship.
8:37 am on March 31st, 2011 5
jeju better than hawaii. is that why they used pictures from hawaii to make thier Jeju brochures!
8:57 am on March 31st, 2011 6
#4
Interesting. Where does someone belong and where are they sent when the "lose" their citizenship?
I suggested early on that I thought some would exploit this 'opportunity.' But so far, a lot of the comments on Stars and Stripes seem to be more of innuendo and sniping than evidence based facts.
Whether the military officials running this operation were aware or not, there are existing regulations covering this; the NEO program. But since bases in Japan are usually on the receiver side of evacuation exercises than on the sender's side, they may have inadequately briefed and processed their evacuees.
So those who are lounging on the beaches of Honolulu and didn't get proper approval to have that allowed as their safe haven/final destination, and can't show that the spouse had family or a support system there, might find their claim for reimbursement challenged.
It's also reasonable to assume that questions will be asked when a dependent's family and home of record are in someplace like Buffalo County, South Dakota (the poorest county in the country) but chooses someplace like Las Vegas as their safe haven/final destination.
11:09 am on March 31st, 2011 7
I would be interested in a break down by the RANK of the sponsor, as to which RANKS are doing this.
I know that information will not be forthcoming.
I'm thinking about Officers of course, as opposed to the Enlisted Ranks.
4:51 pm on March 31st, 2011 8
Frankly, it's unreasonable to expect people to stay with their families. Many people don't get along with them, if they have any at all.
It's only fair that they are provided with housing in the US since they were evacuated. Hawaii is in the United States, isn't it?
9:40 pm on March 31st, 2011 9
Normally I would jump in here to remind everyone the selfishness and the corruption prevalent in America which is sinking the country. But I've realized it's not fair to stereotype the entire country because of a few. America is a great country. I apologize to everyone for all my harsh words in the past. I won't do it again.
10:27 pm on March 31st, 2011 10
@#2- Cheju is a nice place to visit but IMO it is no where near as nice as Hawaii. Hawaii has better weather, beaches, snorkeling, dramatic scenery, etc.
11:25 pm on March 31st, 2011 11
They could have made them go to Maine or Alaska. Beautiful scenery, beaches, fishing, and 4 feet of snow at this time of year.
11:54 pm on March 31st, 2011 12
"@#2- Cheju is a nice place to visit but IMO it is no where near as nice as Hawaii. Hawaii has better weather, beaches, snorkeling, dramatic scenery, etc."
So you would steal from the tax payers to go off and have fun at their expense? Everyman for himself America! Get something for nothing because I deserve it and I am going to have it, damn the others! I got news for you America the Banana Republic, you are bankrupt. You are in no position to be the global leader that you pretend and claim to be.
11:03 am on April 1st, 2011 13
They must have 12 Feet of snow in Hell because I find myself agreeing with Tom. I need a drink.
10:36 am on April 2nd, 2011 14
How you can help Japan
1:47 pm on April 2nd, 2011 15
#14 Anything involving Oprah and Lisa Ling are suspect.