March 21, 2012
by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) — Airmen eligible for the Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay Program who did not apply before the fall deadline will have another opportunity to do so, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.
Airmen who were unable to submit a claim will be able to do so through Oct. 21, including active duty, retirees and separated Airmen, as well as some Reserve members, said Col. Jerry Couvillion, the AFPC personnel services directorate operations chief
The retroactive stop loss program benefits retired and former Air Force members who were involuntarily held on active duty beyond their enlistment period or their approved retirement or separation date. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Air Force has used stop loss on two occasions. The inclusive periods are Oct. 2, 2001 to Jan. 31, 2003 and May 2 to Dec. 31, 2003, Couvillion said.
More than 8,200 applicants received a total of $20 million-plus between 2009, when AFPC started accepting claims, and October 2011, when the program ended, the colonel said. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 has authorized an extension of the application window to ensure all affected Airmen have ample opportunity to complete and submit a claim.
“Airmen who qualify may be eligible for $500 per month compensation for each month they were affected,” the colonel explained. “But they will need to complete the DD Form 2944 and submit it with required documentation before the October deadline.”
Documentation will include records supporting the claim, and some people may need to request copies of those records from the National Archives. Eligible Airmen should to act quickly to ensure they meet the submission deadline, Couvillion said.
For detailed eligibility and claim submission information, and a link to DD Form 2944, Claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Payment, go to the Air Force Personnel Center website at http://www.afpc.af.mil/stoploss/index.asp. For more information about the program and other personnel issues, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.