By Navy Adm. Mike Mullen
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2010 – Time is running out for those who qualify to receive their Stop Loss Special Pay. The deadline to claim it is Oct. 21st, but less than half of the more than 145,000 people eligible have submitted claims.

It's not a scam. And it's not a joke. It's YOUR money, so come get it.

Just in case you had forgotten, the 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act authorized retroactive stop loss special pay of $500 for every month/partial month served in stop loss status.

Servicemembers, veterans, and beneficiaries of servicemembers who were involuntarily extended under stop loss between 9/11 and September 30th 2009 are eligible.

The Congress generously set aside $534.4 million to pay out those funds, but as of the end of last month only $219 million in claims have been paid.

We've used all kinds of different ways to reach out to people and let them know, including letters to homes and help from Veteran/Military Service Organizations. But there are still those who have yet to apply.

So, with the deadline fast approaching, I'm asking everyone who reads this blog to pass it on to anyone else you think needs to see it. Qualifying individuals have served — or are still serving — their country nobly and deserve to be paid the money they've earned.

The application process is simple and straightforward. No strings attached. But once the deadline passes, we cannot by law extend it. So jump online and check it out at: http://www.defense.gov/stoploss.