Letter to the Honorable Frank Grass, Chief of the National Guard Bureau - Concerning a Constitutent's MIlitary Pay

Letter

General Frank Grass
Chief, National Guard Bureau
Jefferson Plaza 1
1411 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202-3231

Dear General Grass:

I write to express my serious concerns regarding the possibility of a significant breach of contractual obligations to our service members and the need to take immediate action to ensure the United States keeps its promises and fairly compensates our men and women in uniform.

Earlier this year, a constituent contacted me and indicated that he never received the full re-enlistment bonus promised to him for extending his obligation with the New Mexico Army National Guard. My staff inquired about the status of this payment and we have since received confirmation from the Army National Guard that he was owed $7,500 in 2009, but there is no record of this payment ever being processed. I ask that you move quickly to rectify the situation.

To ensure that no other New Mexico National Guardsmen have been denied his or her earned reenlistment bonus, I also urge you to immediately conduct an audit to determine whether all were fully paid, and if not, to take immediate measures to ensure that service members receive all outstanding payments they are owed.

The ability to maintain the strongest and most dedicated military force in the world depends on our nation's ability to keep its promises. I look forward to your prompt reply and to hear what steps you will take to ensure those promises are kept.

Thank you for your service to our country.

Sincerely,

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