WASHINGTON — A Pentagon security review shows conditions improving in 18 countries once considered so dangerous that U.S. military serving there found something extra in their paychecks each month.
Now The Associated Press has learned the Defense Department wants to take those countries, plus five waterways, off the danger pay roster. The move would save about $120 million a year while taking a bite out of an estimated 56,000 troops’ salaries.
Defense officials described the proposal on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about it.
Senior defense and military leaders are expected to meet later this week to review the matter and are poised to approve a new plan. Pentagon press secretary George Little declined to discuss details but said no final decisions have been made.
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