Fort Bliss Monitor

Protective equipment purchases
to be reimbursed by Army

Maj. Paul Cucuzzella
Army News Service

On Nov. 21, 2005, the Secretary of the Army issued final instructions implementing the Department of the Army’s program to reimburse Soldiers who purchased body armor and certain other protective, health and safety equipment for use in Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom. Soldiers can also be paid for these items if the items were purchased for them by someone else, such as members of their family. Soldiers currently on active duty, including those in the Army Reserve or National Guard, former Soldiers, and survivors of deceased Soldiers may now file claims and receive reimbursement for privately-purchased protective equipment if the Soldier was not issued equivalent equipment by the Army prior to deployment on one of these Operations.

The Army will reimburse Soldiers for protective body armor, combat helmets, ballistic eye protection, hydration systems, summer weight gloves, and knee and elbow pads. As for body armor, a Soldier may be reimbursed for the purchase of a complete outer tactical vest, or for the separately-purchased components of an OTV, to include Small Arms Protective Insert plates. To qualify for reimbursement, the equipment must have been purchased after Sept. 10, 2001, and before Aug. 1, 2004, and all equipment for which reimbursement is sought must be turned into the Army at the time a claim for reimbursement is filed. Claimants who no longer have the equipment must explain in writing why they cannot turn the items in with their claim. If there is a good reason, they may still be paid.

The amount of reimbursement for a given item depends upon whether the claimant produces proof of the actual purchase price. A claimant who provides proof of purchase will be reimbursed the full purchase price plus shipping costs for each item, up to $1,100 for any single item. If no proof of purchase is provided, the claimant will be reimbursed at a rate pre-established by the Department of the Army for each item of equipment. For example, the Army will pay $551.60 for a complete OTV if no purchase receipt is submitted with the claim.
Current active duty or active reserve component Soldiers who seek reimbursement should complete and file a DD Form 2902 with the first field grade commander in the Soldier’s current chain of command. With the completed DD Form 2902, the Soldier must provide a copy of proof of deployment (such as deployment orders or a DD Form 214 noting deployment) and copies of all receipts or other proof of purchase for the items claimed. The Soldier must also turn in all reimbursable items to his or her unit at the time the claim is filed. If a Soldier is not in possession of some or all of the items, the Soldier should submit a written statement explaining why the items are not available.

Former Soldiers and survivors of deceased Soldiers should complete a DD Form 2902 claim form and mail it directly to the U.S. Army Claims Service at the address provided in block 12 of the DD Form 2902. As with claims submitted within the chain of command, claims forms mailed to USARCS must be accompanied by copies of proof of deployment and proof of purchase, and the items for which reimbursement is sought. Shipping costs for delivering items to USARCS are compensable and can be noted on the DD Form 2902. Again, if the items are not available for turn in, a written explanation as to the reasons why is sufficient.
Once a claim is filed, the claim will be processed through USARCS for payment by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Either USARCS or the claimant’s chain of command will inform the claimant of any deficiencies in a claim, and will provide the claimant with ample opportunity to correct any such deficiency. Although the claims process has been designed to ensure rapid settlement and payment of claims, potential claimants should not wait too long to file claims, as all claims must be filed by Oct. 3.

Information on the body armor and protective equipment reimbursement program, including a list of reimbursable items together with the pre-established compensation rates, can be found by accessing www.jagcnet.army.mil, and selecting the U.S. Army Claims Service link under the “Client Services and Links” section. At the Claims Service link, choose Protective Gear Reimbursement Program. This link can be accessed by the public. Potential claimants can also obtain a printable DD Form 2902 through this link. Claimants or commanders can contact also the Fort Bliss Claims Office in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at 568-6751. The Claims Office is in Bldg. 113, second floor, with hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	January 12, 2006

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Protective equipment purchases to be reimbursed by Army Maj. Paul Cucuzzella Army News Service On Nov. 21, 2005, the Secretary of the Army issued final instructions implementing the Department of the Army’s program to reimburse Soldiers who purchased body armor and certain other protective, health and safety equipment for use in Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom. Soldiers can also be paid for these items if the items were purchased for them by someone else, such as members of their family. Soldiers currently on active duty, including those in the Army Reserve or National Guard, former Soldiers, and survivors of deceased Soldiers may now file claims and receive reimbursement for privately-purchased protective equipment if the Soldier was not issued equivalent equipment by the Army prior to deployment on one of these Operations. The Army will reimburse Soldiers for protective body armor, combat helmets, ballistic eye protection, hydration systems, summer weight gloves, and knee and elbow pads. As for body armor, a Soldier may be reimbursed for the purchase of a complete outer tactical vest, or for the separately-purchased components of an OTV, to include Small Arms Protective Insert plates. To qualify for reimbursement, the equipment must have been purchased after Sept. 10, 2001, and before Aug. 1, 2004, and all equipment for which reimbursement is sought must be turned into the Army at the time a claim for reimbursement is filed. Claimants who no longer have the equipment must explain in writing why they cannot turn the items in with their claim. If there is a good reason, they may still be paid. The amount of reimbursement for a given item depends upon whether the claimant produces proof of the actual purchase price. A claimant who provides proof of purchase will be reimbursed the full purchase price plus shipping costs for each item, up to $1,100 for any single item. If no proof of purchase is provided, the claimant will be reimbursed at a rate pre-established by the Department of the Army for each item of equipment. For example, the Army will pay $551.60 for a complete OTV if no purchase receipt is submitted with the claim. Current active duty or active reserve component Soldiers who seek reimbursement should complete and file a DD Form 2902 with the first field grade commander in the Soldier’s current chain of command. With the completed DD Form 2902, the Soldier must provide a copy of proof of deployment (such as deployment orders or a DD Form 214 noting deployment) and copies of all receipts or other proof of purchase for the items claimed. The Soldier must also turn in all reimbursable items to his or her unit at the time the claim is filed. If a Soldier is not in possession of some or all of the items, the Soldier should submit a written statement explaining why the items are not available. Former Soldiers and survivors of deceased Soldiers should complete a DD Form 2902 claim form and mail it directly to the U.S. Army Claims Service at the address provided in block 12 of the DD Form 2902. As with claims submitted within the chain of command, claims forms mailed to USARCS must be accompanied by copies of proof of deployment and proof of purchase, and the items for which reimbursement is sought. Shipping costs for delivering items to USARCS are compensable and can be noted on the DD Form 2902. Again, if the items are not available for turn in, a written explanation as to the reasons why is sufficient. Once a claim is filed, the claim will be processed through USARCS for payment by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Either USARCS or the claimant’s chain of command will inform the claimant of any deficiencies in a claim, and will provide the claimant with ample opportunity to correct any such deficiency. Although the claims process has been designed to ensure rapid settlement and payment of claims, potential claimants should not wait too long to file claims, as all claims must be filed by Oct. 3. Information on the body armor and protective equipment reimbursement program, including a list of reimbursable items together with the pre-established compensation rates, can be found by accessing www.jagcnet.army.mil, and selecting the U.S. Army Claims Service link under the “Client Services and Links” section. At the Claims Service link, choose Protective Gear Reimbursement Program. This link can be accessed by the public. Potential claimants can also obtain a printable DD Form 2902 through this link. Claimants or commanders can contact also the Fort Bliss Claims Office in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at 568-6751. The Claims Office is in Bldg. 113, second floor, with hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.