Air Force: Delayed paychecks for airmen possible if $1.6 billion diverted to Army

An airman from the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron emerges from under an F-16 after removing the safety pins allowing the jet to depart on a mission from Balad Air Base in February

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Is it possible airmen might not get paid due to the rising costs of the war?

That’s what many airmen have wanted to know since the Pentagon requested to divert $1.6 billion from the Navy and Air Force personnel accounts to the Army.

The Air Force has sent conflicting answers in the past three weeks. Last month, the Air Force hinted in a statement sent to Stars and Stripes that it was possible such a move could affect airmen’s paychecks.

On Monday, an Air Force spokeswoman said that would “never” happen. A day later, Maj. Morshe Araujo said she made a mistake and such a scenario could happen if the money is not returned.

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