COLA increases for most troops in Pacific

[unhappycamper]

COLA increases for most troops in Pacific
By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Monday, January 5, 2009

The Japanese yen’s assault on the dollar in 2008 has spilled over into another significant cost-of-living allowance boost for U.S. servicemembers in mainland Japan and Okinawa in the New Year, according to online figures posted by the Pentagon’s per diem committee.

The COLA rate made a comeback in a few South Korea locations. After sitting flat for a month, it rebounded from 102 to 110 in Seoul while troops at Kimhae and Busan again will receive an allowance at 106.

There still is no COLA elsewhere on the Korean peninsula, where the won’s value against the dollar plummeted last year.

On Monday, a dollar will be worth 1,281 South Korean won, according to the exchange rate posted online by Community Bank. For much of last summer, it was relatively stable at about 975 won per $1.

In most areas of mainland Japan, COLA jumped six points in the latest change, which took effect last Thursday. That includes Yokota Air Base, Yokosuka Naval Base, Misawa Air Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Camp Zama, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Sasebo Naval Base and Camp Fuji.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59787