Compensation and Benefits |  |
- Training
- Annual Leave
- Compensation
- Family Employment Health Benefit Plans
- Family Medical Leave
- Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA)
- Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)
- Sick Leave
- Ten Paid Holidays per Year
- Thrift Savings Plan
- Travel Benefits
- Other Benefits
Training
All personnel assigned to or traveling TDY to Afghanistan for a cumulative period of 30 days or more will be required to attend Foreign Affairs Counter Threat course (FACT). All employees must also complete Serving Abroad for Families and Employees (S.A.F.E.). The S.A.F.E. course includes relevant elements of two Department of State courses, the "Security Overseas Seminar (SOS)" and "Working in a US Embassy." The Department of State will offer the S.A.F.E. course in two modules, which can be taken consecutively or separately. In addition, completion of Afghan PRT Orientation (AR421) is required for all employees assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Teams.
Annual Leave
- 4 hours per pay period or 13 days per leave year for less than 3 years of federal service
- 6 hours per pay period or 20 days per leave year after 3 years of federal service but less than 15 years
- 8 hours per pay period or 26 days per leave year after 15 years of federal service
Compensation
Under this appointment you will be eligible for post differentials and allowances in accordance with Department regulations. You will be eligible to receive danger pay at a percentage of your base pay (currently 35%) prorated for the number of days at post. You will also be eligible to receive a foreign post differential (currently 35% of base pay) after serving 42 continuous days at post. After 42 days, the post differential will be payable back to the first day.
Per the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2009, there is no FEPCA hold back for employees assigned to Afghanistan. Employees in Afghanistan will receive full Post Differential and full Danger Pay in their bi-weekly paychecks.
The 2009 Premium Pay Cap is $227,300.00 - this is the total of your base pay and your premium pay items (overtime, night differential, holiday premium pay, and Sunday differential).
Family Employment Health Benefits Plans
Under the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, employees are eligible to enroll in a wide variety of health insurance plans, with costs shared by the government. The employee's portion is paid through payroll deductions.
Please note that prior to deployment, employees must elect medical insurance coverage provided by a PPO (Preferred Provider) and not an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). HMO coverage will not cover any medical expenses incurred overseas.
More information available at www.opm.gov/insure/.
Family Medical Leave
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 provides Federal employees with an entitlement of up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for the following purposes:
- the birth of a son or daughter of the employee and the care of the newborn;
- the placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care;
- the care of a child, spouse or parent of the employee with a serious health condition; or
- a serious health condition of the employee that makes an employee unable to perform the major functions of the job.
Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA)
The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) provides compensation benefits to federal employees for work-related injuries or illnesses and to their surviving dependents if a work-related injury or illness results in the employee's death. The FECA is administered by the Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)
The Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program is available to eligible federal employees. FEGLI provides group term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Under FEGLI, basic coverage is equal to the employee's annual basic salary rounded to the next higher thousand plus $2,000 or $10,000, whichever is more in the event an employee dies.
More information available at https://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp.
Sick Leave
Accrued at a rate of 4 hours per pay period, 13 days per leave year.
Ten Paid Holidays per Year
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Third Monday in January)
- Washington's Birthday (Third Monday in February)
- Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (First Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (Second Monday in October)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
In addition to the above, the U.S. Government may also observe some Afghani holidays.
Thrift Savings Plan
Eligible employees may participate in the Thrift Savings Plan; a long-term savings and investment program for federal employees designed to provide retirement income.
More information available at www.tsp.gov.
Travel Benefits
Rest and Recuperation (R&R)
At each post, employees will be entitled to three Rest and Recuperation (R&R) trips.
According to regulations, R&R eligibility is available to U.S. citizen employees of the Foreign Service (including limited non-career and 3161 appointments) from their assigned post to the United States, or to other locations abroad which have different social, climatic, or environmental conditions than their assigned post.
Employees who fail to complete their full twelve-month tour will be required to repay R&R travel expenses incurred during their tour.
Regional Rest Breaks (RRBs)
Employees serving in Afghanistan will also be authorized two Regional Rest Breaks, wherein each employee is allowed air transportation to a country within the region for a quick break, and will receive five days paid administrative leave. Service and eligibility is the same as for the R&Rs above.
Other Benefits
- Household Effects (HHE) and Unaccompanied Air Baggage (UAB)
Employees are authorized 250 pounds unaccompanied air baggage (UAB) and 2000 pounds of household effects (HHE).
