The Nation - News from March 3, 1987

Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger has ordered an immediate increase of from 10% to 20% in the cost-of-living adjustment for soldiers deployed overseas to help them cope with the declining value of the dollar. The aid will vary depending on rank, time in service, size of family and the country of deployment, the Pentagon said. The aid is expected to cost $55.9 million for the rest of this fiscal year. Also, servicemen and women based in West Germany, Japan, Italy or Spain--where the dollar has dropped most since last year--will be able to send their families to the United States on military aircraft free of charge.