The Sinai Peninsula of Egypt is not a safe place.
The State Department describes it as a "particularly restive area" where known jihadists operate. It's been the site of multiple terrorist attacks in recent months, some targeting service members. Fighters loyal to the Islamic State group are there.
Many troops probably consider the area a combat zone. But not the Defense Department.
About 700 U.S. soldiers are there as part of Task Force Sinai, risking their lives and supporting Multinational Force and Observers that enforce the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
Though the threat level is high, and the soldiers serve at fortified camps with HESCO barriers and RPG-repelling fences, the Defense Department does not recognize the area as a combat zone, nor does it put Sinai on a shortlist of non-combat-zone regions eligible for combat pay benefits.
As a result, soldiers aren't eligible for a combat zone tax exemption, a nice benefit that can save a typical E-4 thousands of dollars a year.
Soldiers, until recently, had used a mischievously clever loophole: Each month hundreds of troops would conduct swim training in the nearby Red Sea, which is considered a combat zone.
U.S. Army Central wanted a review of the pay policy there. Was it to rethink this combat zone business? Nope, it was squash soldiers' Red Sea workaround. Not only that, the review led to another reminder to those Sinai soldiers entitled to Basic Allowance for Subsistence: You owe us government-furnished meals, so pay up.
Instead of targeting soldiers' wallets — a pittance when looking at the military's budget — a review should have been conducted on the growing threat and risk of serving in Sinai.
The Obama administration recently reviewed the MFO mission and included an option to remove American forces — due to security concerns.
One thing that doesn't need further review: Soldiers are putting their lives on the line in Sinai, and they deserve a tax break for being there.
