As the Executive Branch and Congress present an image of less military involvement by decreasing the numbers of soldiers overseas, operational needs do not change. These needs are being met by an increasing number of Department of Defense civilian employees being deployed needs because they do not count as "boots on the ground".
Despite serving shoulder to shoulder with our uniform service members, sometimes even being required by orders to wear a military uniform and carry weapons due to the risk to their lives, they do not receive any benefits for being in the same danger as our fellow service members.
I call on Congress to extend the same benefits that military personal receive for being deployed to combat zones to DOD civilian employees who are serving right next to them.