By Michael Schindler

Amen. The deadline to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay has been re-instated and extended to Oct.21, 2012.

The majority of those eligible have separated from the military and thus, many eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries are not aware of the benefit. But fear not, those of you who served our country selflessly and may have missed the original deadline. There is good news — the deadline is extended.

Service members and veterans whose military service was involuntarily extended under the “Stop Loss” program between the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Sept. 30, 2009, are eligible for special retroactive pay.

The special pay is compensation for the hardships the involuntary extensions caused, officials said. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective military service to receive $500 for each full or partial month served in a Stop Loss status.

To learn more, visit the Department of Defense’s Stop Loss next steps.

Michael Schindler, Navy veteran, and president of Edmonds-based Operation Military Family, is a guest writer for several national publications, author of the book “Operation Military Family” and “The Military Wire” blog. He is also a popular keynote and workshop speaker who reaches thousands of service members and their families every year through workshops and seminars that include  “How to Battle-Ready Your Relationship” or “What Your Mother-in-Law Didn’t Tell You.”  He received the 2010 Outstanding Patriotic Service Award from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.