Settlement of accounts: deductions from pay

§ 9837. Settlement of accounts: deductions from pay (a) An amount due the United States from an enlisted member of the Air Force for articles sold to the member on credit under section 9621 (a) (1) of this title shall be deducted from the next pay due that member after the sale is reported. An amount due the United States from an enlisted member of the Air Force for tobacco sold to him by the United States under section 9623 of this title shall be deducted from his pay in the manner provided for the settlement of clothing accounts. (b) Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, any amount that an enlisted member is administratively determined to owe the United States or any of its instrumentalities may be deducted from his pay in monthly installments. However, after the deduction of pay forfeited by the sentence of a court-martial, if any, or otherwise authorized by law to be withheld, the deductions authorized by this section may not reduce the pay actually received for any month to less than one-third of his basic pay for that month. (c) Subject to subsection (b), an amount due the United States from an enlisted member may be deducted from his pay on final statement, or from his savings on his clothing allowance. (d) If he considers it in the best interest of the United States, the Secretary may have remitted or cancelled any part of an enlisted member’s indebtedness to the United States or any of its instrumentalities remaining unpaid before, or at the time of, that member’s honorable discharge. (e) The amount of any damage, or cost of repairs, to arms or equipment caused by the abuse or negligence of a member of the Air Force who had the care of, or was using, the property when it was damaged shall be deducted from his pay. 595 (f) If, upon final settlement of the accounts of a commissioned officer of the Air Force charged with the issue of an article of military supply, there is a deficiency of that article, or if an article of military supply with whose issue a commissioned officer is charged is damaged, the value of the lost article or the amount of the damage shall be charged against the officer and deducted from his monthly pay, unless he shows to the satisfaction of the Secretary, by one or more affidavits setting forth the circumstances, that he was not at fault. (g) An amount due the United States from an officer of the Air Force for rations bought on credit, and for articles bought on credit under section 9621 (a) (1) of this title, shall be deducted from the next pay due that officer after the sale is reported.