Policy #05-4 Disbursement Division Between Members of Branches

Background

It is SOT policy to make distributions to the maximum extent possible by local Disbursement Boards and by existing military charitable entities, coupled with a set of disbursement priorities. It is SOT’s preference to only occasionally make direct distributions to individual recipients, unless that method is deemed best for purposes of local officials. SOT prefers to function as a revenue-generating organization, and have the functions of determination of entitlement, need and disbursement performed by local Disbursement Boards and by existing military entities which provide assistance to members of the military and their families, all based on a set of disbursement priorities.

Guiding Principal

SOT is trying to meet the worst needs first based on the Western principal of women and children first.

How SOT Allocates Limited Funds Among Members of Branches
SOT follows specific troops and their families, not branches or agencies. It is not equitable to disburse equally between the branches because they are of different sizes. It is not equitable to disburse proportionately among them based on their size, because they have vastly different missions, deployment and risk factors. And doing so would ignore the Guards and agencies. SOT therefore follows specific troops whether there are 1000 with one branch or agency or 100 within another. SOT’s program focuses on individual troops and families without regard to branch or agency because they are all involved in protecting us. SOT will disburse to beneficiaries through local Disbursement Boards and intermediary military charity vehicles. Those involved in these entities have a relationship with the applicable branches, agencies, or troops, and local knowledge which alleviates delays and problems created by the privacy act.

Recipient Classes

The following are SOT’S recipient classes, ranked by priority of funds.

1. Families of troops serving, then,
2. Families of troops who are killed or injured
a. Families with children, then
b. Spouse without children, then
3. Troops who are injured.

Disbursement Division Between Members of Branches Policy as adopted by the Board of Directors of Support Our Troops, Inc. on 9-20-2005, revised 8-25-06.