View Full Version : Reserve Troops Screwed Out Of Benefits
This is an outrageous act on the behalf of the Pentagon and whomever wrote those orders.
Approximately 2,600 members of the Minnesota National Guard recently returned home after serving multiple tours of duty in Iraq. They served 22 months — “longer than any other ground combat unit” — recieved nine fatalities, and were awarded dozens of Purple Hearts.
But the Army wrote the orders for 1,162 of these soldiers for 729 days, making them ineligible for full educational benefits under the GI Bill, which requires written orders saying they were deployed for 730 days or more. These soldiers were shorted more than $200 per month for college.
First Lt. Jon Anderson believes that the military deliberately cut short their orders to avoid paying the soldiers’ education benefits:
It’s pretty much a slap in the face. I think it was a scheme to save money, personally. I think it was a leadership failure by the senior Washington leadership…once again failing the soldiers.
Six members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation, as well as Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D) and Norm Coleman (R), have asked Secretary of the Army Pete Geren to investigate the matter. Coleman said that it’s “simply irresponsible to deny education benefits to those soldiers who just completed the longest tour of duty of any unit in Iraq.”
Geren has reportedly assured the lawmakers that the cases “will be reviewed on an expedited basis, so that those who qualify can attend school next semester.”
link (http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/04/national-guard-education/)
PatrickHenry
10-05-2007, 06:22 PM
Reamed by Uncle Sam! My,my...the love and support for the troops...
Why does the US pat itself on the back about its military, then bend 'em over and ream 'em everytime?
More importantly, when will the ranks wake up to the fraud that is Uncle's military and tell ol' Sammy to shove his job up his ass? That they are gonna take care of their families and he can run his wars of aggression with mercenaries?
And when will the public see that mercenary troops are not on the same page with citizens?
Elrathin
10-05-2007, 06:39 PM
This is completely uncalled for. I hope they get what they deserve. Shutting them out 1 day before they would get benefits is a slap in the face to these troops.
Wonder why the president or the vice-president or anyone else in this administration who claims to love and respect the troops isn't on the horn to the Pentagon screaming bloody murder? Why is that? Is there a neocon out there who will answer that question?
potter
10-06-2007, 06:40 PM
This is completely uncalled for. I hope they get what they deserve. Shutting them out 1 day before they would get benefits is a slap in the face to these troops.
It's part of our capitalist culture. Businesses have been working their staff just under 40 hours a week so they don't have to pay full time benefits for decades.
Drocket
10-06-2007, 08:49 PM
Hey, gotta pay for them tax cuts for Paris Hilton somehow. Besides, if they didn't want to be screwed over, they should have been smart enough to not join the military. If they really wanted to fight, they should have become mercenaries so that well-connected corporate executives could make massive profits off of them doing the same job.
Hey, gotta pay for them tax cuts for Paris Hilton somehow. Besides, if they didn't want to be screwed over, they should have been smart enough to not join the military. If they really wanted to fight, they should have become mercenaries so that well-connected corporate executives could make massive profits off of them doing the same job.
Still no neocons standing up to defend this BS action. What business gets away with ought not to be the standard we use to deal with our troops.
Trish
10-07-2007, 06:58 PM
From what I've read from both sides of the great political divide, the matter is being looked into. I would imagine that the majority of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, will find the denying of benefits to these Americans unacceptable and changes will be made. I will certainly be adding my voice to those demanding action.
Scorpion
10-07-2007, 07:10 PM
Hey, gotta pay for them tax cuts for Paris Hilton somehow. Besides, if they didn't want to be screwed over, they should have been smart enough to not join the military. If they really wanted to fight, they should have become mercenaries so that well-connected corporate executives could make massive profits off of them doing the same job.
I'm hoping that you're being sarcastic about the military and not the troops. If not, shame on you. I'd be interested in hearing about your service.
That said, my VFW post discussed this last night. We are mostly Vietnam vets. Apparently there is already some legal action being contemplated to force the Minnesota ANG to provide full benefits.
Drocket
10-07-2007, 08:58 PM
I'm hoping that you're being sarcastic about the military and not the troops.
Did ANY of what I said sound serious?
Scorpion
10-07-2007, 09:03 PM
I'm hoping that you're being sarcastic about the military and not the troops.
Did ANY of what I said sound serious?
Other then the first sentence, yes, it did sound serious. I take it that it was not.
Drocket
10-07-2007, 09:21 PM
It depresses me that we live in a world where "they should have become mercenaries so that well-connected corporate executives could make massive profits off of them doing the same job" can actually be considered a serious position...
And no, I wasn't being serious.
Scorpion
10-07-2007, 09:24 PM
It depresses me that we live in a world where "they should have become mercenaries so that well-connected corporate executives could make massive profits off of them doing the same job" can actually be considered a serious position...
And no, I wasn't being serious.
It depresses me more that some make that statement and are serious.
Regardless, sorry to have upset you in any manner.
potter
10-08-2007, 05:14 PM
From what I've read from both sides of the great political divide, the matter is being looked into. I would imagine that the majority of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, will find the denying of benefits to these Americans unacceptable and changes will be made. I will certainly be adding my voice to those demanding action.
Perhaps I've become jaded, but when did our government start abiding to or even remotely considering the will of "the people"? Doncha have to donate a lot of money for that?
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