DoD Sweats Webb GI Bill

[jhain]

Support The Troops? Support The Troops?! Anything other than a yellow ribbon magnet is too good, huh??

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http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,163440,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl

Webb's GI Bill Tagged as Threat to Volunteer Force

Defense officials are alarmed by the very real prospect that Congress this year will enact the robust GI Bill education plan designed by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.). One Defense official, who declined to be named, described the bill as a "retention killer" for the all-volunteer military.

Webb reintroduced his bill, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (S. 22), last week with changes that attracted strong bipartisan support, including the endorsement of Sen. John Warner (Va.), former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"I'm just going to go full bore on this thing," Warner told Military Update in a phone interview.

That's a worrisome vow for Defense officials who believe enhanced post-service education benefits, particularly if enacted while troops face multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, could trigger an exodus severe enough to put the viability of the volunteer military at risk.

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Plenty more at above link. If you can stomach it.

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd for Webb reintroducing this, and thumbs down to the military

for showing their true colors. Support the troops? I don't see one way they're attempting to do that.

[HereSince1628]

2. Education undermines recruiting? Who'd have thought THAT?

Going to college is preferable to going to IRAQ? Who'd have ever thought THAT?

[islandmkl]

3. "go to war, and if you get killed, or worse yet, blown up and maimed...

well, we've done our part getting you there and all...."

What do you want from us, you ungrateful, whining malcontents?

Where is your patriotism? Don't you love your country? Why do you think this country, this government owes you anything?

The liberal press is poisoning your mind...

Yeah, support the war....oops, support the troops...

[Debau2005]

4. This is certainly nice to hear for us

My fiance was just denied GI Bill benefits for Truck Driving School. We don't know why, the paperwork doesn't mention a reason. So now we have to appeal.

He served 16 years, first in the Navy in the first Gulf War, and then served with the Army National Guard in the current quagmire. He was in the convoy truck behind the one that was blown up and killed two of his friends. And yes, PTSD is a current problem.

After we filed our appeal I was going to contact his congressman and our Senators, I think I'll contact Senator Webb as well! Luckily we haven't sold his house yet, so his congressman is not the same as mine. Mine doesn't care for me, I think he doesn't care for my letters and emails! :evilgrin:

[jhain]

7. Thinking of you

It can be demoralizing to have to beg for what is owed you. Hang in there.
And keep writing and calling! Have you contacted your local levels pols? They want be seen as 'supportive'.

[Debau2005]

8. Thanks for your support

We haven't thought of our local people. We'll do that first. This weekend we are regrouping and going over the letters one more time to get our facts together.

[Fresh_Start]

5. DOD regrets end of indentured servants

after all if people aren't trapped into military service who is going to be stupid enough to fill the ranks?

At least that appears to be what they are saying

[Jennifer C]

6. K&R for Webb nt

[crimsonblue]

9. Umm.. can't the gov tell soldiers "Yeah... so I'm gonna need you to stay till Armageddon"

I thought that if ordered to redeploy, a soldier can't really say no with much success.
I don't see how providing troops with post-service benefits harms anybody, except for the shady loan industry. I mean, wouldn't you be MORE inclined to join up if you were guaranteed some education benefits for putting yourself in harms way? Just another example where "Support the Troops" crap from BushCo doesn't really mean support the troops. Also, I think more people would be willing to serve if we didn't have a commander-in-chief that just 19% of Americans approve of.

[yellerpup]

10. K&R!

The GI Bill education was the best piece of legislation to ever happen for soldiers and this country. We owe these soldiers an education and an economy that will support them in the future.