can I just say-Veterans are getting FUCKED?

[w8liftinglady]

My poor son is being fucked by the
VA regarding his education benefits..more when i'm sober

[Cant trust em]

1. I think that should have an exclamation point. Not a question mark.

Must be the drinking.

[Fresh_Start]

2. did you see the story about the DOD

freaking out over Webbs GI bill?

The DOD actually said the equivalent of but the volunteer military will fail if troops earn educational/housing benefits. Why would they re-up if they could become students

[casus belli]

3. That's the "other" war we have to fight.

And it's absolutely disgusting that those who opposed the war should have to be the ones demanding the government fulfill its promise to our kids who are there fighting it. It is one of the reasons I have so much loathing for the Republican party. They made it their "business" to be the party of patriotism and jingoism. They made it their "business" to question the patriotism of all Democrats who opposed the war and created an atmosphere where it was ok to call into question someone's "American-ness". Those same a-holes who waived the banner of war, and told us that criticism of the president was criticism of the troops AT EVERY TURN turned their backs on soldiers in theater. Whether it was body armor, or proper armor to protect vehicles from IEDs, voting to reduce combat pay, making it harder for them to get access to the medical and psychological help many of them need when they return...they completely screwed the troops on every level they could if it meant saving a buck.

Absolutely freaking disgusting.

I hope things work out for your son. All the best to you...

[jimison1]

5. Nail on the Head

It is strange how those supporting the war seem the most quiet and accepting military shortcomings in getting its people the benefits they're entitled to by law. Because the Guard and Army have failed to get me the medical I need for a line of duty injury, and have failed to approve pay and benefits since I've been home. Because of this I am disabled, clinically depressed, addicted to opioid pain medications, and in a position where I have to declare bankruptcy to stop my student loan debtors from threatening to take our home.

And it is about saving a buck. I don't believe for one moment, dumb as many of those in military leadership are, that these mistakes and bureaucratic roadblocks in getting what we were promised when we enlisted are products of honest mistakes. They're cost-containing measures. And they're somewhat confident they won't be called on it either.

[jimison1]

4. Proper F^

Hi w9liftinglady,

I'm very sorry to hear about your son. There are many problems veterans and active and reserve service members face. Those in power in institutions like the VA and the Army (all components of) simply don't care about us. They use us as one might use a roll of toilet paper. We're commodities to be used up and thrown away.

Problems with accessing education benefits are but one example of the broken promises the military makes young and not-so-young recruits. That they get away with it is criminal. And until enough of us speak out against military programs that have gone wrong, something the military and government certainly do not those of us in uniform or our families to do, nothing will change. Until we hold our elected officials responsible nothing will change.

These bastards destroy lives everyday. They don't care about you and your son. They don't care about my wife and I. They care about keeping things the way they are.

My best to you and your son.

[noamnety]

6. I lost my educational benefits.

At the time, I thought it was just me, peculiar to my circumstances and decisions.

But in August, I was a speaker with another vet from my era, and she had the exact same story as me. And then a woman who stayed with me a couple weeks ago for a few nights said she'd lost her benefits. And she invited a local vet she'd corresponded with over to the house while she was in town, and he'd lost his benefits as well.

I've read the statistics on that, and even preached them some doing some truth-in-recruiting talks. But it still took talking to a bunch of vets to realize in my gut how widespread it is.