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MADem

(135,425 posts)

104. It is a "volunteer" specialty, like being an aircrewman.

Tue Feb 12, 2013, 03:29 PM

Feb 2013

This gentleman said he had medical issues, too--he could have easily been put on limited duty and set to pushing paper somewhere. He could have transitioned to recruiting duty (a popular option) for the balance of his time in service. There are a number of positions he could have held, easily, had he decided to stay in until his retirement kicked in. Certainly, with "shooting Bin Ladin" on his resume, he'd be given consideration. Certainly his commanding officer would go to bat for him, and that would be all it would take.

There is something that is decidedly "off" with this account. As I have said elsewhere, I am very surprised at Phil Bronstein. This report, written by him, would not pass his "editor's eye" if someone else handed it in to him. A HUGE chunk of this story is missing, and it just does not make sense.

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Navy Seal who allegedly shot Bin Laden says US military has abandoned him [View all] alp227 Feb 2013 OP

Isn't that how all U.S. non-officer military are treated? nt valerief Feb 2013 #1

Probably, but not with 'Go fuck yourself.' elleng Feb 2013 #5

The military says "go fuck yourself" all the time... actslikeacarrot Feb 2013 #24

Sounds like he doesn't know what he signed up for, elleng Feb 2013 #25

No. People are free to leave. kestrel91316 Feb 2013 #17

exactly shanti Feb 2013 #33

He couldn't hang in there for three more years? Scairp Feb 2013 #74

I thought the very same thing. My goodness what is he complaining about. Everyone knows southernyankeebelle Feb 2013 #78

As a civilian Army employee Alcibiades Feb 2013 #100

He had to stop working because his has allot of back problems. Serious problems southernyankeebelle Feb 2013 #103

It sounds like he is working then Alcibiades Feb 2013 #105

I also come from a long line of veterans. My dad served in WWII, Korea and was southernyankeebelle Feb 2013 #106

That's what I'm thinking. CANDO Feb 2013 #98

No. We don't all get to do an Audie Murphy, but grind out 20 and the bennies aren't bad. sarge43 Feb 2013 #28

He has no proof that he was the one that killed Bin Laden and so what if he did? It was his job. xtraxritical Feb 2013 #57

The same for most Americans, you quit your 'job' and you lose your work benefits. Sunlei Feb 2013 #72

I don't risk my life for my employer, though. nt valerief Feb 2013 #80

Anything that sheds light on this problem, experienced by so many, is a good thing. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #2

Right, SKP, elleng Feb 2013 #8

He probably had to strike while the iron was hot, so to speak. After 3 years his CTyankee Feb 2013 #26

Right, yank, elleng Feb 2013 #31

Looking forward to my 4th day in captivity tomorrow. City still CLOSED. CTyankee Feb 2013 #35

Glad you've got the necessities! elleng Feb 2013 #37

Oh, and heat and electricity, which I am thankful for! CTyankee Feb 2013 #43

where do the critters (esp. dogs) LibGranny Feb 2013 #63

I don't have one but I worried about that when the snow first fell... CTyankee Feb 2013 #64

I had a dachshund for 15 years and she HATED snow! LibGranny Feb 2013 #65

Their dog is pretty little too, and very short, tho not as much as a dachshund. CTyankee Feb 2013 #68

It was definitely cringeworthy! LibGranny Feb 2013 #70

lol, reminds me how dachshunds all love to burrow under the blankets but not in the snow :) Sunlei Feb 2013 #73

Oh yeah, she had a knack for rolling herself up LibGranny Feb 2013 #93

Sorry, doubter here. elleng Feb 2013 #3

I thought the same thing matt819 Feb 2013 #12

I'm actually a little surprised any of these SEALS are speaking about the raid Siwsan Feb 2013 #21

My cousin was a Seal in the 1st Iraq war. He said, " we took out their mines (at sea), Dustlawyer Feb 2013 #95

The 'Go fuck yourself', line. atreides1 Feb 2013 #19

Yeah, plus you don't say that the head Team 6 SEAL Ter Feb 2013 #85

Sh*t, you don't say that to ANYONE! elleng Feb 2013 #87

He resigned. He didn't retire. There is no 'early retirement' provision for military benefits Siwsan Feb 2013 #4

Seriously - where's he been? Kber Feb 2013 #7

I wonder if he's got a bit of a 'But I'm a hero!' complex? AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #49

That's the vibe I get Siwsan Feb 2013 #52

I'm going to say this, unpopular as it may be: TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #6

Factual is good, 'popular' or not. elleng Feb 2013 #9

I am guessing it's coming as a shock to him to be treated like TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #20

I don't know if I want to believe this or not madokie Feb 2013 #10

Post # 4 discusses: 'No early retirement.' elleng Feb 2013 #16

If he is indeed the guy that killed OBL Burma Jones Feb 2013 #11

He needs to keep that part of his identity hidden, though. TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #14

True 'dat.... Burma Jones Feb 2013 #22

Republicans may make you a hero while you are in active duty status AsahinaKimi Feb 2013 #13

Who is responsible for ruining the Veterans Job Bill that was in Congress last year? GOP. DhhD Feb 2013 #15

They would have let him sit at a desk and evaluate video games if he wanted. bluedigger Feb 2013 #18

Early retirement for the military is twenty years. John2 Feb 2013 #23

If he no longer wanted the job I wonder what he could have done. tammywammy Feb 2013 #34

Exactly Scairp Feb 2013 #75

Yes. I believe you are spot on this one. glinda Feb 2013 #47

Sorry! But welcome to the world MOST Americans live in, without military job security. nt patrice Feb 2013 #27

Twenty years does not even come close to retierment in the civilian world. xtraxritical Feb 2013 #60

Tell me about it & The days of lots of us keeping a job even 10 years are way LONG gone, so it patrice Feb 2013 #61

Part of this is his own doing sdfernando Feb 2013 #29

I've seen other guys quit the military and face this reality - 'Hey, where's gravy train?' toby jo Feb 2013 #30

Looks like he made a bad decision, and now regrets it. Ikonoklast Feb 2013 #32

Got that right. None of us asked him to enlist, & retirement at 20 is the perk dangled to keep him… Journeyman Feb 2013 #36

Did he expect to get an exception? Solly Mack Feb 2013 #38

My question here is.... Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #39

I have a feeling it's the latter, not the former. n/t tammywammy Feb 2013 #44

+1 Blue_Tires Feb 2013 #45

Early retirement? No such thing. sarge43 Feb 2013 #51

So sad... ReRe Feb 2013 #40

Not Sure What To Make Of This DallasNE Feb 2013 #41

Yes, welcome to the last forty years Downtown Hound Feb 2013 #42

Siwsan posted: I'm actually a little surprised any of these SEALS are speaking about the raid TexasProgresive Feb 2013 #46

I'm thinking the cat was let out of the bag once some people started Blue_Tires Feb 2013 #53

I recognize the 20 year requirement but.... Swede Atlanta Feb 2013 #48

When you commit murder for hire for the biggest organized crime faction on the planet jimlup Feb 2013 #50

No--that's your truth. Are you suggesting the President committed a "wanton crime" ordering msanthrope Feb 2013 #71

Yes... it is really fairly simple if you are capable of seeing beyond the accepted propaganda. jimlup Feb 2013 #84

If it was a "wanton crime", then fuck yeah civil disobedience. NYC Liberal Feb 2013 #91

What civilian job does commando train you for? MrSlayer Feb 2013 #54

He gets 5 years of healthcare on quitting for being combat vet uhnope Feb 2013 #55

He "retired" before his time... SoapBox Feb 2013 #56

well, that's how they do it. Dyedinthewoolliberal Feb 2013 #58

No offense to the Seal, but.......... mrmpa Feb 2013 #59

Book deal coming up, probably complete with phony NYT's Bestseller support for dishing on the patrice Feb 2013 #62

Welcome to the world the rest of us live in high density Feb 2013 #66

The guys on that raid obviously rate high on the list of targets for terrorists' revenge. tclambert Feb 2013 #67

I agree with you on the extra security. n/t Adsos Letter Feb 2013 #88

If they all kept their mouths shut like they were supposed to, it wouldn't be a problem. Incitatus Feb 2013 #102

Gotta raise the BS flag on this one. MyTwoSense Feb 2013 #69

There is an "eaarly retirement" for some individuals. IggleDoer Feb 2013 #101

Welcome to the corporate war machine. liberalmuse Feb 2013 #76

Cogs don't get healthcare.... DeSwiss Feb 2013 #77

The Esquire article is a good read. merh Feb 2013 #79

I read the article too fujiyama Feb 2013 #89

Message auto-removed kanooga Feb 2013 #81

I'm pretty sure he can get healthcare at any VA NNguyenMD Feb 2013 #82

It makes me wonder what the REAL shooter is doing these days tavernier Feb 2013 #83

"If" there is a shooter... Ter Feb 2013 #86

I'm sure he has options, he just needs to get up and do the work Franker65 Feb 2013 #90

Question RobinA Feb 2013 #92

No--I don't think Special Forces guys are expected to keep doing it for TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #94

Thanks For Your Response nm RobinA Feb 2013 #99

It is a "volunteer" specialty, like being an aircrewman. MADem Feb 2013 #104

He should have hung in for three more years. Does he really think he deserves a bounty? marble falls Feb 2013 #96

Everybody and the world knows you don't get shit for doing anything less than 20 yrs. Baclava Feb 2013 #97

Presume that he is telling the truth and Killed OBL - thanks for that. But the service didn't 24601 Feb 2013 #107