War veterans denied GI Bill benefits

[sabra]

http://www.oxfordpress.com/news/content/shared/news/stories/GI_BILL_0709_COX.html

War veterans denied GI Bill benefits

SUMMERVILLE, Ga. — Andy Rowe thought he had life after the Army pretty well figured out before he came home from eight months in Afghanistan in November 2003.

...

But Rowe soon realized that, despite his time in a combat zone, he didn't qualify for those education benefits unless he remained in the Reserves or Guard.

It's the same for tens of thousands of National Guard and Army Reserve troops mobilized since 9/11 — the largest deployment of reservists since World War II.

When military benefits were updated in 1984 through a law called the Montgomery GI Bill, members of Congress and even the military did not envision reservists being called into active duty as frequently as they are today. The law did not extend full college benefits to citizen soldiers and terminated them once they left the Guard or Reserve.

...

"Looking at how the Reserve forces are being used now, it really upset me," said Rowe, called up from the inactive Reserves to serve in Afghanistan.

[RCinBrooklyn]

1. Reservists are getting the shaft harder than any other soldiers.

[bemildred]

2. You might almost think they want to destroy the Reserve, eh? nt

[KKKarl is an idiot]

3. Reservists

These are meant to be kept in reserve. Not to be out fighting a war that has not meaning. They are for the real conflicts. Like a world war. They would be trained & ready to go at the drop of a hat.

[susanna]

9. Good gravy, yes....

I still do not understand why most of the U.S. public does NOT understand the meaning of "reserve." They are to be held back until really, really, really, really needed. Not sent out first thing...and do NOT get me started on the National Guard...

But then I am always amazed at American citizens who know NOTHING about their military forces, be they regular, reserve or guard. It is truly frightening.

[4bucksagallon]

4. Yeah well

I went into the military in march of 1969,went thru boot camp deployed to vietnam, spent 11 months and 21 days there as a grunt. I came home in semptember 1970 and was seperated with an early out . After, I found out I lacked enough service to qualify for full GI bill college benefits. I had 17 months and 29 days and needed 18 months to qualify, do you think I was advised that when they were giving me my early out, ha instead they were trying to get me to re-enlist. F*** the military.

[area51]

5. Welcome to DU, 4bucksagallon. (n/t)

[Historic NY]

6. Happened to my niece they told her...

she took too long in getting her college done and yanked her monies. It took too long because she spent and extra 18 months on active duty and had to give up college as she was overseas. She just graduated last week from nursing school the administrator an ex-military man got her tuition paid. She won high honors in clinical dianostics. She now has about 15 credit to complete for her RN.

Promises, promises but in the end they screwed over her and told her it was her fault. She is done with them..........

[zonkers]

7. Rummy: "Don't let the screen door hit you on the way out, fellas"

[Monkeyman]

8. The Bill For The 21st Century would take care of this

Democrats wrote this Bill last year trying to get our veterans from our current war zone all their benefits. But fatman J Dennis Hastert said"I will let no Bill that is not Republican come to the floor" Washington Post in Feb. printed what he said. No backlash from any main steam media on cable.We got a vet running against him this kid is a mix of Wellstone and Bobby Kennedy not kidding I met both of the men . Heres a link to take a look at him.DCCC went after him but gave no money! They think Hastert is not beatable well guys ya he is. We caught him in land deals used from the Highway Bill 2.1 million into his pocket from that deal. Remember the Energy Bill Hastert went on $1000.00 day fishing trips paid for by oil companies. Hastert got his son a lobbyist deal and is working for two companies one internet and the other oil. Wonder why our gas bill are so high. Here is a link to John Laesch running hard and wise against Hastert

www.john06.com