Congress To Investigate GI Bill Benefit Error

[unhappycamper]

Congress To Investigate GI Bill Benefit Error
Military.com | From wcfcourier.com | October 25, 2007

WASHINGTON --- Rep. Bruce Braley said Wednesday that Congress will investigate an error that left thousands of Army National Guard soldiers without full educational benefits.

A significant number of the approximately 640 soldiers of the Iowa Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry --- a unit that served nearly 22 months, 17 in Iraq --- are scheduled to receive educational benefits usually reserved for those who serve less time on active duty. Soldiers in other similarly deployed units are also affected.

The issue has received wide media attention, and politicians and military officials have vowed to fix the problem, including an Army official Braley recently spoke to.

"I'm confident that they're focused on fixing the problem," Braley said. "But I also made it very clear that I expected that promise to be fulfilled in time for the spring semester."

Despite such assurances, Braley said an investigation is necessary to ensure a similar mistake won't happen again. He also wants Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to publicly assure troops that they will receive the full benefits in time to start school next semester.

"It does nothing to correct the institutional problem," Braley said. "What we want to do is try to get to the bottom as to why this happened."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,154816,00.html



uhc comment: Braley is a Dem from Iowa's 1^st district.

[fasttense]

1. An error, sure.

It was done on purpose in the hopes that no one of any import would say anything. Then they would have saved all that military money to spend on illegal contracts. The bushes run the government like a bad corporation. Avoid paying employees and you can pocket all the money.

When greed is the basis for a national economic plan, so what if skim or steal a few billion for yourself. It's all in the name of greed.

[TheDebbieDee]

2. I agree - I'd bet my last dollar that this "error"........

which I believe was writing these soldiers' TDY orders to be exactly 1 day short of the time necessary to officially qualify these Reservists for educational benefits - It was done intentionally, purposely.

Just another big old "Fuck You!" to the US Military from the neocons in the Department of the Defense.