Army's 'Debt Of Service' Leaves Vets Perplexed-Soldiers Must Pay For Damaged Equipment

[babylonsister]

Army's 'Debt Of Service' Leaves Vets Perplexed
Unbelievably, Soldiers Must Pay For Damaged Equipment


Kirstin Cole
Reporting

(CBS) NEW YORK Servicemen and women who made huge sacrifices fighting in the war and now paying yet another price, even after coming home.

One soldier in particular is currently battling against a new "debt of service."

Brian Rodriguez is a fighter, an honorably discharged soldier who'd been deployed in Iraq.

"I was a combat engineer," Rodriguez said. "We deal with land mines, explosives."

He fought for his nation, only to return to his homeland and wage a fresh battle.

Former Army Specialist Rodriguez started getting bills for $700 for lost or damaged government property this summer. Although he was discharged some four years ago, bills recently arrived demanding payment, but giving no details on what or why -- nor do they offer a way to dispute the charges.

"For doing my job you're going to bill me?" Rodriguez said.

And he's not alone. A 2006 government report found more than 1,000 soldiers being billed a total of $1.5 million. And while fighting overseas put their lives on the line, this battle on paper could cost them their future by ruining their credit. Rodriguez will be reported to credit agencies next month.

more...

http://wcbstv.com/local/local_story_204222600.html

[silverweb]

1. Un-fucking-believable.

:grr:

[Deja Q]

2. No wonder able people aren't enlisting.

[kestrel91316]

17. Word of this gets widespread, and recruitments will drop to ZERO.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

3. oh fer cryin out the fuck loud! this is a disgrace!

Just when you think you've seen it all, something like this comes along :argh: :nuke: :mad: :grr:

[w8liftinglady]

4. I guarantee-my next ltte will involve this.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

5. a family around here is fighting this,

Their son was shot by a sniper and when he was evacuated unconscious his gun and a radio were left behind.

[Kagemusha]

6. A recent DU poster pointed out this policy dates to Valley Forge.

The only reason people are surprised is because they never bothered to learn the history of their institution.

Now, that's not to say that the rule is universally applied fairly and properly. Surely not. But it's not like the issue is new.

[TahitiNut]

8. Yup.

The Army doesn't run on its stomach - it runs on paperwork. Even with accountability for equipment, too much gets sold on the black market. Without accountability, the bones of every armory and motor pool would get picked clean.

[babylonsister]

11. He was discharged 4 years ago, and they don't tell him what he owes

money for? Sounds like sheer incompetence to me. What a surprise.

[Kagemusha]

15. I completely agree it is sheer incompetence.

But sadly, that's nothing new either.

[TahitiNut]

16. Threre's obviously more to the story not being reported.

There's no question that paperwork gets FUBAR ... and SNAFU was invented by the military. But nobody musters out without accounting for all the equipment they've signed for. Normal wear and tear is accepted ... and battle damage is SOP - and reportable. But the fact of the matter is that every piece of equipment IS signed out to someone ... and they're responsible for it. I've never heard of it being any different.

[silverweb]

18. Okay, now that makes sense.

"Normal wear and tear is accepted ... and battle damage is SOP - and reportable."

I can also understand trying to prevent/recup black market losses.

Isn't there a check-out discharge procedure for each troop, like ... oh, I don't know ... like the way schools first making sure all your library books are returned before issuing your high school diploma?

This billing months and years after discharge without any itemization or explanation, is nuts!

[originalpckelly]

7. MOTHERFUCKERS!

That's all you can say. That's it. I mean there's nothing else, they hate these guys, don't they?

[Imagevision]

9. It's a scam, they should simply say, make me pay for it... let's go to court!!!

[C_U_L8R]

10. That's a republican idea if i ever saw one

greedy little porkers aren't they

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Every service person who got a bill like that should make it public

and we should take the bill to his or her congressperson and ask them what they are going to do about it. A congressperson who is truly supporting the troops would either get the bill rescinded or pay the darned thing themselves.

[w8liftinglady]

13. I agree 100%

unfortunately,my congressman(Joe Barton) could give a shit about soldiers

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. But I bet he says he "supports the troops" in every speech

Go to his office with friends, including someone with a camera, and leave his aide the bill. Ask to speak with the conman himself if he's around--make the aide explain what the conman will do about this to show his support for the troops. Then put the tape on youtube and make DVD copies to distribute.

[superkia]

19. HMMMMMM?

Do you think these same soldiers could have said some things not supporting the war and now its time to pay? It doesnt make sense, I dont see how anyone would ever join the military again, well that is until they force us or send us to jail.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

21. You could be right!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[tiptoe]

20. self-delete