Same Ole Va! New Veterans To Play Games With.

[Bigred122]

Have you seen the latest shaft to Veterans taking place? Some Veterans were asked to go into some specialized MOSs and the VA offered to pay the Vets $10,000 after they finished the training and after they finish 3 more years of service in that specialized trainning they would get the second $10k. Everyone got their first $10k, but no one is getting the second payment.In fact, the VA now says the program was a mistake and they want their money back from the Vets.I guess there is 5 vets just in the State of oregon who this has happened to, but they know that this goes clear across the nation. And it entails several different specialized MOS in all services and are shortage MOSs.So like the song goes" The Times are a Changing!!" Theres no money for the current system of Veterans,so thats why they are not approving any new claims or additional benefits. Don't have to pay if no decision is made! Even if a budget is agreed upon, times are coming when they will reexamine any and all past,present and future claims.In the past, close decisions went to the Veteran. Soon, even the not so close claims will be losses for the Vets.I expect that soon all these different pensions disability,SSD, Federal and etc... will be either or and not both or all of the above. And the words "Justice for all" will be changed to" Proverty for all"!! The writing is on the wall,I don't know for sure, but I think it's in Chinese!! Mike

[Tbird]

This story doesn't involve the VA, it involves the Oregon National Guard. We have plenty to be angry at the VA about, this just isn't one of them.

"The Oregon congressional delegation today asked the Inspector General of the National Guard Bureau to investigate the Guard’s refusal to honor bonus contracts signed by members of the Oregon National Guard."

[Pete53]

When I was in the Army the Army paid 4000 to reup and a 30 day leave. Plenty to buy a new car and go home before heading for Nam. I was amazed at how many signed up for it.

[evandc]

Bigred122,

I must admit I don't know what this has to do with the price of tea in China. Maybe it's VA Math or something. No wait a minute I almost understand VA Math, but your post is still floating around out there somewhere in space & my tired mind just can't grasp it? Is it just me?

Don

[USNDW]

No, its not just you.

I agree the VA does deny many claims and services they should not, no doubt about it, but the National Guard signing a contract with Guardsmen doesn't have anything to do with the VA Red. I see pretty well, and this is just a separate issue from the VA.

The fact that the story is out and the NG IG is investigating it is great, and if they promised these people money then they will have to pay it, like they said, it wasn't the soldiers fault, they asked them to re-enlist and gave an incentive.

[GuaymasJim]

Every benefit and program managed by the VA as well as the dollar amounts available to those benefits and programs are decided politically. They have always been. This isn't say that they are "partisan politics" just that they are political decisions. We have seen a number of examples in the last few days-- the biggest one being the possible use of the "chained" CPI to determine what if any COLA will be approved this year. If we remain ignorant and/or silent of these issues, then we deserve what we get!

My advice to all hadit members, is to become, or continue to be, very active politically. Call, write, email your elected officials, visit their town hall meetings. Join a political party, but what ever you do--participate. It will surprise some here, but I really don't care if the party you choose begins with an R, D, or and I just sole long as you become and remain involved.

Just like we need to take responsibility for the handling of our individual claims, we need to take responsibility for the outcomes of various political policies that impact those claims and our ability to pursue them.

This is a website below show who in the higher levels of government have actually served in the military and those who actually served in combat and where. I for one find it incomprehensible that someone without any actual military including combat, experience could consider themselves competent to determine the needs of military veterans. While military service would obviously aid someone in making those determinations, it is us--the veterans--who need to provide the expertise. Again, regardless of the D, R, or I behind there names. What happens politically in this wonderful nation during the next 2 years will have powerful consequences regardless of which party prevails. We all have an interest in influencing those parties.

Here is the site: http://www.whoserved.com/

Responses should avoid partisan rants and/ or advertisements. Anyone wishing to discuss this, please feel free to contact me through the Hadit PM system. Again, I want nothing to do with tirades and rants, but would very much enjoy intelligent discussion. Possibly later, with T-bird's permission, we could post the results or our conversations. If this suggestion runs afoul of the hadit's policies (I don't believe that it does), please feel free to erase it with no hard feelings on my part.

Just a thought!