Military demanding bonus pay back from wounded vets.
“The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments.” Jordan Fox of Pittsburgh was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq, cutting his service short by three months. “A few days ago, he received a letter from the military demanding nearly $3,000 of his signing bonus back.” Watch CBS affiliate KDKA’s report on Fox’s situation:
Last month, Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA) proposed legislation that would guarantee that wounded vets receive their full signing bonuses. Steve Benen has more.
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More “supporting our troops” courtesy of Bush.
November 20th, 2007 at 2:45 pmOh, sorry you lost your legs. Now the money…
November 20th, 2007 at 2:47 pm…Thanks…oh, thank you for your service, soldier…
Speaking of supporting our troops - the GI Bill is no longer covering the costs of college for returning soldiers.
November 20th, 2007 at 2:47 pmthe rethugs will spin this by saying it’s the only way to fund the war now that the dems have refused to fold, so far, on the latest funding kerfuffle.
November 20th, 2007 at 2:47 pmOnce again pinching pennies from those who are putting their lives on the line, while billions are going to line the pockets of BushCo.
November 20th, 2007 at 2:48 pmHeckva job, Georgie! Stealing the taxpayers’ money to fund a war on false pretenses and put our troops in harms way. Gee, this is wonderful way to thank the services of our troops!!!
November 20th, 2007 at 2:50 pmbush,
November 20th, 2007 at 2:51 pmremember what happened to mussolini?
WOW…
November 20th, 2007 at 2:51 pmOnce again pinching pennies from those who are putting their lives on the line, while billions are going to line the pockets of BushCo.
Comment by Namtillaku — November 20, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
All outlined in Naomi Klein’s new book, The Shock Doctrine.
November 20th, 2007 at 2:52 pmCheap bastards should be taken out and shot full of heroin, then dumped in an alley.
November 20th, 2007 at 2:53 pmbush,
remember what happened to mussolini?
Comment by LividLib — November 20, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Nope, he failed history. Everything else, too.
November 20th, 2007 at 2:53 pmLET THEM EAT CAKE!
November 20th, 2007 at 2:55 pmwow
November 20th, 2007 at 2:55 pmIt makes sense though. I mean, that’s money much better spent paying private contractors salaries. Screw the troops, they’re not incorporated and traded on the stock exchange so what good are they to the country?
November 20th, 2007 at 2:59 pmI expect they will try to spin this as an inevitable result of a big bad government bureaucracy - one which would never happen if we were to go to an “all-contractor” free market military.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:01 pmThis is the most heartless, outraqeous thing I have read in a long time.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:02 pmThis is a good bill that everyone will support.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:03 pmThis reminds me of that scene in Goodfellas where DiNero’s character (Jimmy) has Maury around the neck, toupe’ hanging off his head, yelling “gimme the money, gimme the fu*king money, to-day, to-day!”
November 20th, 2007 at 3:03 pmYep, those Fascist Repukian War Criminals sure do support screwing our WOUNDED troops.
You know what, you Fascist Repukian Trolls, this is what you represent here, THE SCUM OF THE FREAKING EARTH.
Great going Gayrll, Roger Dodger, Southern subhuman, J(ust) a T(roll), (s)hits, Bigmouth, Hill Billy, this is what you are, Fascist War Pigs that actually believe in this criminal administration, you guys suck.
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trails ‘09
Buck Fush
November 20th, 2007 at 3:03 pm…AS RUMSFELD SAID:”YOU FIGHT WITH THE ARMY YOU HAVE…” I DON’T REALLY PERSONALLY CARE FOR THESE PEOPLE. THEY ARE WEARING AN UNIFORM THAT REPRESENTS AN ILEGAL OCCUPATION. IT HAS DISPLAYED OVER AND OVER AGAIN THE ABILITY AND THE WILLINGNESS TO COMMIT WAR CRIMES, AND IT IS ULTIMATELY REPRESENTING THE US’s CRIMINAL FORINGNER POLICIES. IT IS GOOD TO SEE HOW THIN THEY ARE STREACHING THE SO CALLED ‘MIGHTY ARMY’! AND IF THEY ARE PLANNING TO CONTINUE OCCUPY IRAQ, AND ATTACK IRAN, THEY GET WHAT THEY DESERVE!
November 20th, 2007 at 3:03 pmIs this what Bush calls “supporting the troops”? I’m sure Fox news will show this in a fair and balanced way. I mean the veteran’s name is Fox, he served his country, was wounded and would do it all over again. This screams to be put on Fox to show the great sacrifice our soldiers continue to give even after being discharged.
that’s enough sarcasm for today.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:04 pmSorry for the typo, it’s De Niro.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:06 pmRogerx2 @17,
Yeah, too bad it takes an act of Congress to get this administration to do the decent thing, eh?
November 20th, 2007 at 3:06 pmThis is beyond immoral and obscene. It is beyond criminal.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:06 pmIs this a couple of computer glitches, or is this systematic? It sounds bad, but it is a non-story if it happened a couple of time accidently and was quickly rectified. If it is systematic, then our government has officially become the bloated corpse floating facedown in a bathtub that the neocons always wanted.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:06 pmThat’s nice - some republican CEO type’s idea, no doubt.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:07 pmUnbelievable! This is the government supposedly respecting the troops.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:07 pmThey cut their education benefits. They cut their medical benefits. Now they cut their signing bonuses - so sorry you lost your arm, or leg, or sight, but since you can’t finish the terms of your contract, pay back the bonus.
At any other time, I would think this too outrageous to be true, but in the reign of King George the Dumb, anything and everything measure of outrage is possible.
sacopenapa, you don’t know much about a soldier do you? They are trained to execute orders. Orders in a time of great stress and not to question them. They are trained for some of the most vile and horrific possibilities this world can offer. They are following orders. The leaders and where they are led is the problem. Not the soldiers.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:08 pm“If it is systematic, then our government has officially become the bloated corpse floating facedown in New Orleans that the neocons always wanted.”
there, i fixed it.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:09 pmHOW BUSH IS STILL THE “DEAR LEADER” OF THE US???????
November 20th, 2007 at 3:09 pmAaah, yes, another big steaming pile of “compassionate conservatism.” Why does Bushie hate the troops?
November 20th, 2007 at 3:09 pmI MEANT: HOW COME BUSH IS STILL THE “DEAR LEADER” OF THE FSA (THE FACISTS STATES OF AMERICA)????
November 20th, 2007 at 3:10 pmThis is incredibly petty on the part of the government — sort of like stealing the pennies from the eyes of dead men.
As long as we are offering “signing bonuses” for our all-volunteer army, we should treat these situations the way we do with professional athletes. State in the contract any contingencies or conditions relevant to any payments involved. That way, if you are expected to surrender your signing bonus if you get injured (or killed), it will be spelled out in the contract.
If your contract doesn’t say you have to give up your signing bonus when you’re too hurt to play, too bad for them — you should get to keep it.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:10 pmHAIL BUSH!
November 20th, 2007 at 3:11 pmLest we forget the $60 MILLION dollah inaugural that bush threw himself.
Can we demand a refund for lack of fulfillment of service for the bush administration? Hell, it’s almost worth it if George agrees to go home early…
November 20th, 2007 at 3:11 pmThis is beyond immoral and obscene. It is beyond criminal.
Comment by Proud American Liberal — November 20, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
but it’s not beyond cheney/bush and his supporters.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:11 pmIf you’re STUPID enough to enlist in the Army, just to fight corporate wars, you deserve to get screwed.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:13 pmI demand the $1.5 Trillion back they spent on this imperial adventure of oil thievery and neo-liberalism.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:14 pmNo, this is entirely an appropriate manner in which to treat our troops. They signed a contract that provided that they would received a bonus for serving a set number of time. The contract does not have any clause granting an exception for those who were wounded and rendered unable to complete service.
You libertards are all alike. The contract is sacred. Profit is sacred. People are nothing. Soldiers who were wounded and now must pay the bonus back deserve it. It was their fault for failing to understand the clear language of the contract. It was their fault for getting wounded. It was their responsibility to put aside some of the bonus money in the event that they failed to live up to the terms of the contract.
You idiots want to encourage irresponsible conduct on the part of these individuals. Let’s face, if they deserved any consideration they would have been smart enough to avoid enlisting. If they had any value to our society, they would have have been rich enough no to need to join the service. If they were intelligent enough to deserve our sympathy, they never would have bought into the idea of serving their country. Any good Republican knows that we serve this capitalist dreamland by ripping off the government and making money for ourselves.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:14 pmjesus this makes me sick.
this is the ultimate result of greed and running an illegal war without asking for any sacrifice from the general public. our brave soldiers get blown up and are left without any help. the republican leaders know that this country would never have backed the war if they knew the truth. anyone who still supports Bush is downright stupid or evil.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:16 pmWhatever happened to the concept of a “last straw”?
November 20th, 2007 at 3:16 pmActually, some folks actually still do it to build a future and get an education they’d otherwise be unable to afford. Doesn’t mean they’re all idiots.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:17 pmWhen will this sickness end? When will the 24% numbskulls who still believe in this administration come to their senses? When will this country wake up? It’s too much. It’s sickening.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:19 pm#40 DenverOasis: I think #39 JMOHR just fit your description.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:20 pmJesus H. Christ. That’s just …disgusting and despicable.
Just when I think the Bush adminstration could not possibly sink one single milimeter lower than they already have…
They go and surprise me again.
HEILuva job, Chimpy.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:20 pmJust one more reason for people to NOT sign up for military service. Yeah, keep givin’ em reasons to serve BushCo.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:21 pm#40 DenverOasis: I think #39 JMOHR just fit your description.
Comment by Mr. Evil — November 20, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Mr. Evil, I do believe JMOHR was displaying a fine sarcastic rant.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:23 pmThe military has been doing this type of shit forever, we just hear about it here. A co-worker of mine was injured in the Air Force and had to be discharged. They made sure to discharge him days before he would have been eligible for VA benefits. Nice.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:23 pmActually, some folks actually still do it to build a future and get an education they’d otherwise be unable to afford. Doesn’t mean they’re all idiots.
Comment by Stupid Git
Errr…. yeah it does.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:25 pmIf we can pay Blackwater mercenaries ten times what our soldiers make in salary, we can damn well afford to give our veterans absolutely “Everything” they need!
November 20th, 2007 at 3:26 pmIf there’s anything low and shady, the Bush Administration is doing it.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:26 pmBastards…..
November 20th, 2007 at 3:28 pmBRUEGUEL HAS PAINTED AN IMAGE THAT EPITHOMIZES THE US TODAY, IT IS CALLED “THE BILND LEADING THE BLIND”. IT IS NOT FUNNY, IT IS EXTREEMELY SAD TO SEE A COUNTRY THAT SHOULD’VE HAVE SERVED AS A BEACOM TO HUMANITY TURN INTO SOMETHING SO UNGLY, SINCE THE PERIOD OF POST SECOND WAR. THE MISERY WE SUFFERED IN CENTRAL AND LATIN AMERICA DUE TO US’s POLICIES ARE FELT UP TO TODAY… THE SUFFERING OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, THE SUFFERING AND DESTRUCTION OF IRAQ, FROM UN/US SANCTIONS TO THE INVASION/OCCUPATION… MANY FELLOW HUMANS ARE DEAD! DEAD! SERIOUSLY… HOW BUSH AND CHENNEY AND BLAIR AND HOWARD CAN GO TO BED EACH NIGHT AND MANAGE TO SLEEP IS BEYOND MY UNDERSTANDING! HOW THEY ARE STILL STITTING IN THE OVAL OFFICE… IT IS SURREAL. EVEN BY THE MOST CONSERVATIVE STANDERS THESE ANIMALS ARE WAR CRIMINALS. IT THE FSA (THE FACISTS STATES OF AMERICA) WANTS TO RESTORE SOME OF IT CREDIBILITY (IT WILL TAKE A HECK OF A LOT OF WORK!!!) IT WILL HAVE TO COME CLEAN ABOUT 9/11, ABOUT THE BUSH REGIME AND IT ASSOCIATES, AND IT WILL HAVE TO TAKE THESE WAR CRIMINALS TO AN INTERNATIONAL COURT. OF COURSE, ONLY IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN RESTORING SOME OF ITS CREDIBILITIES… BECAUSE AT THIS STAGE, I’M AFRAID IT HAS NONE! HAIL BUSH!
November 20th, 2007 at 3:28 pmI can’t believe they have a built in loophole. What a bunch of scummy bastards!
November 20th, 2007 at 3:30 pmErrr…. yeah it does.
Comment by JPV — November 20, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Why do you hate the troops, Mr. P?
November 20th, 2007 at 3:31 pmThis is a good bill that everyone will support.
Comment by Roger_Roger
Yep. Support from all those who piss on the troops…What a way to run a country (into the ground).
November 20th, 2007 at 3:33 pm#38: 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda
I demand the $1.5 Trillion back they spent on this imperial adventure of oil thievery and neo-liberalism.
Indeed. Job not done. Contract unfulfilled. Unable to perform. I want my friggin’ money back. Don’t have it? We’ll just hold the gummint as security until you sum’o'byatches pay up … and then we’ll be able to “support the troops” you tossed on the dumpster.
Cheers,
November 20th, 2007 at 3:33 pm#47 Nature Rules: I sure hope so. Not familiar with the poster. Haven’t been here in a while. Thanks for the heads up.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:35 pmZuch and 2Mil ~ If you want your money back, you’ll have to ask the Chinese for it. They are in first position…
November 20th, 2007 at 3:36 pm#40 DenverOasis: I think #39 JMOHR just fit your description.
Comment by Mr. Evil — November 20, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Mr. Evil, I do believe JMOHR was displaying a fine sarcastic rant.
Comment by Nature Rules — November 20, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
I hope so since he is a vet.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:38 pmI think that recruiters should be required to make some fair disclosures prior to signing prospective soldiers:
1) Once you’re in, you can’t quit. And if we want to keep you beyond the term you’re signing up for, we can do that if we don’t have anyone to replace you. We can also put you where we want you and keep you there for as long as we want you there.
2) You may get killed in this job. If you do, we’ll pay your spouse a small amount for a short period of time until she can get a job and support your kids by herself.
3) You are entitled to G.I. Bill benefits. You will have to take a pay cut while you are serving in order to get them, and when you want to use the money, expect that it will only make a dent in the cost of your college education.
4) You may or may not have adequate firearms, body armor, and equipment to do your job. Make the best of it.
5) If you get injured — mentally or physically — while doing your job, we may or may not have facilities available to treat your injury adequately. Your chances of committing suicide are increased in this line of work.
6) If you are female, you have a greater chance of being sexually assaulted than you do in civilian life. If you are, you will be harrassed and intimidated into keeping it quiet. Too bad for you — but you should know what you are getting into when you sign up.
If potential recruits knew all this before signing up — how many would still be enthusiastic about going?
November 20th, 2007 at 3:38 pmCalling this obscene would be paying the Bushies a compliment. Heinous, diabolical, and hideous paints too rosey a picture. May the Dark Lord call in his contracts today and take this pestilence from us and haul their sick asses back to Hell.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:41 pmIf you’re STUPID enough to enlist in the Army, just to fight corporate wars, you deserve to get screwed.
Comment by JPV — November 20, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
November 20th, 2007 at 3:44 pm————————-
Where do I begin….? Do you really think the average person enlisting in the military knew what BushCo was up to??? Most people enlist for noble reasons - something you must not understand.
Where do I begin….? Do you really think the average person enlisting in the military knew what BushCo was up to??? Most people enlist for noble reasons - something you must not understand.
Comment by Vet — November 20, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Don’t be fooled by JPV - at this moment he’s probably posting his own quote on his right-wing blog to illustrate how ThinkProgress hates the troops.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:46 pmI think it was the “libertards” term that threw me.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:46 pm#59 RUCerious:
Zuch and 2Mil ~ If you want your money back, you’ll have to ask the Chinese for it. They are in first position…
Nope. Dubya has their money. Agreed, the Chinese are first on the creditor list (a wunnaful though for the cadres of Birchers in the Republican party, I’m sure), but I’d suggest we go after Blackwater/Bechtel/Halliburton directly and pry it from their cold, dead fingers. After that, the Republican big-wig stockholders; for that we can just put in a special “war profits” tax….
Cheers,
November 20th, 2007 at 3:47 pmThis is a good bill that everyone will support.
Comment by Roger_Roger
Spoken like a truly moral and compassionate being, they should take the troops bonus money away add it to that 12 million Bush porked for Lauras library because she never served, right?
November 20th, 2007 at 3:49 pmMilitary demanding bonus pay back from wounded vets.
but then there is this:
O’Reilly distributes ‘No Spin’ gear to troops.
see how conservatives “support” on troops?
November 20th, 2007 at 3:55 pmThis is a good bill that everyone will support.
Comment by Roger_Roger
Spoken like a truly moral and compassionate being, they should take the troops bonus money away add it to that 12 million Bush porked for Lauras library because she never served, right?
Comment by Xisithrus — November 20, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
Um…I think Roger squared was expressing support for the legislation proposed by Congressman Altmire:
http://jasonaltmire.com/article.asp?ArticleId=33
I know, I know — I rarely agree with Roger, but I do here. I think you may have misinterpreted what he said.
(I do agree with you that if signing bonuses are taken away from injured soldiers unable to serve, then Laura Bush’s money should be taken away as well.)
November 20th, 2007 at 4:07 pmObviously the axiom “You break it, you buy it” does not apply to BushCo.
Time to pay a visit to some of the souvenir shops in Crawford.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:08 pmThis is a good bill that everyone will support.
Comment by Roger_Roger
If you define everyone as those 20 percenters that love Bush like a god then yes everyone will support the bill.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:09 pm#47 Nature Rules: I sure hope so. Not familiar with the poster. Haven’t been here in a while. Thanks for the heads up.
Comment by Mr. Evil — November 20, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
No problem Mr. Evil… Sir. (Don’t want to piss Mr. Evil off!!!!LOL)
November 20th, 2007 at 4:10 pmJust think, once we invade Iran and then Pakistan, Bushco will take away even more benefits from the troops to pay for those new wars. Heckuva job, Republicans.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:11 pmThis is a good bill that everyone will support.
Comment by Roger_Roger
If you define everyone as those 20 percenters that love Bush like a god then yes everyone will support the bill.
Comment by Nature Rules — November 20, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Actually, I think there will be a lot more support for Altmire’s bill than just the Bush koolaid drinkers. In fact, if anyone DOESN’T support the bill, it will probably be them, since it’s being championed by a Democrat from Pennsylvania — and some Repubs just can’t stand ANYTHING supported by a Democrat.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:13 pmBut Laura sacrifices already. She gets a reminder everytime her and GW share the same room.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:13 pmJust one more nail in the coffin of the Busch Admin and the GOP.
Beyond belief at this point. Weren’t they also trying to bill wounded soldiers for damaged equipment, like body armor, that got damaged when said vet lost a leg, or half his head?
Indeed, why do liberals hate the troops so?
November 20th, 2007 at 4:23 pmThis is just disgusting, because they get wounded in battle they have to return their signing bonus?
This administration has stooped to the lowest levels.
If you’re STUPID enough to enlist in the Army, just to fight corporate wars, you deserve to get screwed.
Comment by JPV — November 20, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
You are as much an asswipe and scumbucket as Bush is, JPV
Fck you, a$$hole.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:23 pmThis is a good bill that everyone will support.
Comment by Roger_Roger
Everyone but the Neocon Republicans.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:25 pmWatch who votes for it Roger(x2) and then get back with us on that.
This isn’t an accident. Off the top of my head, the GOP-led admin and Congress have tried to cut combat pay by one-third, drop pay to support dependents, fought to keep predatory lenders near military bases, tried to get wounded vets to pay for their own medical care, left the GI Bill underfunded, increased combat time by fiat (more than once), given the troops subpar or defective body armor, kept them in Humvees long after it was obvious they needed to be in mine-resistant combat vehicles, forced them to take unproven and dangerous vaccines, kept their families in substandard or even condemned housing, given them dangerous food and water via contractors like Halliburton, provided arms to Shiite and Sunni militias, used depleted uranium munitions, had them treated at abusive pits like Walter Reed Hospital, etc., etc.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:36 pmWhy do Repugs hate the troops? They don’t really; they just don’t recognize the troops as deserving of humane and competent treatment.
This isn’t an accident.
Comment by NoOneYouKnow — November 20, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
No, its not. Just like making guard troops serve one day short of getting benefits. It is deliberate screwing of those who serve.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:42 pmThis is a good bill that everyone will support.
Comment by Roger_Roger
If you define everyone as those 20 percenters that love Bush like a god then yes everyone will support the bill.
Comment by Nature Rules — November 20, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Actually, I think there will be a lot more support for Altmire’s bill than just the Bush koolaid drinkers. In fact, if anyone DOESN’T support the bill, it will probably be them, since it’s being championed by a Democrat from Pennsylvania — and some Repubs just can’t stand ANYTHING supported by a Democrat.
Comment by missmolly — November 20, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
Oh crap LOL. Thanks missmolly, I misunderstood and though Roger_Roger was referring to the giving back of their bonuses! Sorry to you Roger_Roger. I agree, everyone should support this bill. Not working this afternoon and posting in too many places. LOL
November 20th, 2007 at 4:44 pmI posted last week about MN N Guardsmen who served the longest
tour of duty recorded in this war to date; 729 days. They just got back
home. They just found out they’ll be denied ‘active duty’ benefits,due
to being 1 day short!
November 20th, 2007 at 4:50 pmAmerica, I don’t recognize you anymore.
Oh crap LOL. Thanks missmolly, I misunderstood and though Roger_Roger was referring to the giving back of their bonuses! Sorry to you Roger_Roger. I agree, everyone should support this bill. Not working this afternoon and posting in too many places. LOL
Comment by Nature Rules — November 20, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Understandable. And it wasn’t just you — Xisithrus and StratRat also snarked back at Rogerx2 for his post. Is it really so rare that a troll says something sensible that we don’t recognize it?
November 20th, 2007 at 5:00 pmA national disgrace–do we have no shame left?
November 20th, 2007 at 5:09 pmA national disgrace–do we have no shame left?
Comment by Doc Rock — November 20, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
Nope — apparently there’s still plenty of shame left. Check out Zimzone’s post #82.
November 20th, 2007 at 5:11 pmThis should be the lead story on all news reports tonight and tomorrow and Thanksgiving day and night, fox noise excepted because they don’t report any real news.
If ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, BBC America or MSNBC bury this story or don’t report it at all, please get on the phone or send an e-mail to them, and communicate with your so-called elected representatives as well.
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!
November 20th, 2007 at 5:11 pmHate to put on the tinfoil hat, but I have to ask if there is something more devious here:
Lets say in time of peace, the signing bonus is $ 1K and only a negligible number of people don’t finish their committment (yeah, I know that many wash out of basic training and don’t get the bonus and this is a weakness in my argument besides the made-up numbers).
Now lets say that in time of war, 1/2 of the people don’t finish their committment because of injuries. So you can offer a $ 2K bonus, and as you get 1/2 of the bonuses back, you come out even.
Was some of this used to forge the policy ?
November 20th, 2007 at 5:14 pmDoes this administration also recapture the signing bonus from dead soldiers?
Are body bag costs, body preparation fees, air travel costs, honor guard stipends, etc. also deducted from their final paychecks?
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!
November 20th, 2007 at 5:46 pm.
WHY DOES THE MILITARY HATE THE TROOPS?
.
November 20th, 2007 at 5:49 pm6:00 PM KDKA NEWS Pittsburgh 11/20/2007 US Military said this kid WILL NOT have to pay back his sign on bonus.
November 20th, 2007 at 6:10 pmWhy do republicans hate our veterans?
November 20th, 2007 at 6:38 pmThis is exactly why the idiots who vote for Republicans should have their head examined. They run around waving flags and calling democrats named, but only a low down no good republican would ask a soldier to pay a signing bonus back. That’s because they are so money hungry it makes me sick. This proves exactly what I’ve been saying for years, they used us and then discarded us when they were done. They don’t give a damn about soldiers, sailors, or marines. They use them to get elected and then forget about them or ignore them is a better word. If any fool thinks the republican party loves the military, then I got a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell them.
The sad part about it is too many people in the military who should know better vote republican because they are liad to.
November 20th, 2007 at 7:19 pmHey, you regular defenders of the administration who monitor this site:
You’re on here regularly, spewing your knee-jerk defense of whatever The Lyin’ King and his administration do, and excoriating their critics. So, come on. Let’s hear it.
Offer your justification of this practice. We’re waiting.
November 20th, 2007 at 8:00 pmMy post at #39 was sarcastic. I am indeed a Veteran (five years as an Air Force Jag and 9 years as a civilian trial attorney litigating government contracts.)
November 20th, 2007 at 8:21 pmNo words available to describe how ugly and horrific this is… a real mind bender.
November 20th, 2007 at 8:32 pmHow dare the freaks keep the bonuses… so more wealth can go towards the flow of the growing corporations?
They are robbing middle America anyway they can.
I can hear BushCheney
“So what if they lost an arm or leg…They have another one”
The Plan is to demoralize the military so nobody joins, and it is privatized.
Or give amnesty to illegals by saying they can serve in the military to get citizenship.
or Both
November 20th, 2007 at 9:28 pmJMOHR #94 and #39. Problem is, the way things are going, that I could see some of the Neocons saying the same seriously. As Garrison Keillor observed, when reality becomes so preposterous, it is almost impossible to be a humorist. ;-)
November 20th, 2007 at 10:41 pmThis is incredibly petty on the part of the government — sort of like stealing the pennies from the eyes of dead men.
As long as we are offering “signing bonuses†for our all-volunteer army, we should treat these situations the way we do with professional athletes. State in the contract any contingencies or conditions relevant to any payments involved. That way, if you are expected to surrender your signing bonus if you get injured (or killed), it will be spelled out in the contract.
If your contract doesn’t say you have to give up your signing bonus when you’re too hurt to play, too bad for them — you should get to keep it.
Comment by missmolly
Actually, the “SIGNING BONUS” is just that…an incentive to get one to sign up.
Nothing more, nothing less. It is NOT a performance bonus. A bonus for performance of duties for said period of time. I bet there are a phalanx of lawyers willing to take this on, on business principles alone. Though I hate to further the thought os the We vs. them mindset that the UNconsitutional RepubliCONS continue to promulgate. The government IS us. It all started with the incorporation of villages and towns. Worst thing we could hav eever allowed. It forwards the mindset of the governmental entitiy as separate from the people.
TOTALLY ANTI-AMERICAN
A sign-on bonus being a performance bonus…PUHLEEZE.
November 20th, 2007 at 11:01 pmThere is nothiing noble about being paid to kill others who happen to have resources we desparately need for Americans to continue living an excessively consumptive lifestyle. It’t pretty obvious Jordan Fox doesn’t get it and it’s also pretty evident most people feel the same way.
War over resources. It’s going to get worse before it gets better. It’s time to cut back folks. Start doing with less. Now.
November 20th, 2007 at 11:14 pmI knew the signing bonUS was just that a tool to get unknowing young men and women in to fight a war that they wouldn’t volunteer for otherwise. The Republican will stoop to any level to get the poor to do their bidding.
November 21st, 2007 at 7:25 amAgain, Dubya shows just how evil he is. All of his recent posturing and photo ops with injured soldiers to proclaim the glories of his war and then turns around and stabs the soldiers in the back. How anyone can support the Monster Bush is beyond understanding.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:29 amThat’s RIGHT!
Put a magnet on your car, don’t actually pay them or give them medical care!!
That’s the Republican way.
November 21st, 2007 at 1:06 pmTo be willing to give your life for your country or a cause is one of the most honorable things in life.
November 21st, 2007 at 5:36 pmRemember when you were called unpatriotic just for being against these “military actions”? As if we needed another example of blatant hypocrisy.
This isn’t a site that I would normally visit but when I saw the headline on Digg, I had to read this article. As a former Marine, I’m outraged that our government would request any monies back from any person that has been injured as a result of any conflict that we’ve engaged in. Having said that, I’m also confident that this is a gross mistake in the Dept of Defense’ payroll group. I’m also confident that the president would agree with my assessment and if known, would take the appropriate measures necessary to ensure that our vets are taken care of. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Bush worshipper but I’m also not a Bush basher. Anyone that truly believes that our president is driving decisions like this is delusional and doesn’t understand how decisions are made in a large government like ours. I’m a patriot and would like our troops to come home just as much as everyone else.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:42 pmAs a service member myself I find this disgusting. These soliders lose body parts,eyesight and all the army can do is ask for more back. If anything they should be reassuring them that their loss was not in vain. Are they going to give back the body parts these people have loss. Everyday I hear more and more things under this administration that just make me think who in the hell voted for this man. And why the hell hasn’t he been impeached.
November 21st, 2007 at 7:54 pmYou people are idiots
November 21st, 2007 at 10:03 pmWhen real Amercian dies in battle he loudly proclaims “Long live George Bush” middle finger extended proudly upwards towards Jesus.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:23 amWhen an Al Queda lover dies in battle he calls out for his mother. We don’t pay benefits for enemy combatants.