American Legion Backs Webb GI Bill: This Bill Would ‘Encourage’ Young People To Join The Military
American Legion Backs Webb GI Bill: This Bill Would ‘Encourage’ Young People To Join The Military
The Bush administration has come out strongly against Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) efforts to dramatically expand educational benefits for returning veterans. In a press briefing on May 6, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell warned of the “harm” Webb’s 21st Century GI Bill would do to troop retention and objected to the generous benefits given after “only” two years of service:
But we are certainly concerned that this would be eligible to them after only two years of service. We think pegging it to a longer period of service — the number we have in mind, at this point, is six years of service — that the longer you stay in, the sweeter the benefits are to you. … The last thing we want to do is provide a benefit — or the last thing we want to do is create a situation in which we are losing our men and women who we have worked so hard to train.
On Friday, the American Legion released a statement criticizing the Bush administration’s position and endorsing Webb’s bill:
“This bill would encourage young men and women to join the military,” [National Commander Marty] Conatser said. “As far as retention goes, the CBO estimates that a simple $8,000 bonus to personnel at their first enlistment point would increase reenlistments by 2 percentage points. Another way to encourage mid-level servicemembers to stay in the military is to transfer GI Bill benefits to family members so the servicemember can remain in the military and still benefit from the program.”
As Conatser points out, any declines in reenlistment would be made up for by increases in recruitment. The recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) assessment found that Webb’s bill, which would “more than double the present value of educational benefits for servicemembers at the first reenlistment point,” would result in a 16 percent decline in the reenlistment rate. However, it would also “result in a 16 percent increase in recruits.”
Conatser also addressed criticisms that the GI Bill is too expensive, pointing out that the “bulk of that cost is paid for by the men and women who wear the uniform. Benefits are just a small, small cost of war.”
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32 Responses to “American Legion Backs Webb GI Bill: This Bill Would ‘Encourage’ Young People To Join The Military”
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I never have nor never will join the Legion-way too f*%king gung-ho for war for me.
The vets do DESERVE a better GI Bill,but not to encourage enlisting to become cannon fodder.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:41 amAnd as a lifetime member of the VFW, I applaud the American Legion folks for getting on board.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:49 amThe American Legion states that “This bill would encourage young men and women to join the military.” This type of super patriotic thinking is reminiscent of a bumper sticker which has a picture of Uncle Sam and next to it the words “Join the Army; travel to exotic, distant lands; meet exciting, unusual people and kill them.”
May 12th, 2008 at 11:50 amA vote for McCain is a vote against all military members, so those of you supporting the troops need to consider that in November. McCain wants longer occupation in the Middle East, and lousey benefits for those doing the occupation. And people it is occupation no matter what the PR says.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:51 amAn interview at an American Legion Hall this A.M. a vet stated “no more invading to provide Nation building.” If you remember one of the top members of the American Legion pushed for bush in 2004. Pretty radical changes.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:53 amYoung people today are the computer age and know exactly what the Military has done to the soldiers. Just talking to him shows we will not have volunteers like we once did. Our country gives lip service with a throw in phase Support our Troops, put a fly pin on or put a ribbon on your car. Young people see how the Law Makers are forcing soldiers to stay in Iraq/Afghanistan until they die. Many soldiers have to return injured to keep the numbers up. Walter Reed hasn’t changed and everyday more horror stories are told. The Generals followed the orders of the White House and killed Pat Tillman then lied about it. Many US soldiers have been killed by fellow soldiers/contractors. All of the Law Makers/President/Vice President are pushing Wars while they didn’t and wouldn’t serve in the Military themselves. John McCain’s story of his POW experience changes every time he tells it. But those who were with him speak up and report John McCain give up information to protect himself. We know how that works with the lies about soldiers the Government/Military tell today. Yes the so called POW soldier John McCain was as weak as he is now and when questioned quickly give up his Country and fellow soldiers.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:54 amErroll Says:
The American Legion states that “This bill would encourage young men and women to join the military.” This type of super patriotic thinking is reminiscent of a bumper sticker which has a picture of Uncle Sam and next to it the words “Join the Army; travel to exotic, distant lands; meet exciting, unusual people and kill them.”
May 12th, 2008 at 11:50 am
It’s also available on a t-shirt, which I got from Northern Sun. I even had one like it when I went to college more than 25 years ago.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:54 amMaybe the Bush Administration is so opposed to this bill because it would make people think about not having troops in Iraq, and how much better for the country that would be.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:57 amWe really can’t afford an expanded GI bill. It would be too costly and would only benefit the members of our armed services for enlisting, defending our country and risking their lives and limbs.
We really need to conserve our resources so that we can award no-bid contracts to private contractors like Blackwater so that they can provide an inferior mercenary force, profit from their exhorbitant charges and set up off-shore tax shelters so that they can avoid taxes and employment-related costs by “hiring” staff as independent contractors.
Really. We have strayed from our core values if we think that we owe anything more to our military rather than continuing our effort to “privatize” our defense forces and rewarding war entrepreneurs.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:57 amMcCain’s idea of ’supporting the troops’ is only about what can be done for them on the ground while engaged with the enemy. He has little or no support for those ‘troops’ who have done their time and now want to try and create a ‘normal’ life for themselves and their families.
It’s like a video game for these guys now. You get the power ups and the new weapons for the troops and never have to worry what happens afterwards
May 12th, 2008 at 11:58 amThis is wonderful news. As a Legionnaire myself I am happy to see them supporting the needs of veterans. I know this has also been a top priority of the VFW and VoteVets as well. The more support that veterans organizations can put behind this bill, the more likely we will see it succeed. I just received a letter from Orrin Hatch on friday, and he is jumping on board as well.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:59 amOther than this thread, the majority of Americans are untouched by this illegal war. Even to the point of comments that military like the police know they could be killed or maimed so what is the big deal. It is frightening how self centered and selfish Americans have become.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:05 pmThere were no GI education benefits when I got out of the Army in 1964–it would have been nice. I graduated with my BA in 1966 just as the program was starting. By then I had been accepted into a doctoral program at Princeton on full fellowship and wasn’t eligible under the rubrics then, although I did get some aid a couple of years later.
We ask so much of these young men and women today who serve under extremely stressful conditions–to withhold benefits from them because the administration has failed to build support for its insane military adventures is a betrayal of their service on a scale that shames all Americans.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:12 pmMcGrandaddyBush’sThirdTerm gets el shafto from the VFW! Wow! Gotta love that slapdown!
May 12th, 2008 at 12:15 pmBut we are certainly concerned that this would be eligible to them after only two years of service.
What a load of crap - I was eligible for education benefits under the old GI Bill after serving 2 years in the early ’70s (ended up staying in until 1980, making it moot).
The GOP simply looks at veteran’s benefits as another form of “welfare” - they just don’t have the guts to admit it.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:18 pmAnyone joining the military now a days should maybe rethink that for a couple of years.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:18 pmDoes anyone else remember the National Guard group held for 799 days in Iraq one day short of being given benefits? Probably just a glich 1 day short of benefits, sure.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:20 pmThe problem is those that joined can’t get out ! Stop Loss is still happening.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:21 pmtexaslady Says:
It is frightening how self centered and selfish Americans have become.
tejas- the majority seems more concerned with their own wants and needs (looking out for number one). We also have a lack of leadership and moral sense of pride in doing a good job in government and in corporate America as it draws from the same pool of selfishness.
In essence, America has lost (to quote Barak) it’s bearings. (Which Barak was referring to, I believe, regarding McLame.
Doc- Amen. We have witnessed betrayal after betrayal of our soldiers since the beginning of the Bush regime.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:22 pmMcCain has mis-played this one, big time. I mean, when the American Legion weighs in on the opposite side from the Republican candidate? Jeebus. He may have to flippity-flop on the deck, real quick.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:25 pm#7-Wayne
I almost ordered that shirt from Northern Sun but instead decided to order the bumper sticker. It has been on my car now for about four or five days. One wonders when those who have joined the military will finally realize that they, like I was when I ended up in a place called Vietnam, are not fighting for their country but are instead being used in order to justify the lies that they are told by their government. These enlistees have to realize that they have a brain and that they can, like their brethren in the powerful documentary Sir! No Sir!, say NO to the war machine of the United States.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:31 pmI think ENDING all-out-everlasting war and finding a new COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, might do a lot towards improving the number of people in the military.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pmOnce again we see the elitist bent of the Bush/McCain party. Only certain people were meant to benefit from the government. We have seen that an elite class of wealthy families and high level corporate executives are meant to receive largess from the government.
The military is meant to be an employer of last resort. We have seen the benefits reduced and we have seen that those (like John Kerry and even Rev. Wright, USMC) with a higher level of education no longer see the military as a worthy means of serving the country. Instead, we see lowered qualifications and stop loss against active duty, reserve and national guard troops.
The Republican scum have amply demonstrated their hatred of the troops by failing to increase the size of the military to prevent troops with inadequate time to recuperate, rebuild and train to serve their third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh tour in Iraq with the vastly increased probability of being wounded or killed in action. We have seen the vastly increased suicide rate of our veterans given the merciless concern that these compassionate Republicans have shown to our troops.
No it comes to the question of GI Bill rights for our troops. Once again we see the disgusting bent of Republicans to see just how far they can screw the common man. The concept of making the GI Bill available to those with no less than six years service would seriously limit those who would want to serve a four year enlistment out of a sense of duty or as a means to advance in our society by service to their country. Taking twelve years to fully vest educational benefits would simply make those remaining in the military give up their retirement benefits (less than 20) to pursue their education.
We know why the Republican elite want to do this. First, they believe that only the economic elite have the right to advance. The WWII GI Bill showed how challenging the common man/woman could be when given an equal education. They do not want that competition. Second, they want to make sure that the elite always receive their cut on every transaction. Go to school, get a private loan and pay the interest. Make sure that the elites receive their fair share of any transaction. Third, the economic elite not only need to have a greater share of the nation’s treasures, they must make sure that the lower classes know it. This is the whole purpose of trickle down economics. The rabble must beg at the nobleman’s door for whatever scraps are left after the Lord’s meals.
It looks like the American Legion and others are finally awakening to what the filth of this nation really desires.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:33 pmleftcoast, unfortunately lack of accountability has become the norm and totally accepted. When is the last time Washington did anything for the American people ? McCain is just doing what is normal for a lifetime in politics.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:35 pmNicely said, JMOHR.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:37 pmBuckie-boy - check your highschools, the recruiters have tables each lunch hour to “make friends” with the kids. You have to fight the school board to make them only on career days instead of EVERY day . What 17 year old thinks they will be maimed or killed. They see a great uniform, possible college tuition, travel. They believe for gosh sakes.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:43 pmthe end of the fight
is a tombstone white
the epitath drear
a fool lies here
who tried to hustle the east
-Rudyard Kipling
May 12th, 2008 at 12:46 pmSign up for the benefits, eh?
BULLSHIT
May 12th, 2008 at 12:47 pmThe American Legion blindly supports Republican every time elections roll around and now they see what Republican really think about veterans. The Republican party doesn’t care about veterans, they just use them to get elected. If you don’t believe me, just go to Washington, D.C. and see all of the homeless Veterans sleeping on card board. This administration is made up of draft dodging cowards so I understand why they hate Veterans. But John McShame is a veteran who just pays lip service to veterans causes. Why would a Viet Nam POW oppose better benefits for our returning Iraq and Afganistan Veterans? Because he knows his party doesn’t really care about veterans at all. How could they when the majority of them have never served a second in the military?
May 12th, 2008 at 12:56 pmMy impression of the American Legion is based on the role of the organization’s leadership–with Morgan Bank– in an attempted coup d’etat against FDR in the ’30s.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:04 pmNeither this administration nor McCain’s potential presidency truly supports the troops.
They only support American beings inasmuch as the troops represent pawns on the chessboard.
Proper preparation before battle?
Appropriate gear / supplies during battle?
Physical care after battle?
Psychological care after battle?
Humane length and number of tours?
Repaying the debt of duty served?
Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. and Nope.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:27 pmHeckuva job, Bushie / Heckuva proposed job, Johnny.
You’re showing your true colors, Republiscum - and those true colors AIN’T red, white and blue.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:36 pm