November 20, 2007

Wounded Warriors Hit A Second Time -- In The Wallet

In a story that only makes sense in Bureaucratia, soldiers and Marines wounded in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan face a second hit to the wallet on their return home. If their wounds cause them to be discharged from the service, the Department of Defense sends them a medal -- and a bill (via Memeorandum):

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.

To get people to sign up, the military gives enlistment bonuses up to $30,000 in some cases.

Now men and women who have lost arms, legs, eyesight, hearing and can no longer serve are being ordered to pay some of that money back.

You read that right, even if you had to blink twice and reread it to be sure. The DoD has sent letters telling wounded soldiers and Marines that they have to prorate their bonuses because they didn't complete their enlistment terms. The Pentagon discharged them and wants a refund from those who left their health on the battlefield.

This will not last long, of course. Some pencil pusher decided to save a few dollars, but the stink will quickly find its way to Capitol Hill, where it will give Democrats and Republicans alike a chance to show how much they love the troops. Congress will then direct the Pentagon to go out of a collections business that no one in their right mind would have ever started, except for dyed-in-the-wool bureaucrats.

In the meantime, we can all feel embarrassed by the extra stress and pressure these dunning letters placed on those who deserve it least.

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If the wounds they suffered overseas wasn't enough, now look what political bureaucracy is pushing:The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitmen... [Read More]

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