I entered the US Army in the mid '80's. I will not fault the recruiter, there was a lot he ought to have known, but he just didn't, due to crummy training I guess. Part of the reason I went in was the Army College Fund. I made deposits to it, all through my time in the Army. I got out, and got a job. Within the 10 year window, I took a series of courses. I took my receipt for tuition, and sent it to my U.S. Representative, knowing full well the VA would lose at least the first 5 applications, like they do with everything else. What do you know - the VA got it, when it came in on Congressional letterhead. And they refused to honor the college fund. I included a copy of the form from my military contract. And, check this out - usually Congressional aides will help you - in this case, they refused to do so.
Sooooo, the $25,000 I should have gotten, which my recruiter assurred me I would get [but I don't blame him-it's the VA's fault], couldn't be gotten. They simply refused to honor it. Well, not much I can do now. Except, of course, as a veteran, I talk to young men thinking about the military service.
I wrote an 8 page single spaced letter to my cousin's son, on why entering the Army was a bad idea for him. I wasted my time. He was going in for the college money, and when he saw they didn't honor their written contracts - they never honor verbal contracts, and often refuse to honor written contracts - he decided to do other things with his life. Other people in my unit were told they could get Army College Fund money for airplane lessons, which is not true, it has to be accredited college courses. Military recruiters, by court decision, can lie, and the government does not have to honor even written contracts.
I tell this story as a joke on me, which it certainly was. Well, life goes on. My family has had people in the military since before the Revolutionary War. I had a great Uncle who was a general in the Army National Guard, a grandfather served in WWI, an Uncle who graduated West Point, and served in the Army in WWII, my father during the Korean War, my brother in the National Guard, and this is the thanks they have. I would have gone into the Reserves, except that I had so much experience with them screwing the troops that I didn't, and I was so glad, when the Gulf War came along. I was fluent in Arabic, and I tried to get that in my military record for 2 years, in the Army, but I never could. Well, I guess God was taking care of me.
I think I will be able to talk my family into avoiding military service in the US Army. I tell stories in a funny way. My name will not be cited here, because I've seen the Army retaliate, and because of course the VA wouldn't even honor my written Army College Fund contract within the 10 year window, much less now.
If you go into at least the US Army, just keep in mind that you will have to fight even to get them to honor written contracts, and anything you are told verbally is a lie. You will need to be on first name terms with you US Representative's aide for military affairs. Also, keep every piece of paper they give you, to at least 20 years after you get out, because you will find yourself needing some of them. I know a guy who got out of the Army, and they lost the paperwork showing he returned his equipment. Hey, if you don't return your equipment, they won't clear you to go to the Separation station. So, 2 years later, they sent him a bill, and liened his bank account, for that equipment. And, God help you if you have physical problems after you get out, I have back and knee injuries, too, and the VA won't do anything about that, either. I don't know about the other services, though.
0 comments