All These Calls for Handouts, Yet I Had to Repay My Military Early Exit Bonus...

@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
June 24, 2019 9:20pm CST
Back in the 90s there was a pretty hefty "Draw Down" of the US Military. It started under Prs. Bush Sr. His draw down was a systematic reduction based on over manned units, Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) and ranks. Enlisted and Non Commissioned Officers who found themselves in these bloated situations were offered sizable bonuses to join the proud ranks of the Veteran, or transfer to the Reserve Components. Then Prs. Clinton had a different purpose for his draw down. Instead of only targeting overages and bloat he opened the flood gates. That's where I come in. As a Parachute Rigger there was no way the Pentagon was going to offer me any incentives to get out. It's one of the perpetually short MOSs. Yet there they were telling some of us that we couldn't re-enlist at all. However, we were eligible for "Early Out Bonuses". I got mine for getting out 10 days early. Sure enough, the check came, short $5,000 for my obligatory payroll deductions from the "bonus" charts. Because the Army busted me up a bit, the Dept of Veterans Affairs decided I was to get a check from them every month. Except... Except there is a law that says only elected officials could "double dip" from the federal coffers. So once a month some VA bean counters moved that amount of money I was to receive and handed to some DoD bean counters. This happened until my entire bonus was paid back... including the $5000 they kept. In other words, before I could collect my Disability check, I had to pay $10,000 more than I actually received in the first place. So every time I hear some Republican or Democrat (who is legally entitled to "double dipping") announce another program that offers free money with no strings attached, the strings they wrapped around me seem a lot tighter. Yup, I got to pay for your freebie. Enjoy it. VA: The Department of Veterans Abuse.
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1 response
• United States
25 Jun 19
reminds me of what my navy dad said once. "no matter how many attaboys you get,all it takes is one oh s*it to put you back to square one".that sounds like the definition of FUBAR.
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@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
25 Jun 19
Yup, it's all Soup Sandwich isn't it. ;-)
1 person likes this