Yeah, I’m bashing. Bash bash bash the bastards that got us into this war and then can’t even come through on promises given to the men and women who are risking their lives for the lying bastards. Give it up and bring them home.
The Bush admin started a stupid and illegal war on the flimsiest of pretenses. OK, that I can handle. But then they jerk the military around, compromising their safety and cutting their pay. The mind boggles as to why there is not open revolt.
Somebody is getting complacent…
The Pentagon hasn’t reimbursed the soldiers who bought their own body armor, either. They promised they would when the media played it up that the soldiers were having to buy it themselves, but they haven’t followed through now that the heat is off.
Typical.
Because Clinton got a blowjob?
Because this is a Republican administation and they CARE about the troops.
How can you not know these things already?
Fool.
-Joe
I know. I’m glad we got that military hating blow job getter out of office too.
It’s the democrats fault. They did it.
Can’t you see that freedom is on the march?
Why do our troops hate America?
The only thing that I’m missing is a way to blame this on Katrina. Any suggestions?
Ahem.
Have you forgotten about a little thing called The French?
Okay, so we have a member of Congress going ballistic on the basis of very incomplete information, from what I can see.
Good to know SOP is being followed well here in DC.
I’ve been on the receiving side of military pay, where fuckups abound. Senator Murray might well have a case here. But she has one, IMHO, only if soldiers reenlisted with that bonus as a condition, and it isn’t being paid.
If the bonus program is simply being changed now, so that soldiers who haven’t reenlisted yet lose out, too bad. This has been going on for a long time now. Reenlistment bonuses aren’t guaranteed, and are typically selectively used to keep personnel strength high in critical skill sets. If a skill set isn’t critical, or if the strength is high enough there, the bonus will be lower or nonexistent.
Yup, been there, done it myself. The rule for enlisted, set in stone, is as follows:
Recruiters lie. Get it in writing.
Until you see that clause guaranteeing your bonus, with a signature already on it, DO NOT SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE.
I’m no fan of this administration, but this isn’t a Bush administration thing. The military has been weaselling around this stuff forever.
Well, I would’ve remembered the French, but things are different after 9/11. 
Don’t forget Poland!
“Why would anybody believe a fucking word that comes out of anybody’s mouth either at the Pentagon or the White House?”
You don’t listen to conservative talk radio, do you? 
May I direct you to Articles 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, and 94 of the UCMJ. That’s part of the reason there isn’t ‘open revolt’ among the troops.
From the linked article.
From the linked artcle.
So, in conclusion: read the fucking artcle.
I can see this being valid as a general rule, but it would surprise me to learn that personnel strength in the Guard has actually reached the desired levels now, thus enabling the Pentagon to cancel the bonus program for future re-enlisters. Military recruitment is still struggling pretty much across the board, as far as I can make out.
And actually reading the linked article, as Biggirl suggests, reveals that the bonuses have been stopped not because the program was deemed no longer necessary, but because it was said to violate another policy:
:eek: Lawsy. Not only have promised bonuses been rescinded, because the Pentagon happened to notice that they were against the rules, but some soldiers who did receive them might have to repay them? And the Pentagon hasn’t even been able to figure out yet whether that’s so? No, this is not looking like a big boost for troop morale so far.
Yes, they had been “counting on the money.” But they had not signed contracts saying it would be paid. They merely expected it to happen, taking Uncle Sugar at his word.
We did. And yes, it should have been in their re-enlistment package. But again, it’s up to those service people to CHECK that re-enlistment package for the clause stating the bonus was included. Is it bullshit spewed by recruiters? YES!! Is it underhanded and slimy? YES! Not in dispute. All Mr. Moto was saying (I think…at least, all I was saying…) is that it might not be actionable unless the wording of their enlistment contract included the guarantee of that bonus. And the article doesn’t speak to that. All it said is:
If it’s in their re-enlistment papers, then yes, absolutely, hang 'em. And pay those soldiers their damn money. So far, no one has produced a document showing that’s what’s happened, though.
Isn’t this a fairly standard breach of contract, then? Or is it just an assumption that your average soldier doesn’t have the money for a long legal battle and, therefore, they should just bend over and take it?
-Joe
You can’t sue the military if you are in the military, making all contracts with the military based on trusting the military to keep their word. Which they don’t because they are a bunch of fucking liars and have enough people willing to shrug their shoulders when the Pentagon fucks our men and women in uniform over.
That’s not entirely true. If the military does not uphold all the provisions set forth in the re-enlistment papers, then the service person can be released from duty (administrative discharge-honorable). I did this in 1991, when I extended my active duty tour with the provision that I would beenrolled in the program for surgery techs. That didn’t happen, and I was billeted to NAS, Lemoore. Nuh uh. It says RIGHT FUCKING HERE in my GODDAMN PAPERS!! There were no spots open in the surgery tech school. I was told I could either take the billet in Lemoore and re-apply for the school in 4 years, or take an admin discharge. Thanks loads, gimme the discharge.