How Low Can They Go?

[piemaker720]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...=mostpop_story

Wounded Vet Told To Pay Back Bonus!

Jordan Fox received a $10,000 signing bonus when he joined the Army. The Mt. Lebanon man served his country in Iraq, where as a sniper he survived machine gun battles and a roadside bomb that knocked him unconscious and blinded him in his right eye.

The injury forced the military to send him home. A few weeks later, Fox received a bill from the Department of Defense, saying he owes the military nearly $3,000 from his original enlistment bonus because he couldn't fulfill three months of his commitment.

"I tried to do my best and serve my country and unfortunately I was hurt in the process and now they're telling me that they want their money back," This is apparently not an isolated bureaucratic foul-up. The military is allegedly 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.

I knew the government was low but come on. Is this anyway to treat our military boys? Maybe no one should join, then where would we be?

[AnimeSpirit]

Originally Posted by piemaker720

I knew the government was low but come on. Is this anyway to treat our military boys? Maybe no one should join, then where would we be?

If no one signed up, they would just reinstitute the draft. That's very low of the government. You'd think they'd let him keep it, if nothing else, as compensation for my loss of eyesight.

I've been in the military myself and it's not fun anymore. There is a lot of crap, loopholes, and stupid politics. They preech pride, honor, and commitment, but incidents like THIS are the truth of the modern military. I was promised $11,000 as a sign-up bonus myself and I never got it to begin with.