Patriotism and sense of duty is becoming a part of this country's upcoming election. Each party's candidates and supporters have differing opinions on what is patriotism. Both agree that serving your country in the military is one of the ultimate acts of patriotism that can be made. In fact, when supporters of Barack Obama downplayed McCain's military service, he was quick to correct them and vehemently advised against McCain's military record.
Yet McCain feels that serving four years is not enough to reap the full rewards of the upcoming re-vamped G.I. Bill. He believes that it needed to be re-done, but voted against it
because of retention issues.
"The most important difference between our two approaches is that Senator Webb offers veterans who served one enlistment the same benefits as those offered veterans who have re-enlisted several times. Our bill has a sliding scale that offers generous benefits to all veterans, but increases those benefits according to the veteran's length of service. I think it is important to do that because, otherwise, we will encourage more people to leave the military after they have completed one enlistment."
But wouldn't you think serving four years, regardless of which service and job, is enough to get full benefits? After all, servicemen who swear in know that at any place and any time you can be deployed. Even the Air Force, once affectionately called the "Chair Force", has service members going out of their career field to arm up and march right alongside with the Army and Marine Corps. Looking back, I can't name one time in the last 60 years when the American Military was at peace for more than six months. One day, you could be sweeping the barracks floor. 24 hours later, you could be ducking for cover.
On the other hand, serving multiple enlistments is another way to honor a veteran and reward patriotism. It takes a lot to enlist and basically make no money versus the private sector's paying rate. Just ask the E-1 computer hardware installer who is taking in a whole $
1,400 per month- maybe $3,000 if you factor in chow hall, medical coverage and basically a one-bedroom apartment- versus the same guy on the outside starting at
$50,000+. Except the one-striper is doing it while being shot at by the Taliban. Reenlisting either means he's crazy or is really proud of what he does for his country. Maybe there should be additional benefits.
So I pose the question: is four years enough to reap full benefits of the New G.I. Bill, or should there be additional service? DJers, please respond. I've already read one interesting comment by a DJ'er in
another article concerning this G.I. Bill. We were discussing McCain's rejection of the new bill and the DJer said:
is FOUR yeras sufficient time to receive as amny benefits as thoise who serve longer periods for the safety of the country?/ Or is joyning the services in peace time just to get a set of benefits anotyer form of universal welfare that seems to be the trend being eloquently but more and more visible by the Obama rethoric learned at the altar of Saul alinsky and jeremiah in order to get PAID VOTERS... Does the sense of Duty/Patriotism factor in at all??
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