We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:50:22 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ...and not use it. You're a soldier, you just completed the longest deployment of any unit in the GWOT Long War, 22 months, you're home, and you're thinking you'll take advantage of some of that GI BIll money you've earned, right? After all, you're a National Guardsman, who just spent more time in a combat zone than any Regular unit, and you'd like to finish up that degree, right? Wrong. Your orders are one.day.short of the required amount of time on active duty (no matter if it's hot duty or not) to qualify. One... day. Mebbe it's *not* on purpose.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:47:39 -0600 Way to stay on top of the important issues John....Bravo! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65383 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65383 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:51:02 -0600 The Army/DoD or whoever should be held accountable the same way the state NGs were held accountable for similar "screw-over the Soldier" tactics like 5-day orders. When I started out working for the Guard supporting the installation for Annual Training support, they'd cut 5-day orders EACH WEEK, so they didn't have to pay for the weekend and put you on Tricare, etc. They stopped that practice the next year. That wasn't just wrong, it was against NG Regulations, and someone squealed. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65379 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65379 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 21:29:12 -0600 It's like they are running the army on "Burger King" part time employee rules. If you work more than 38 hours a week you get benefits. So, they typically work them 36 1/2 or something close so they get all the hours and pay no benies. So, yeah, this is part time burger king army. Nice. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65359 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65359 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:47:51 -0600 Outstanding, John. Nothing warms my heart like seeing a higher-up use his powers for good, rather than for OPR padding or politicking. /salute http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65356 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65356 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:12:18 -0600 Keith and I were talking about this late last week. He asked me if I knew why 6 month tours are 179 days instead of 180. I had no idea. He told me that benefits start kicking in at 180 days and that it's "always" been done this way. Doesn't make it right, at all... but like John said, this is not abnormal Army behavior. It's a disgusting display of disrespect, but not out of character, unfortunately. I hope to hell you/they/we get this fixed. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65353 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65353 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:30:54 -0600 This could get interesting, especially since that's a standard practice in lot's of areas. How many sets of TDY orders get cut for 179 days? A friend of mine's daughter has made several trips to the ME with the Air Force, and they're always doing that, although I believe it has something to do with the duty status of the assignment rather than the VA benefit. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65351 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65351 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:42:56 -0600 Just whip out that COIN, John! LOL http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65347 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/no_point_in_blo.html#comment-65347 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:34:36 -0600