Readers of Tom Philpott’s Military Update column sound off.

Webb's GI Bill Plan Draws Many Raves, Some Worries 

I support Sen. Jim Webb’s GI bill (S 22) and it should include those people who have served and reenlisted several times.

I made a horrible mistake 18 years ago when I joined the military and opted out of the GI Bill. It’s a huge mistake I can't fix.

I believe you should have the option to enroll in GI Bill each time you reenlist even if you had previously chosen not to take it.

CHARLES W. CHAMBERLAIN
Chief Hospital Corpsman, USN
Chesapeake, Va.

I am a veteran of Iraq. I served three years on active duty in the Army and did one tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Now I am serving six years in the Michigan Army National Guard and going to school full time using the Montgomery GI Bill. I attend a local community college and am still barely able to afford my bills at home.

This legislation would make it possible to actually get a four-year degree rather than attend a cheap community college for three years, after which I get hung out to dry. I want to get my bachelor's degree and re-enter the Army as a commissioned officer.

The worry that everybody will do their three-year obligations and get out is justified to a point. It’s essentially what we all do anyway, although most of the guys I served with got “stop-lossed” and are in Iraq again.

The opportunity to get a four-year degree at a good school means a lot of us soldiers could return to active duty to become officers.  And with the experience we had while on active duty as enlisted, the number of “wet-behind-the-ear" second lieutenants will be greatly diminished.

The Webb legislation has my full support.

NATHAN THREET
Specialist, Michigan ANG
Midland, Mich.

This is a good plan because more people come in to serve one term than do to make this life a career.

I joined the Army in late 2003.  Since then doctors many times have tried to give me the boot for ailments contracted during my first tour to Iraq.

I have been served more than four years now with one deployment complete and almost finished with my second. I am what other soldiers consider a lifer, more than willing to stay in no matter what post service benefits are.

MICHAEL PLETSCHER
Specialist, U.S. Army
Kirkuk, Iraq

I do not give a damn what the President or Defense officials think. The time has come that the sons and daughters of the working classes are amply rewarded for their sacrifice.

If the Webb GI Bill does impact retention perhaps we will come to our senses and impose compulsory military service without deferment of any kind, so that sons and daughters of the President, CEOs and Wall Street analysts too will be put in harms way.  It would restrain future presidents from engaging in imperialist aggression.

TITUS CARLOS RENATUS MENDELL
Berkley, Mich.

I am a disabled veteran. I support Senator Webb’s GI Bill. I suspect that anyone who does not has not spent time in the military defending this wonderful country of ours. They have no concept of what it is like not know if you'll ever see your family again. They enjoy the freedoms we provide and have the audacity to deny us any restitution. Shame on them!

C. M. HARDY
Master Sergeant, USAF-Ret.
Via e-mail

I applaud this effort to reward veterans. But as a service member I must agree with the naysayers. Why would anyone who joined for education benefits stay longer than they need to? If they are indeed college material why would they want to deploy into hostile areas for 12 to 15 months at a time?

Then again, people who now join for Montgomery GI Bill benefits and fulfill their obligation take the money and run too.

JENNIFER GENSLINGER
Via e-mail

This proposed GI Bill is great! I am an active duty E-5 stationed overseas. During my six years in service, I’ve witnessed an incredible amount of wasteful spending everywhere I go. The time has come for a smaller military.

Service members should be encouraged to separate with programs like this. Many decide to stay in now only because they don't want to get out and be poor college students. I would definitely separate after this enlistment if this program came into effect.

MICHAEL HUTCHISON
Stuttgart, Germany

Something needs to be done to improve GI Bill education benefits. I wouldn’t go to the extreme of paying housing allowance but tuition assistance is a great idea.

Allowing military members to transfer their GI bill benefits to spouses is a horrible idea. The divorce rate in the military is far too high. Passing education benefits to a child is a different story because a child is a permanent relationship.

With respect to the Webb bill’s impact on retention, the military doesn't need every person to stay for career. There are not even that many career opportunities in some job specialties. And if the services have problems keeping enough careerists, why hold benefits down for those getting out?  Come up with better incentives for soldiers to stay.

The military does offer great tuition assistance benefits while in. But to be able to use them, to focus on school and to earn a degree, can be difficult given deployments, training and everyday Army life.

I’ve been in for four years and have been deployed 27 months.

SARAH F. KELLY
Sergeant, US Army
Via e-mail

So, a GI Bill for post 9-11 service. What happens to those of us who served in the first Gulf War and were never able to fully use MGIB because we had to decide between school or keeping a roof over our heads?

I have $20,000 in student loan debt that keeps accumulating because I still lack a degree and have not been able to find long-term employment. By the time I had a stable job, and could use the rest of my benefits, they were gone. Why aren't politicians addressing that?

SHANN DORNHECKER
Via e-mail

I agree with the unnamed Defense official that many service members would leave active duty for a few years if they knew they could still draw E-5 BAH and go to college full time.  Webb's proposal is music to service members’ ears. “Free money for less work” is essentially what he offers.

No doubt recruiting numbers will sky rocket, but retention will fall to an all time low.  The military relies on older soldiers teaching younger soldiers. With Webb's plan, it would be harder to develop career soldiers.

I have been in for 15 years.  If this plan was enacted years ago, I would not be in the military today.

LAWRENCE JACKSON
Staff Sergeant
Via e-mail
         

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