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

Credit Union Members Oppose Another Bailout

Thank you for the article on the "bailout tax" being imposed on credit unions. It angered us as well. We have accounts at two credit unions. If one penny from either of these goes for the bailout tax, we will close our accounts and take our business elsewhere. 

It is time for people to take responsibility for their mistakes! Enough already! No more bailouts!

ALLEN & SIGNE WHITESIDE
Via e-mail 

I will contact my representatives to express my extreme disagreement with the theft of our credit union money.

Navy Federal Credit Union is my primary financial institution. I joined three decades ago after waiting a number of years for membership in a secure, responsible member-owned facility.

Now, because a corporate credit union was irresponsible, the responsible members of the credit union industry have to bail them out, and do so against their will.

When the National Credit Union Administration steals money from NFCU and others, they are stealing our money. Are solvent banks required to bail out insolvent banks? What's next, Wal-Mart bailing out Target if it fails, or Best Buy bailing out Circuit City? Maybe Toyota of America should bail out GM, their partner on several models.What's the difference? None, in my book.

It boils down to someone who has been given authority should not unilaterally force someone else to their will. It is absolute socialism, if not worse. This is not why I joined NFCU and it not why I served.

To those to whom it pertains: Get your hands out of my pockets.

DALE SWANSON
Via e-mail

 

The article on credit unions did not mention how they are able to provide lower loan rates and higher interest on deposits. They do not pay federal or state income taxes or state sales tax. This gives them a tremendous advantage over banks whose corporate tax rates exceed 30 percent on profits. In the state of Washington there's an additional 8.4 to 8.9 percent in sales taxes.

With that as background, I noticed that some of the alternatives being studied to reduce the expense on credit unions from the near collapse of U.S. Central Federal Credit Union would be to turn to the Federal Reserve or the Treasury for help. It doesn't seem likely to me that companies not paying federal taxes should be allowed to lay their difficulties on taxpayers, whether businesses or individuals.

I have enjoyed reading your columns for years. Thank you for providing information that isn't always available elsewhere.

JIM LAMB
Silverdale, Wash.
 

Adjusting To Civilian Life

I have just finished reading the column on active duty retirees not living as long as reserve retirees. It brought a few things to light for me.

I have been retired 21 years and have enjoyed every day of it. When I was on active duty I saw so many people retire and, within a few years, they had died.  I couldn't figure out why. After retiring I had a little more understanding. The change from active duty to civilian lifestyle was total. Civilian life was so much different from what I had been doing for 25 years in service.

But with all things you must learn to adjust. I was lucky that I did. I was able to go back and compare what I had been doing to what I was now doing.  Another thing that helped was I stayed around the military. We are different, in the way we think and the way we do everyday things.

I was a senior enlisted member. That stopped the day I took off the uniform. I became Joe civilian, retired Navy, starting at the bottom and working my way back up the ladder. I did it by drawing on the experience gained in the military. Those helped me through every day.

Now I'm what I used to call all those old retired guys. But here's the kicker: I'm glad to be here. Military life isn't for everyone and it is harder after you retire.  But you just have to keep on and never give up.

BOBBY L. NEWSOME
Senior Chief Aviation Machinist Mate, USN-Ret.
Lusby, Md.

Entry-Level Separations

I was interested in your column from November about the military cracking down on the number of "personality disorder" discharges given.

Recently, prompted by basic law enforcement training requirements in North Carolina, I requested and received a "non-deleted" copy of my DD Form 214 [for release or discharge] from the Army.  I had only a "deleted" copy.

To my dismay, the "non-deleted" form shows that, though I was separated with an "uncharacterized" discharge after four months of service and several knee injuries, I was labeled as having a "personality disorder."

This information comes to light 18 years after the fact. I am now in the process of speaking with my congressman to have this removed, which is where the trail has led after many calls and explanations.

Your article makes me wonder how many people have shared the same experience.

JON S.
Via e-mail 

Uncharacterized discharges typically are given to members who fail to complete at least 180 days of service.  Legally, it's an entry level separation terminating military service.

Because there is no service characterization, there is nothing to upgrade. However, you can raise the matter with your service Board for Correction of Military Records if you believe an error occurred.

Giving you a deleted version of the DD 214 was a way to ease the negative effect on job opportunities.  But law enforcement officials in North Carolina, it seems, believe they need to see the unedited version in screening potential police recruits.  – T. P.

Letters may be edited for clarity or length. Write to Military Forum, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA  20120-1111, send e-mail to militaryforum@aol.com or visit www.militaryupdate.com