Extend GI Bill Benefits

As part of the stimulus packages being considered, why not extend GI Bill educational benefits for those honorably-separated vets whose benefits have expired, because the fact is that many of them are in dire straits, and need additional education they can't afford. Upper education is one of America's gems in the world, and this would increase the revenues of colleges, as well. And even though the older vets may have been out of the military for decades, the need for education remains, and it would also help them with jobs and the need to use other, non-expiring benefits like health care when they can use training to get jobs with health benefits. In fact, many colleges provide affordable health benefits to students, which these vets would be able to use as they attend colleges to better their lives. You can even address critical needs by providing greater terms or bonuses for vets that get training for critical jobs, like nursing or teachers. It would be a breath of fresh air and a chance for new opportunities for many.

Malcolm L. Kantzler
Western Hills, Cincinnati, OH

Learn more about the G.I. Bill.

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Pentagon Needs Spending Oversight

Faced with an economic crisis that could bring on a new Great Depression, voters are demanding that politicians start looking for any loose change hiding under federal couch cushions that may be available to stop the bleeding on Wall Street, in hopes that we can avoid the fallout for Main Street. Thus, it's hardly shocking that, as your article pointed out (AF Push for F-22s Faces Uphill Climb, 9/30), the next president will be exercising stricter controls over the Pentagon's record-setting budget. 

However, what may shock voters and politicians is just how much cash is being wasted by the Defense Department, and how fast. Oversight over how the Pentagon spends taxpayer money is at an all-time low, and most of its top weapons programs are missing deadlines and requirements while spilling over their budgets, racking up hundreds of billions in extra expenses. The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), for instance, is a trillion dollar project that is about 50% more expensive than originally planned, even though it doesn't even match current U.S. and Russian fighter jets in combat capabilities and early development models have been grounded due to serious design flaws. In short, taxpayers are paying premium for a broken version of last decade's model. 

Canceling the JSF would free up hundreds of billions of dollars, which could help fund our much needed economic bailout, health care reform, or even the Air Force's request for more of the superior F-22 aircraft. 

At a time with so few attractive solutions to difficult problems, canceling the JSF is a no-brainer. 

Michael Ganoe
Executive Director
Virginia Conservative Conference

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Tired of Policing The World

I am the daughter of a WWII Vet and the sister of a Vietnam Vet. My Father was a grunt in WWII and saw his first day of combat at the age of 16. I was born and raised on military bases, watched my brother march off to Vietnam at the ripe ole age of 19 and became an ace pilot in his own right by earning the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, (3) Bronze Stars, and (40) Air Medals. I experienced first hand the devastation of post traumatic stress syndrome in both my Father and my brother and watched them suffer immensely for the death and carnage they witnessed as soldiers in some foreign land where we were not wanted in the first place.

I'm sick and tired of old men (politicians) sending young men to war to do their bidding for them and their dirty work just to protect our oil interests for greed & power. Our Constitution specifically states for us to "stay out of foreign affairs," but we keep going back in as the politicians continue to shackle the military. The politicians jumped on the bandwagon after 9/11, only to capitalize on the misery and emotions of the American people, and went in to attack Iraq under the guise of "Weapons of Mass Destruction.”

Judy Marie Bailey

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Navy Should Change Color Blindness Rules

My son and eleven other young people were recently turned down for admission to the Naval Academy because of color vision deficiency. My son and these other eleven young men wanted to serve in the Navy. I can't believe that the Marine Corps and the Army will take them, but the Navy can't find away to get them in? I understand that there are a limited number of restricted line positions, but to tell seven young men who want to serve, we can't use you even as Procurement Officers or Civil Engineers, or in Naval Intelligence?

In an age where most young kids eyes glaze over when you mention joining the military, the Navy see fit to turn these very intelligent kids away. My son was just given a full Army ROTC scholarship to Wake Forest University. It is a shame that he could not get into the Navy. He is not totally colorblind I do not understand how the service determine degrees of color blindness?

I do not understand that if a kid want to serve in the Navy, even if its in the mess hall he should be given the opportunity. The Army issue waivers and retain people who are already in the service who are missing limbs. One day this color vision problem will be like being rejected in the past for having flat feet, a thing of the past. Color vision is not necessary for every single job in the Navy.

WillieFaulkner