Free Republic

"Combat Effectiveness" Being Degraded by Obama's Military Policies By evaluating an overwhelming amount of evidence that has been building for 6 ½ years, the obvious conclusion personnel with extensive military experience will come to, is that Obama’s military policies have been degrading the finest US military fighting force in history. Over the last 6 ½ years, the US Armed Forces has been hollowed out by Obama, his Social Experiment On Diversity has severely fractured unit cohesiveness, his “Politically Correct Policies” have negatively affected unit morale, and the “Combat Effectiveness” of the US military is being degraded. Tip of the spear...

In 1968 when I enlisted, my enlistment contract guaranteed me that for the rest of my life I could be seen at any VA hospital or clinic for free for the rest of my life on a tier system. 1st. To be seen were service connected disabilities. 2nd to be seen were active duty personnel and their families. 3rd. And last to be seen were all other veterans. You could walk-in and wait and you may have to wait all day but you would be seen by a doctor. All medications were free at any veterans hospital or clinic, no...

WATERVLIET - Firefighters in Watervliet spent Thursdsay morning, not fighting fires but raising money for the World War II veteran who had his benefits slashed to just $6 a month. They're hoping to raise at least $3,000 for 89-year-old Joseph Teson. As NewsChannel 13 first told you over the weekend, the Department Of Veterans Affairs told Teson he was overpaid by more than $3,000. So, they're withholding most of his benefits until they get the money back. Teson's relatives say he relies on the money and is now selling some of his coin collection just to pay the bills. “The...

WATERVLIET – On this Memorial Day weekend, World War II veteran Joseph Teson is thinking about his fallen comrades – and his personal finances. Teson, a D-Day survivor, told NewsChannel 13 the federal government has reduced his veterans benefits to just $6 per month in order to recoup an overpayment. “I don’t know how they did it, but they did it,” Teson, 89, said Saturday. “I didn’t say nothing. I just let it go. Everybody else complained but me.” Teson said he used to receive about $300.00 per month in veterans benefits, about a third of which he donated to...

Here’s the story: a patient (who doesn’t want to be named) was at a VA hospital for a colonoscopy — not a routine one, but because of a problem that could be serious. As he tells it: 9 am in or prep room IV and muscle relaxant … given- they’ll give me heavier dose of something before they go in. Sat there near an hour when lady walks in “Govt Shut down. If you’re not in, they’re out.” that was it. Went to patient advocate she had been sent home almost as soon as she arrived I’m guessing to head...

In response to the hardships caused by delays in delivering GI Bill benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs began issuing advance educational benefit payments to veteran-students in the form of US Bank business checks. These emergency checks are being issued in amounts up to $3,000 for veteran-students who have applied for GI Bill benefits and who have not yet received their VA payment. VA's 57 regional offices began issuing these checks to eligible Veteran-students across the country on Friday, October 2, 2009. Unfortunately, many veterans have found it nearly impossible to cash the VA checks. To help with this latest...

Maybe a few folks going to the TEA Party forums with their congress people will take a few pages from this book and ask their congressman/woman or senator how long is the wait to get enrolled in the VA health care program? Why would enrollment in the Public Option be faster? Will there be the same categories for those who get service "based upon funding?"

"When a man goes and defends his country and gets injured and then they want your insurance to pay, that's wrong," said David Gerke, a 60-year-old Vietnam veteran and retired postal worker from Kansas City. "When we went into the service, we were told our medical needs... would be taken care of for the rest of our lives." "It's a betrayal," said Joe Violante, legislative director of Disabled American Veterans, which signed the letter to Obama. "My insurance company didn't send me to Vietnam, my government did. The same holds true for men and women now fighting in Iraq and...

"There is no mountain too high for me NOT to at least try to overcome to help my fellow Veterans in such similar situations as to have their pride restored in having their own homes. There has to be a way, Sir. There has to be a program worth creating . . ."

WASHINGTON - The Army has identified 129 wounded soldiers who mistakenly received bills for expenses upon returning home from wars - in some cases instead of final paychecks - and it has forgiven their debts. After learning of the first such cases, Army Gen. Richard A. Cody said, an audit team determined that other wounded soldiers "experienced pay issues" and the Army has made changes it hopes will prevent other instances. "We are dedicated to the well being of our soldiers and strive to provide the absolute best for America's sons and daughters," Cody, the Army's vice chief of staff,...

Story Number: NNS040309-04 Release Date: 3/10/2004 6:19:00 PM By Journalist 2nd Class (SW/AW) R. David Valdez, Public Affairs Center, Norfolk NORFOLK (NNS) -- Today’s Sailors have a valuable resource that can help them plan their careers, take advantage of new information, and take courses that will not only help their military careers, but will also help them outside of the military. This resource is Navy Knowledge Online (NKO). From its Web site, www.nko.navy.mil, Sailors, Marines, Department of the Navy civilians and retirees have access to a centralized point for all kinds of information. Chief Personnelman Joseph Gomez, manpower analyst and...