You are confusing the Air Force with the real man's military.
We figured this one out, yesterday. It was a bogus, military/Bush bashing story drummed up by the AP, as usual. This soldier got his money back. It was HIS FAULT in the first place for deciding to pay up and get out, versus wait for the paperwork to go through. HE didn't follow procedure.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1574753/posts