Replies

"The military does have a program for all soldiers leaving the service, telling them what help is available, from jobs to housing. But it is voluntary and soldiers like Goodwin, who are not aware of their options, still fall through the cracks."

This whole story stinks of BS. Having just retired from the military, I can tell you with out a shred of doubt that the Transition Assistance Program (name of federally mandated program) is MANDATORY not voluntary! By Federal Law, every separating/retiring member of the military must attend no later than 90 days prior to separation/retirement. There are numerous agencies and departments both federal and state that attend to inform folks of their opportunities and options. Even then it's not too late to change one's mind and stay in the military.

Also, she is homeless by choice. The military would have provided quarters for her and her child if she had so chosen. There are countless hundreds if not thousands of single parents in the military, male and female, and John Q Public picks up the dime for that as well.

If she had only gone down to the military clinic or hospital on base she could have been put on all the free birth control she needed to avoid now being a drain on society because of her premarital sex resulting in an out of wedlock child.

I agree with another post here about the child being the victim here, not the mother!

I am so sick and tired of people misrepresenting the military and claiming these misrepresentations as fact because the average civilian has no clue as to what lengths the military will go to provide for their members!

Rant off!

Cheers!

Also, she is homeless by choice. The military would have provided quarters for her and her child if she had so chosen.

Jim Connell, a spokesman for the Bronx center, said staff members tried to find housing for the Goodwins. "They started calling alternative shelters, but a lot of them don't take women," he said. "One was full, another wouldn't take a child." He added: "They were not particularly successful."

I don't think from reading these quotes she is homeless by choice. What a perfect world this would be if the money we dish out constantly would go to where it was intended. Our military should have the best of everything..on and off the battlefield...they do not! Thank God for our patriotism ..helps block out the ugliness of it all!