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This is from cameraman extraordinaire Brendan Kennedy, fresh from a shoot with former Secretary of State Colin Powell:
This morning I woke up at six and got all gussied up to shoot a speech given by Colin Powell. To be more precise, I’ve been working on a segment about the GI Bill, which, if you have no idea (like me), gives veterans money to go to school. A new version of the bill was just presented to the House today.
But this is where it gets depressing —
While the student vets we’ve been talking to about the current bill have been totally inspiring, the fact that most of these kids come back from Iraq and Afghanistan and can’t afford to go to college is not only infuriating but downright embarrassing.
After WWII, the GI Bill paid for the college of the vet’s choice, books, and room and board. Today the GI Bill now barely gives vets enough to go to community college, let alone pay rent and go to a four-year college, whether public or private. The budget is frighteningly low. And if you have a family to help support? Forget it!
Plenty of people right now enjoy telling you to “support our troops.” But I’m really glad that there are actually some people looking to the future of our troops once they’ve returned home — people like Sen. Jim Webb, Gen. Colin Powell, and Rep. Patrick Murphy — and trying to fix an antiquated system that does anything but give troops the hand they deserve.
Filed Under: iraq, Campaign '08
They do not want our military to get out of the military. I have been reading that McCain is interested in a program that would "kick in" after 13 years of service (or some number beyond one tour). I do not have a direct quote of that, but that is what is being reported.
The myopic thinking is harmful to the military. A major problem with recruiting is that there are very few mentors for younger adults that have been veterans. Giving a good college benefit would attract better recruits. Veterans who get their degree would shore up the middle class. More education creates a better workforce. Educated veterans adds to the reputation of the military as a viable option for a career.
It is good for America, the military and those who serve.
As far as holding off benefits for those who do two or three tours-- that isn't fair to those who did one tour under gunfire. And many military can't afford to go to college after twenty years when they now have mortgages and families to support.
We need a motivated, educated young crew of veterans out there to be an inspiration to our future soldiers.