MTV Newsroom » When Will Our Soldiers Get the GI Bill They Deserve?

When Will Our Soldiers Get the GI Bill They Deserve?

6 Comments | Published by MTV News on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 1:52 pm.

So that new GI Bill that was set to be voted on last week? Yeah, it got yanked off the House table after a contingent of conservative(ish) Democrats known as the “Blue Dogs” opposed the measure.

They barked over the lack of a funding plan — even though the bill is part of a supplemental funding package for the wars these veterans have fought in, and Congress keeps passing those packages without a funding plan. In response to such public disunity, House Speaker and Dem Nancy Pelosi announced in a press conference, “I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”

We hope the folks in DC worked on the issue over the weekend, because Pelosi said that she still plans on having the supplemental funding package — GI Bill included — on the President’s desk before Memorial Day Weekend.

A few people posted thoughtful responses to our last entry on the bill:

· Leon: “It’s clear that the government is too broke to afford to pay for the troops’ education but [is] still selling the fact that they will do so to prospective soldiers. I feel for those who sign up to fight for “freedom” and to help themselves get an education but are being robbed from the start.”

· Joshua Hudson: “Giving a good college benefit would attract better recruits…Educated veterans [add] to the reputation of the military as a viable option for a career. It is good for America, the military and those who serve…We need a motivated, educated young crew of veterans out there to be an inspiration to our future soldiers.”

So many members of our generation have fought in Iraq, and continue to fight. What are your thoughts on how we should welcome them home? Why has it taken this long for the GI Bill to be revised? And what benefits do you think would best serve our troops when they return home?

Filed Under: iraq

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6 Comments to “When Will Our Soldiers Get the GI Bill They Deserve?”

Dave says:

7:30 on 05/12

I think that it is vital that our nation take care of the men and women that have served our nation so valiently. I find it to be repulsive that the arguments continue between republicans and democrats in Washington, many of whom have never served, arguing over dollers and dimes. All i have to say is, if we as a nation can afford to be at war, we can afford to take care of our vets!
David says:

2:05 on 05/13

If i had known when I signed up to serve 6 years ago what a scam the GI Bill is, I would have thought twice. I barely can afford to feed myself off of what is provided let alone go to school. Educators and the public think that this is a handout. But I contributed $1200.00 of my paycheck for a year to be eligible for this. It is also widely known amongst military members that only 5% of the people who sign up for the GI Bill actually use it. So where are all of our contributions going if such a small percentage of military members and veterans are actually using it? Is this not the least America can do for the people who have sacrificed so much to protect the freedoms of all of our citizens. Regardless of service, the military is no walk in the park. It is probably one of the hardest, both emotionally and physically, that most Americans could ever encounter.
David says:

2:06 on 05/13

If i had known when I signed up to serve 6 years ago what a scam the GI Bill is, I would have thought twice. I barely can afford to feed myself off of what is provided let alone go to school. Educators and the public think that this is a handout. But I contributed $1200.00 of my paycheck for a year to be eligible for this. It is also widely known amongst military members that only 5% of the people who sign up for the GI Bill actually use it. So where are all of our contributions going if such a small percentage of military members and veterans are actually using it? Is this not the least America can do for the people who have sacrificed so much to protect the freedoms of all of our citizens.
Pat Smith says:

6:43 on 05/13

“Democratic lawmakers expect some version of the GI bill will pass eventually” (Government Executive): WTF? This is unacceptable, let this new GI bill equal that of WWII vets when this “mission is accomplished” or the vet is physically disabled. This will provide much more INCENTIVE to enlist and re-enlist. Our troops deserve this GI bill as separate legislation. Over-medication defeats the purpose of a quality education and the VA needs time to become fully funded. One again at the VA yesterday, I watched too many young and old Veterans waiting in the mental health clinic barely conscious from medication. Our government needs to get their priorities straight: http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_...
Joel says:

5:04 on 05/13

It's sad to look a at a government that says that it supports education and that it supports the economy and that it supports our troops, and then have them try to sell short all those causes at the same time.
They say the big concern is re-enlistment, and that the incentive to get out will be too high. I can confidently say that the best incentive to getting out is being in. Currently the only people that re-enlist are the ones that either have an extremely strong sense of duty, really low motivation, or just aren't book smart enough to want to go to college. I am currently in the USMC. My job is one that doesn't directly relate to any in the civilian world. This is something I planned for, as I'm not relying on the government to take care of me after (thankfully). However, I would say that as high as 85% of all enlisted Marines have no plans for after they get out, yet they get out anyway, stating that "anything" is better than being in. Do we want all of these fit, able bodied Americans that have served their countries and sacrificed their lives to just sit in their parents basements drinking beer and playing video games? Or do we want to educate them, enable them, and set them free in the workplace to redefine the meaning of hard work and to once again get this country on a strong path?
Not only is the current GI BILL a joke, you'd have to have a full time job to pay bills and the college expenses not covered, but the suggested increase by Jim Webb is going to cost less than 15% PER YEAR of what it's costing us to be in Iraq PER MONTH. Call me an idealist, but I'd like to enjoy the things I'm supposedly fighting for. Getting out of the military to find a spineless punk in a better financial position than myself solely because I served my country just doesn't seem very American.
Dave says:

1:21 on 06/03

I agree. The best argument for getting out is being in the 1st place. If webbs bill is passed this would A create an incentive for more recruits to join, to create more jobs thus get the economic funk our US economy is currently in and make people grateful for having served. I see many people who get out rather work minimum wage and starve then go back in, me included. The service is that miserable. Last thing a nation needs a military full of people who are disgruntled and back in due to the fact they have no other options open to them and were lied to and scammed. Maybe lots of people get out cause they figure for a good reason that they would do the Army a better service by being out then being in? Its food for thought.