Some injured soldiers forced to reimburse the military

On the outrageous scale, this is about a nine.  Any soldier that gets permanently injured mentally or physically after receiving their enlistment bonus must repay it.  What a great way to treat people that put their lives on the line while the higher-ups sit in their comfy chairs in Washington:

Soldiers who were paralyzed, suffered brain damage and lost limbs owe the government enlistment bonus money.

They must pay the money back because they didn’t fulfill their tour of duty.  Bob Truska, who was in the Navy, got an honorable discharge for what the Navy calls a personality disorder.  One year later, he got a bill for more than $3,000, part of his $7,000 enlistment bonus.Bob said, “I didn’t know of anything I had to pay back after I got out of the military.”

TheNavy said his honorable discharge “does not exempt him from recoupementof the unearned enlistment bonus, and his personality disorder is not adisability but could interfere with assignment or performance of duty.”

If a professional sports team had released a player and then proceeded to demand that the athlete to return his signing bonus, there would be a major backlash in the players union and the case would probably go to trial.  Soldiers do have any legal body that fights on their behalf.  They are prone to be taken advantage of by the system. 

In this particular case, whether it was a personality quirk or a stress disorder, how is that a way to treat a soldier that was honorably discharged?

Comments

[Cb]

This is very common I found out. I joined the army after I turned 18 and during basic training my hip was broken due to a stress fracture and I was unable to continue training. The Army allows you only a set number of "hurt" days before they send you home. However, I had to be in the hospital for a week more than they allow. Due to being discharged I was ordered to pay back the hospital for the week, and to repay all of my enlistment bonus.

[Administrator: Todd]

To me, there is just no excuse for that. The rules need to be changed. We send tough-minded soldiers onto the battlefield, but we cut VA benefits and leave the wounded to financially fend for themselves.

If I were in Congress, that's the first thing I would change.

[Gloria Duffy]

I would like to correct an inaccurate statement posted on this website. This website reported that Governor Vilsack attended a fundraiser at The Commonwealth Club. The Commonwealth Club does not hold political fundraisers. Governor Vilsack gave a policy speech on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 to members and guests at The Commonwealth Club, which is a non-partisan, non-profit public affairs forum.

Dr. Gloria Duffy
President and CEO
The Commonwealth Club of California

[Administrator: Todd]

Gloria, thank you for the correction. I changed the article to "gave a speech," which is a correction from "attended a fundraiser."

Thanks for your comments.

[Chris]

This is extremely upsetting! It is outrageous that the Government that these wounded Americans swore to protect, is turning against them. They were injured fighting in our country's military, if they can't finish their enlistment term, too bad. They chose to join, they fought hard, let them move on in peace!