Do you feel like you're getting what you earned after enlisting/commissioning (e.g. education benefits, retirement, healthcare, etc.)?

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton — Fri, 05 May 2017 11:38:38 -0400

What have been benefits you have used? Which ones haven't you used? Is there a benefit you wish was available to you?

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made May 5 at 2017 11:58 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 05 May 2017 11:58:20 -0400

And then some.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made May 5 at 2017 6:08 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Fri, 05 May 2017 18:08:47 -0400

My biggest regret was that I did not use the educational benefits I got with GI Bill in the sixties when I got out of the Army after my three year enlistment,totally my fault and mixed with a problem with alcohol made life difficult for family and friends ,one of my biggest mistakes in life and I've made some doozies!

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made May 5 at 2017 9:48 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Fri, 05 May 2017 21:48:20 -0400

Draw retirement pay, disability allowance, get VA healthcare, TriCare for life, used education benefits and VA Home loan guarantee. Had five aircraft shot out from under me and, lost a kidney to Camp LeJeune's water, suffer from several maladies associated with Agent Orange and dearly miss some friends who didn't get to use any of the benefits. The money and other benefits are fine, but all the gold in Fort Knox can't fill the hole left by my friends.

Response by SFC Wade W. made May 7 at 2017 10:35 PM

SFC Wade W. — Sun, 07 May 2017 22:35:07 -0400

I am getting what I was promised. At the time I thought it was a pretty good deal. Now, not so much. I am only 51, I will be stuck in a wheelchair due to an unknown nerve disorder that is definitely service related but the gov't won't recognize it. All of the friends that I have seen killed or maimed over the years cannot be balanced out by anything they give me. I agree with LtCol Robert Quinter, nothing will ever balance the books for me. I am very proud to have served and I wouldn't trade my 25 yrs for anything (even to get my health back) but I do think the gov't got the better end of the stick.