Should Congress start charging troops for their GI Bill benefits?

Why is it that when the government wants to cut back on defense spending, they go after the smallest wedge in the pie? They cut service members pay, benefits and commissary/exchange benefits. If you want to save big money, go after the waste, fraud and abuse in the military contracting world. It's like trying to save $1000 with pennies, when you have $20 bills lying around.

When I joined, we had to pay in $100 per month for a year to get $36K (at the time I got out). I think this goes to help making the system sustainable. Even as an E-1 I never missed that money because I never saw it. For those who say it will create a burden, I and many other are living proof that it does not.

Seems to be in line with all other charging troops for things that they were promised. Does medical care come to mind? Do I agree with it, no, but seems to be reality these days.

Ive posted this in several other threads,

"In all honesty, we as active duty, veterans and retirees need to stop having the knee jerk reaction of disagreeing with any proposal that impacts servicemembers no matter how reasonable. There is precedent for this in the Montgomery GI Bill. The benefits that are reaped are much higher than the Montgomery GI Bill. They allow tranfer to family members.

When you have an all volunteer force (even in wartime) sometimes you offer incentives to reach desired recruiting goals. When the need for recruiting diminishes you remove or lessen the incentive. The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a fantastic deal/opportunity, at $2400 it is a fantastic deal/opportunity. Let's save our silver bullets for the important fights."

When I entered the service in 1990, I was required to pay $100 a month for 12 months for the GI Bill. I made less than half what an E-1 makes today. Additionally, if a new member maximizes their (6%) TSP contribution, they will get most of that contribution bake in their longterm savings.

Nope.
Our enlisted services members do not earn enough now.
The higher ranks where you can earn a wage above poverty then sure.

This is not something new. Service members were paying in for both Chapter 30, Montgomery GI Bill and Chapter 34, VEAP. The return on investment for $2,400 is huge, and it gives you a vested interest in actually using the benefits by paying into them. By starting it as soon as you enlist or are commissioned, you barely notice it because you never see it until it is paid off.

I was told they are toying with this idea to get what most military members want. And that is to get paid between breaks in semesters. Would you not want to chip in a little to get back a lot later. I think that would be a wise investment. Nothing is free

No. I too paid my 1,200 for the MGIB, which was a no-brainer at the time, but I see no valid reason to roll back any benefits our troops are now receiving. In fact, I'd love it if Congress would include in their budget a provision requiring that pay is raised across the board every time military spending is increased. I find it sickening that we have no problem shovelling increasingly larger stacks of cash towards defense contractors while keeping our service members one step above the poverty line.

Honestly, no. Let those that elect to go to college after the service have the money taken out.

MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy only if it starts for future servicemembers. Not to be "oh I got mine". It is a matter of if you made the promise to those currently serving them you fulfill that. If you change put it like the new retirement so it is a new agreement with the incoming servicemembers so they know what to expect and are agreeing to.