Should there be added benefits to Soldiers who completed their full 8 year requirement and were discharged honorably?

Only benefit I think needs to be changed is that reservists shouldn't have to use their G.I. Bill while in their contract or lose it.

No body made anybody sign on the dotted line, or place finger prints down now as it is, the US Armed forces provide exceptional benefits to it's members especially when it comes to edumication. Nah I think it's fine just as it is :-) especially with how America is on it's back side with what is it $18T in debt.

I don't think we should get anything other than our education benefits, If a soldier decides to leave then that's a choice they made, if they are reaching RCP(Retention Control Point) then they should have reclassed if points were too high or done something to get points. In the END they could join the reserves which has no RCP and finish their Career out that way. I don't mean to sound callous but in this generation most soldiers I have run across feel they are entitled to something extra. We get better pay, better medical and better food than previous generations, why should we get something extra?, I could do a lot in 8YRS, use tuition assistance to get a bachelors degree, OK 7 because you cant start till after your first year. If your in longer than ten you can make it a Masters, this is not including the Montgomery GI/ BILL or post 9/11 which is 36 months of more education, and 48 if your on disability and use VOC/REHAB. Lastly the US Government through USAJOBS has mandated that we get hired into certain positions, which if I am correct should open up October 1st( so mark your calendars and check the federal employee only link, look for VRA jobs. My point is this, we get so many benefits already and most soldiers don't even use them. I do think however the 36M education is not enough, a lot of bachelors degrees take longer than 4yrs(engineering) longer if your me and cant add. Maybe adding as a reenlistment incentive you can pay more money into your GI/BILL. again sorry if I come accross as not caring, I am the complete opposite actually, I just don't think the ARMY or the Government needs to shove more money at the military rather, get out of debt or use the money to have a stronger military instead. My knowledge is based on my Career in the ARMY not any other service, your programs are different than ours I believe.

NO! They got paid and got their benefits while working for the government like all else do. They chose to leave on their own or were asked to leave because of bad behavior. Maybe if one is ousted for force reduction. I would then consider a benefits package if they were good military folks and did not ask to be put out.

Interesting idea, I think retired soldiers should get some special benefits, and combat veterans as well. Hell, members of our government continue to get privileges for life for their service of 4 years. But I do think commissary and px privileges should be permanent if you were discharged honorably. Base access should be allowed as well. There's something inside you that adapts to being a soldier for life. When you leave there is no total adjustment for most people.

Not unless they have a combat duty tour within in those 8 years. Those soldiers who complete their initial 8 year contract should be encouraged to stay the 20 and get the real benefits.

I think the benefits and entitlements for those who meet the current requirements for such things as PTSD or other issues are fine; the VA has taken long strides to make change to a broken system.

I do think the education and leading former troops into the right direction on how to access these benefits can be more enthusiastic and would be more beneficial.

But you can't push soldier who doesn't put forth the effort to apply and utilize these benefits.

Try staying for 20, or more like a lot of us did. Then you get that little more......lol

If you take full advantage of the benefits you're already entitled to, you'll see that there are more than enough. If you finished at least an associate's on active duty, you can work all the way through a master's on the Post 9/11 and they'll pay you to do it. The VA Loan guarantee is a really big deal. All of your years of service are transferable to Federal Service (if you pay back into FERS). The VA will pay you if you're injured and there are additional benefits from the States just for having a disability rating (CalVet's College Fee Waiver program is a good example). You get an advantage applying to federal jobs as well, and a lot of employers specifically look for veterans. There are a lot of areas where the VA could improve service to veterans, but it's by improving (or in some cases just delivering) existing benefits, not by adding more benefits and not by removing benefits for those who've served less time than you.

I'm assuming by "full 8 year requirement" you're referring to a 4 year enlistment and 4 years of obligated service? Just so we're all on the same page, that's kind of the bare minimum. A lot of veterans decided to reenlist, serving their "full 8 year requirement" on active duty the whole time. Take advantage of the benefits you're already entitled to and remember that they give you a pretty strong leg up on the rest of the population.

Knowing that I volunteered to defend the greatest nation that this planet has ever seen and served with some of the best humans I have ever met is all I need