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

No, you receive a Retirement check monthly upon completing 20 years of service.

There are posts on this forum where they are saying there are all kinds of benefits for just having served. That's sort of true. What might be a benefit to some is a burden to others. I'm not saying we deserve an annual stipend either.


Don't get me wrong, I loved every second of my service, but there is a lot of things that can take the wind right out of a guys sails. That dream of sticking around until retirement is just not what it used to be.

I did 9 years as an Army Reservist (3 years at Stop-loss, we had warning orders and I was waiting to take advantage of a deployment re-up). Changed my mind on the Re-Up and no longer qualified for the GI Bill (retention tool is what they called it). My deployment nest egg was spent on an associates degree.

Everybody isn't conveniently located near a VA hospital. It's a hassle for a lot of veterans to take advantage of what the VA has to offer. For those of you who have known nothing but the service since high school, employers can find a way to get rid of you for missing too much work so you can travel to the VA.

VA home loans: The only benefit to taking out a VA home loan is ZERO down payment. You still have to have good credit to be eligible. Other than that, the interest rates are higher. The closing costs, at least in my area, are more than double. Not only that, but there are origination fees that the VA charges ($3,500) that they tack right on the principle amount. So, basically VA loans only benefit people that can't manage to come up with a down payment, but still have good credit.

How you think your job skills translate into what you should be able to do as a civilian and how civilian companies translate those same skills are two completely different worlds. Sure, your time in service can land you "a job", but probably not the job you want. Why, you ask? If many of you recall the fancy training you get in Basic and AIT (tech school, etc.), you might recall that the things they were teaching you were different than ways you had been taught prior to the military (CPR and first aid were the obvious ones). We always said, "It's the Army Way." The Army way isn't the civilian way.

You volunteered fulfilled your contract, you want more benefits do 20. No other company gives you benefits after 8 years.

Is that why you signed up? To get something else out of it. You got your pay check, your combat pay when warranted...good job. Thanks for doing your part. The rest is for retirees...you EARN the retirement pay and being able to use the base facilities. If you want that, do 20 or whatever early retirement you end up being eligible for.

This generation...I want more, give me give me...

VA health care, alone, is worth a good bit. Moreso now , because even with fair regular health insurance with say a 20%-30% deductible, any major medical expense can bankrupt you. And even after bankruptcy they can garnish your wages now. Thank George Bush Jr. and repubs for that.

First off, most of the people that complete their 8 years do so with a combination of active and inactive status. So you may only be active for 3 years and then 5 years of IRR (inactive ready reserve). After your active time you get the GI Bill. If you want more, stay in 20 years.

I served 8 years in the Army (all Infantry) and I am a DoD employee. I have a total of 13+ years of government service and still going strong. I am 70% Disabled by the VA for injuries occured while on active duty to include PTSD. Even with all this, I still can not shop in the PX or Comm. those are benefits that I feel I should have at the very least since I am still serving my country. But what can ya do. Once your out of the military, they could give two rats asses about you.

SGT Del Lavature
This is the all-volunteer forces so you kind of signed up for the “war” part of it and the not so good stuff that comes with it. You are entitled to some educational benefits and most states even have programs to assist a vet in purchasing a house and or land. But, unless you have a service related disability; I would have to say NO to a “stipend.” Stay the twenty plus years and retire with a modest but secure monthly income and the thanks from those that appreciate what you have accomplished. Thanks sergeant!

Where is this entitlement coming from? You signed up to protect your oath, If you joined for benefits only... well you fucked up. Only doing 8 years in a civ job and leaving will leave you with nothing and no pay check. If you really want more then a sticker stay in for 20 years. If active is too much for you join reserves, only deal with the BS twice a month. As others has said college tuition and the befits of saying you were in the service and got out with a honorable discharge. That alone gives you a huge jump on the average Joe in the civ world.

No