Should those who are single without children receive more access to education benefits, financial assistance, and other benefits?

A1C Ian Williams — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:41:14 -0400

I am for reform in civilian-military policy that would allow those of use who are single without children to receive more access to education benefits, financial assistance, and other benefits (paid leave). With the hope that IF we wanted to start a family, marriage, partnership, or start a business later, we would have all the resources, skills and confidence we need to be successful.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Mar 13 at 2018 10:04 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 22:04:59 -0400

I am not sure where you are going with this... Families get benefits because they have a family. Single service members have access to TA/GI Bill. Pretty sure if you are single, with no kids, you don't need childcare assistance (unless you are trying to pick up a date, ha ha ha!).

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Mar 13 at 2018 10:06 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 22:06:41 -0400

This makes absolutely no sense...

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 13 at 2018 10:35 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 22:35:45 -0400

Those without children do receive more access to education benefits, financial assistance, and other benefits. Single people do not have children to take care of and are available more for education, single people do not have to pay for children which equals more pay in pocket (financial assistance), and those without children are able to focus more on themselves than children they don't have (other benefits). Sounds like you have what you were asking for.

Response by A1C Ian Williams made Mar 13 at 2018 10:40 PM

A1C Ian Williams — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 22:40:45 -0400

Good evening to you, sir. LTC Jason Mackay It is my opinion that yes a certain discussion should be had as to why there is sudden push toward marriage (and what that entails) over getting a degree, saving up for your company, or a simple domestic partnership which benefits your more immediate needs. Due to the unknown heated nature of the conversation, I will abandon this line of inquiry for now. If you have better guidance on this issue, I welcome it and feel free to send me a message. I would like to thank all participants in this discussion. A difference of opinion is always welcome here and it no way invalidates your own. Have a good evening.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2018 10:56 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 22:56:33 -0400

Good luck finding a command that would let you take up that much time with personal stuff

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Mar 13 at 2018 11:26 PM

Maj Marty Hogan — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 23:26:54 -0400

So what you are suggesting is to limit those with a family that could use the same advantages to better their families lives because they are married or have children? You should be garnering those skills in your job everyday, the benefits you are asking for are already in place with tuition assistance and base education available to one and all, and lastly- I put myself through college as a single parent. I was a reserve guy with limited GI Bill benefits and a daycare bill. It was a struggle as an E5/E6, but nothing worth it is easy. I am a little at a loss Ian.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Mar 14 at 2018 12:27 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 00:27:01 -0400

Really, what does it matter of single or married.. maybe a small amount more for dependsnt(s)? I’ve been out a long time... since Jan ‘85... I waS going to school under Voc-rehab while TDRL* from the AF.
There were some other Vets and they were married.. I had the TIme to study and time to work(usually weekends ). I actually felt for them ‘cause they had family and maybe chlldren and jobs .. I go
I’ve them credit for sticking with their schooling.. I got a little over $400 from AF at half retired pay and the same from VA for school.. I lucked out with no rent..
parents let me slide. My trade off was preparing top shelf meals for them and my brothers..(they paid for that).. at least i didn't Have dishes to wash.. also I was able to go to Commissary occasionallly.. buying enough what I needed.. A. Choice or standing rib roast was.a. great buy.. I didn’t load the cart.. a single guy doing that draws too much attention.. As far as school went I concentrated on perfecting my culinary skill. The Chef Instructors were very good and at times we hadexams where had to describe every step in a preparation for a meal.. The way I did that is I prepared the meal.
Every quarter we got a question like that.’
It was usually just after getting my monthly stipend.. the questions were exacting.. (specific detailed description).
When I prepared at home, I photo’d the results of my work and matched to the pics in the book.. (Professional Chef, 6th edition). footnote; *TDRL- Temporary disability Retired List. The fellow Veteran’s and I were alll appointed team leaders by the Chef instructors.. Our instructors had a lot of confidence in our
Leadership skills in getting the rams to follow through on what. We did for the
Restaurant we ran upstairs.. first Semester there were only two of us Vets,
The following semesters we morphed and there were 8 Veterans by the time I finished. Some of our felllow students that were not Vets weren’t especially pleased but we gotthe job done and our groups had the grade points.. (teamwork a big point gainer in grade points).. our Uniforms was another point grabber.. Our teams always seemed to be the sharpest looking.. right along with our product output.. Chef Dan, one of our instructor Chef’x had Not served.... even he said the groups led by the Vets looked really good and our out-put was top-shelf .. We had a quick head session before starting class.. and before that we lined up for inspection : uniform cleanliness, nails, proper shoes. .. sneakers were verboten!
according to Chef Hanns .. we had 4 uniforms; Jackets, trousers, scarves, hats.. which was great, there was no excuse to NOT have a clean. Uniform.
A few in a group led by a non vet student looked as if they slept in their outfit.. sure, they were clean but didn’t even show an effort to be s’what pressed decently.. That group had a low grade point average.. their product needed improvement.. a lot of it.. Chef Dave must of had all he could or wanted to put up
With that group.. Said they were dropping them from the program. . They were 3/4 of the way through.. These guys n gal were part of the social experiment ; welfare to work project.. everything was paid for for them. Some didn’t bother to come on Thursday.. class was 4 days ; Mon through Thursday.. it seems they rotated taking a Thursday off.. get a 4 day weekend.. I found out that they got $
Deducted from their school stipend by Uncle Sam at end of semester for the days missed .. it was the same as going to work.. With the exception of us Vets getting school checks .. and buying books
The others paid for their schooling. While there I picked up a scholarship sponsored by a restaurant... I didn’t even see the check.. Uncle Sam got the $$ to reimburse themselves for my Voc-rehab.
I was told when I was awarded it.
Not all the “welfare to work” people was in the group that had a low grade point avg. there were a few that were good students and took a little more pride in their self. One of them got a scholarship..
she wasn’t at all pleased Uncle Sam took her check($1500) to reimburse themselves.. .. She couldn't afford a lawyer.. she went to the NAACP and got a free lawyer.. They told her they could try, but she’d prob’ly lose... It was spelled out in the gov’t programs hand books.. .. U.S. Code: xxx.xx.. One girl had a Smart Bus
Card paid by program and she was only supposed to use it for school.. she rode all over Oakland county to the malls shopping.. I say it was partly their fault for not restricting the card to the route the bus went to school and back home again .

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 12:39 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 00:39:56 -0400

I’m not sure why people keep trying to create different classes within the military. Is singles against those married attitudes will just form a divide. It used to be that the more kids you had the more BAH you got. Now it’s just a flat fee. So there have already been changes. Just cause you weren’t around to see them doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 1:24 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 01:24:29 -0400

More access...? Everyone should have equal access. No one gets more or less. Benefits should be equally distributed based upon established federal rules.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 14 at 2018 7:24 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 07:24:54 -0400

I would not vote on this even if it were real. Equity in all things related to benefits is the answer. No one group or individual should have better access to benefits over another. Benefits are earned based on policy, fareness and equity. Thank you for your service.

Response by MSgt Stephen Council made Mar 14 at 2018 8:28 AM

MSgt Stephen Council — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 08:28:09 -0400

If you are speaking of military education benefits, I can tell you from experience that the greatest majority of young, single enlisted don't take advantage of the benefits that they have. Heck, I was in 12 years before I even started and my youngest of two children was 8 years old. I completed my degree in 5 years and graduated the same year I sewed on E-7/MSgt.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 9:18 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 09:18:34 -0400

Assistance should be geared more towards those that need it most. Having a family makes life much more difficult financially speaking. Hence, more support is needed for those with families. Single people can work more, save more, and have less expenses (generally speaking) so if I had to choose who to give benefits to, it would be those with families.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 9:38 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 09:38:02 -0400

I'm going to say no.

Being a spouse and a parent is infinitely more challenging financially...and many other aspects. When you're single, you can "choose" to forego many things that you cannot with a toddler or two. If you have a spouse that isn't "employed"...notice I don't say "work", because being a full-time parent is possibly the hardest job on the planet...go ahead and take all your current expenses and multiply a factor of "X". Before getting married and having a baby, I hadn't been to an ER in something like five years...I'd been three times in as many months the first year of parenting. The stresses and inevitable sacrifices one makes to one's health will age one five years for every one raising children. Add in child care if both parents do work (the norm), and the numbers are at times overwhelming.

The bottom line is this; there are benefits for families that help, but certainly don't make it a "gravy train". A single person has one focus-their life. In my humble opinion and experience, this is the greatest benefit of all towards self-advancement and preparation.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Mar 14 at 2018 9:59 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 09:59:16 -0400

I think you may believe that the married soldiers are getting a lot of benefits that you aren't receiving and I don't believe that is true. There are only two additional benefits that I know about, a different BAH rates and a Family Separation Allowance, neither of which you are going to make you rich. Take for an example the current BAH rate for an E5 at Ft Carson. A single E5 gets $1386 and a married one gets $255 dollars more, but also probably doesn't have the opportunity to pick up a roommate and split the rent either. Family Separation allowance is $8.33 a day or $250 a month, which may, and I just say may, help to maintain two separate locations to live. Married soldiers don't get more time off, or never did in any unit that I served. The only additional service is medical insurance, but your is paid too.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 14 at 2018 11:14 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 11:14:26 -0400

Most of the benefits you mention, A1C Ian Williams, are provided within the military without regard to family situation. Outside of the military, Federal, state, and local governments should administer these programs without discrimination with regard to marital status unless provided otherwise by law.. Others benefits in the Services, such as housing, are provided based on long-standing policy based on tradition. I can see it might be viewed as unequal treatment that the military is willing to provide more money to a married E-4 for housing. Obviously the married E-4's costs are higher in most cases than a single E-4 living in the Dorm. I think some of the reason for the willingness of the military to pay married service members extra for housing or provide on-base quarters is recruiting and retention. Same with medical care. These are admittedly good deals for the married military members. I don't see this changing anytime soon.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 2:23 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:23:50 -0400

I think that the access should be equal. Why would ones marital status determine the access to benefits?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 14 at 2018 4:39 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:39:16 -0400

I'm confused- everyone is allowed the same chance to access the new GI bill, how much you save is how serious you are on education, ditto for financial assistance. The only reason married folks might receive more is to help keep them fed while you are in school. The is very little that teaches confidence if you don't have something to build on. I'm not sure what paidleavehas to do with this either.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2018 8:18 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 20:18:31 -0400

This is dumb, and your answers for your poll do not reflect the correct answer