Posted on Oct 22, 2016
Thousands of California soldiers forced to repay enlistment bonuses a decade after going to war
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Nearly 10,000 soldiers, many of whom served multiple combat tours, have been ordered to repay large enlistment bonuses — and slapped with interest charges, wage garnishments and tax liens if they refuse. THIS IS NOT HOW YOU TREAT SOLDIERS.
Thousands of California soldiers forced to repay enlistment bonuses a decade after going to war
Posted from latimes.com
NGB
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 2
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MAJ Patrick Ross where is the common sense at? IMHO, its not the Soldiers faults!
Investigations have determined that lack of oversight allowed for widespread fraud and mismanagement by California Guard officials under pressure to meet enlistment targets.
Investigations have determined that lack of oversight allowed for widespread fraud and mismanagement by California Guard officials under pressure to meet enlistment targets.
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LTC Stephen B.
Guard recruiting officials were prosecuted for fraud. Unfortunately, the Law is the Law. If you read the full LA Times article you will see that CA Guard is assisting with requests for waivers of indebtedness and recommending a favorable decision.
What is disheartening is that it came out today that the CA Congressional Delegation was informed two tears ago and asked for assistance in modifying statute to allow the Guard to waive the debt (currently only the Army can do so) but no action was taken.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-bonus-guard-20161024-snap-story.html?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Early%20Bird%20Brief%2010.25.2016&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Military%20-%20Early%20Bird%20Brief
What is disheartening is that it came out today that the CA Congressional Delegation was informed two tears ago and asked for assistance in modifying statute to allow the Guard to waive the debt (currently only the Army can do so) but no action was taken.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-bonus-guard-20161024-snap-story.html?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Early%20Bird%20Brief%2010.25.2016&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Military%20-%20Early%20Bird%20Brief
Congress knew for at least two years about Pentagon efforts to take back bonuses from veterans
The California National Guard told the state’s members of Congress two years ago that the Pentagon was trying to claw back reenlistment bonuses from thousands of soldiers, and even offered a proposal to mitigate the problem, but Congress took no action, according to a senior National Guard official.
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MAJ Patrick Ross
LTC Stephen B. - Agree with part. But this should have been a better response. I am glad it is getting attention. For the handful that knew or took advantage, shame. But for the majority that do what they are told wrt finance, especially in the Reserve component, they wouldn't know, nor take the time to investigate - the expert told them. Legal should have done a better job. Cases were at the ABCMR and I found one reference to a class action lawsuit. Shifting the burden to the Soldier after the files were shredded was also inappropriate. The burden should have been to pull a group of legal folks onto AD and actually go through records, request records from the Soldiers, and assist in making it right. The CA Guard spent how much on advertising faux patriotism events? http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/11/14-nfl-teams-took-tax-dollars-for-patriotic-pregame-displays/ I did see the CA Guard tried to do somethings to help, so for that grateful.
14 NFL teams took tax dollars for patriotic pregamedisplays
The Jets are just as patriotic as anybody else, I’m sure. But it’s easier to wave the red, white and blue when it comes with a healthy dose of green. According to Christopher Baxter and Jonathan Salant of NJ.com, theNew Jersey Army National Guard and the Department of Defense paid the Jets a total of…
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MAJ Patrick Ross
Doing more research, found that there appears to be one filed. Still researching. This actually initially become public in 2013. Just first I had heard.
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LTC Stephen B.
MAJ Patrick Ross - Yes, and the Soldier that started the class-action reportedly had his debt waived and then the government asked to have the class action dismissed since the primary no longer had standing. That was in a second LA Times article.
There have already been some waived by Army so far, unfortunately that is a small office and the process is built for caution and completeness, not for speed. Dumping nearly 10,000 cases into this bottle-neck will result in long resolution timelines.
There have already been some waived by Army so far, unfortunately that is a small office and the process is built for caution and completeness, not for speed. Dumping nearly 10,000 cases into this bottle-neck will result in long resolution timelines.
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LTC Stephen B.
MAJ Patrick Ross - Also, Congress, via the CA Guard to the CA delegation, was notified two years ago of this issue and the CA Guard proposed a solution. Appears the CA Congressional Delegation did nothing with that. Link to the article in a previous comment.
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MAJ Patrick Ross
LTC Stephen B. - Seems you know a lot more on the topic than I do. Thank you for the information and updating. I don't think that anyone in uniform deliberately tries to screw over each other, not our ethics.
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