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Here is the catch, you MUST have received a discharge other than "Honorable" to receive benefits from the program. This would be a redemption program to get the unemployable Veteran who has lost benefits as the result of their discharge. It will help cover expenses for discharge appeals or recommend attorneys willing to do pro-bono work. It will help with education programs and finding employers for down and out vets that are having trouble transitioning.
This is a true no Soldier left behind program, where we go back and pick up the wounded in spirit and mind and do what our respective service or our government failed to do, take care of our own.
This is a true no Soldier left behind program, where we go back and pick up the wounded in spirit and mind and do what our respective service or our government failed to do, take care of our own.
Posted in these groups: 
Transition
Benefits
Transition Benefits
Posted >1 y ago
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Not wanting to be the one to rain on a parade or blow holes in ideas, but I have been involved with similar organizations and many have failed because the niche is so small and the reach of most organizations is limited in geographic scope. To have numbers significant to be worthwhile you would have to be a national organization and that means meeting requirements to start a non-profit organization in all states. Not an easy undertaking to say the least. There are programs in Goodwill, VOA, and grants through the VFW and American Legion that work with displaced veterans with less than honorable discharges. You might contact one of them and see what is needed to start up one on your own. I think what you want to do is admirable, but just not sure if the need is there to make it workable.
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CW2 Joseph Evans
Now that is the kind of information that is useful. Goodwill, VOA, VFW and the Legion. While I'm not a big fan of Goodwill, the others with the small chapters able to provide local influence and assistance is nice. I completely agree on the limited range and the "niche market" problem. Anyone who thought they could make this a "full time job" would be sorely mistaken. Being able to just work through a legion hall or as part of a network of successful veterans and alumni, there to give a guy a hand-up.
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This is interesting enough in itself, but my only concern here is where you would draw the line with 'Other Than Honorable' discharges and what led to those. Sometimes OTH discharges are effectively a legal agreement/plea by the service member after some egregious behavior that brings shame to the profession. I am not implying this is always the case (of course it's not) -- but I would want to know where your org would draw the line here if I was, for example, a possible donor to the org. Does that make sense?
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CW2 Joseph Evans
The basis of this was as much tongue in cheek regarding the willingness everyone has for assisting "Honorables", who already have plenty of organizations, both real and fake, willing to help them out. Even prisoners and felons are offered greater assistance with re-integration programs than a SM who was discharged under less than ideal situations.
Yes, there is the discussion of the "Bad Conduct discharge" which can only be given as the result of a Court Martial. But is that veteran any less deserving of a leg up than a felon just released from prison for murder?
These are people, who regardless of what they did, or were perceived to have done, volunteered for service and to be part of something greater than themselves. Yes, they failed, but are they truly worse than those who never aspired to be anything more than a common thug? Do they deserve any less of a chance?
Yes, an OTH is often part of a plea bargain, a bargain often reached because the SJA is unable to prove conclusively without extreme embarrassment to the Command that allowed the situation to come into existence. Should a toxic command climate be the basis for putting a SM at risk for homelessness and suicide for life?
Could/should there be some qualifications or OML for the program? Most recent DD214 OTH or lower, served in a combat zone, allowed to re-enlist at least once, be separated at below Field Grade... I'm sure there are a few others that could be listed.
As for "where do you draw the line"? It would be a case by case determination and it would not be based on the allegations made while in service, but on the caseworkers assessment of their ability to become a productive citizen.
Yes, there is the discussion of the "Bad Conduct discharge" which can only be given as the result of a Court Martial. But is that veteran any less deserving of a leg up than a felon just released from prison for murder?
These are people, who regardless of what they did, or were perceived to have done, volunteered for service and to be part of something greater than themselves. Yes, they failed, but are they truly worse than those who never aspired to be anything more than a common thug? Do they deserve any less of a chance?
Yes, an OTH is often part of a plea bargain, a bargain often reached because the SJA is unable to prove conclusively without extreme embarrassment to the Command that allowed the situation to come into existence. Should a toxic command climate be the basis for putting a SM at risk for homelessness and suicide for life?
Could/should there be some qualifications or OML for the program? Most recent DD214 OTH or lower, served in a combat zone, allowed to re-enlist at least once, be separated at below Field Grade... I'm sure there are a few others that could be listed.
As for "where do you draw the line"? It would be a case by case determination and it would not be based on the allegations made while in service, but on the caseworkers assessment of their ability to become a productive citizen.
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SSG William Patton
I can see helping soldiers or others in the service for mistakes that have cost them their military career and labeled them for life with a discharge that is less than honorable. A classic example of providing aid is the recent case involving marines who urinated on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters they killed in battle. I can see that happening and having been in combat where I have observed worse being done to the corpse of an enemy, I do not find their behavior appalling to begin with, but to court martial these marines is a definite black mark for maybe just using bad judgment. Much has been made of this incident and the politics is creating a very unfavorable climate for justice for these marines. The Obama administration seems hell bent on making an example of these men and in the process they will have their lives destroyed. Personally, I think it is a travesty what is being done to these marines and if ever there is a need to help these men get on there feet, this is it. They will probably end up with a bad conduct at least and maybe a dishonorable discharge and prison time at worst. The niche I spoke of in an earlier post has grown under the current political leadership and those targeted may be above the line we must draw to determine worthiness of help. Still, as also stated, each case must be looked at on its own merits to determine if it meets criteria to provide assistance.
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Well I for one don't qualify for your program, I have an Honorable with an RE1 code.
But If I'm correct I think that the VA can apply for a waiver for those whom have been dishonorable discharge to an honorable one.
I don't know if this applies to every one but I'm certain this does happen I believe the difference is the RE code that changes in that honorable discharge when waivered it will not be RE1 but something lower.
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