DOD - What the Hell Were You Thinking?

Thursday, April 17, 2008
Since World War II, the Army has had a policy governing the service of sole surviving siblings and children of soldiers killed in combat. The policy is meant to protect the rights of service people who have lost family members to war. Not a bad plan, and I'm sure that families who have lost multiple members to war appreciate the courtesy.

Leave it to the Department of Defense to screw it up.

Army Specialist Jason Hubbard of Fresno, California was forced to leave the combat zone after his two brothers died in the Iraq war.

However, upon his return home, the military cut off his family's health care, stopped his G.I. educational subsidies and wanted him to repay his sign-up bonus. Because, clearly, allowing siblings to retain their benefits when their siblings are killed in action will only encourage all those lazy freeloaders to take advantage of the government by having more siblings killed in action. Or something. Or maybe the surviving siblings are supposed to use the dead siblings' death benefits for their education and health care.

Dumbasses.

Thankfully, Spc. Hubbard's Representative, Devin Nunes, stepped in on his behalf so that he was allowed to keep his benefits, and is now introducing a bill that will protect basic benefits for all soldiers who are discharged under this policy.

What the hell is the DOD thinking?


H/T to Mom in Northern

23 comments:

Jim Wright said...

OK, I'll scrap the post I was working on regarding this exact same subject. Thanks Janiece.

Nothing irks me more than bureaucratic bullshit used to screw people over, military or otherwise.

Nathan said...

I'd say it's clear that no one was thinking at all.

Some putz just followed regulations without taking the slightest look at the situation. I'd like to think that if it had been brought to the attention of someone further up the chain of command, this would have never happened.

Granted, I said I'd like to think...

Janiece said...

Jim, I think it's fair to assume that such assholery will enter the UCF blogosphere through (at least) one of us.

And Nathan? You're an optimist.

Nathan said...

Them's fightin' words?

Janiece said...

Only in this group would calling someone an optimist be fighting words...

The Mechanicky Gal said...

We are now reaping the results of people that cannot comprehend that a situation may need to be explored before a mindless, one-size-fits-all solution is offered (see previous post about Angry Black Woman's take on schools). I run into this on a daily basis as I deal with the Navy every day. Want a base pass? Well your contract runs out tomorrow. What? There is ANOTHER contract that runs out at the end of the year? Oh, that one was underneath this one and I didn't see it. All I had to do was look? Why?
It makes my ankles swell, and it will only get worse as the degrading school system and the No Child Left Behind bullshit increases.
end rant.

Janiece said...

it makes my ankles swell

No shit. I will soon start bleeding out of my ears...

Random Michelle K said...

There's room here under my rock if anyone wants to join me.

Nathan said...

Stay out from under Michelle's rock. She's rude. Janiece said so on the 'e'.

::starts running again::

Janiece said...

Nathan, you are incorrigible.

Nathan said...

Thank you. That's the first nice thing you've said to me today!

By the way, I was laughing my ass off the whole time I was posting that on the 'e'.

Possibly I'm incorrigible and juvenile.

Janiece said...

Nathan, they're not exactly mutually exclusive.

And since when is being nice to you in my job description?

hehe.

Nathan said...

Sheesh, I was just showing a little appreciation.

Janiece said...

You're welcome, Nathan.

Random Michelle K said...

Damn straight I'm rude!

And don't forget bitchy! I'm also bitchy!

Janiece said...

Yeah, Michelle. That's what you are.

Nathan said...

Michelle, you're supposed to say that on my blog so you can make the "Best of..."

Anonymous said...

Having never served, I really don't have the right to comment (said ironically, fully intending to comment).

However...

Having been engaged to a bubble-head for a while (among other connections), I have encountered my share of US military ass-hattery. This one is a bit baffling, though.

Wasn't Specialist Hubbard removed from combat at the pleasure of the US Army? I assume (bad plan, that) that he was discharged? I assume again (worse plan) honorably? In accordance with policy?

If so, wouldn't Specialist Hubbard automatically be entitled to Veteran's benefits?

Which means someone at the DOD had to go back, look through it all again (something like an IRS audit, yes?), and specifically deny him said benefits?

I'm going to go off and websearch for this story, because I'm strenuously (read that angrily) confused.

(PS - I'm chuckling about the fact that calling someone in the UCF an 'optimist' draws a line in the sand. What's a gal gotta do?
Y'all have a secret handshake or something?)

Nathan said...

"Y'all have a secret handshake or something?"

I've assigned someone (I think Shawn), the job of creating said secret handshake. Very disappointing that I haven't seen the fruits of his labor yet.

:D

Anonymous said...

My head has just exploded at that particular bit of unthinking incompetence. A bit messy, that.

Janiece said...

Carol Elaine, especially if you're at work. I'm quite sure all those rocket scientists wouldn't have the practical, common-sense skills to fetch a mop and a bucket.

Anonymous said...

Janiece, luckily there's another secretary nearby. She helped me clean up and piece everything back together.

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