…in any way the politicians can get away with.
Are you wondering what this Administration has done to the military? How about what they’ve done to benefits for the military?
Tricare, tuition assistance and many other programs that are used for retention and quality of life get stripped from the military whenever there is a budget crisis.
Instead of cutting the waste out of the budget as they should, they cut the very programs that are meant to retain soldiers in the military.
Our Armed Forces are heading towards a hollow shell that will be rife with morale and discipline issues very soon if not already.
Promises made are seldom kept when it comes to the military, veterans and retirees.
The voters in this country are supposed to look out for the military.
Politicians just see it as low hanging fruit in Washington and will hack away at it until it is no longer a viable force.
Recently, my wife and I received our letters. They were signed by W. Bryan Gamble, M.D., FACS, Brigadier General, US Army. His signature block identifies him as the Deputy Director of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs.
“Beginning October 1, 2013, TRICARE Prime [our healthcare insurance] coverage will not be available where you currently live…”
The letter tells us that we may still be able to enroll in TRICARE Prime at a military treatment facility. I mention that for the benefit of our Congressional representatives from the state of West Virginia who should know that there are no military treatment facilities in our state. I do not recall any of them raising a ruckus.
The General, whose letter was signed with an illegible electronic pen scribble, also instructed us:
“As you prepare for this change, you should look carefully at your health care options, such as using TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra or obtaining insurance through a spouse or an employer.” [because the country you and your family served is finished with you]
All of those options are more expensive than TRICARE Prime. Not to worry about my wife or me. We will survive. We always have. We left the military with about the same as we had when we entered it. Enlisted military families who serve a lifetime in uniform do not have much opportunity to build wealth. Our pensions are never enough to live on, so regardless of the years in uniform work after service remains a necessity. Health care coverage offered through TRICARE Prime is a significant retirement benefit. There will be no increase in pensions to make up for the added costs. Some of us caught in the window where work is ended and age 65 has not yet arrived must just suck it up.
via American Journal March 11, 2013 Soldiers Slighted « JDs Bunker.
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