This past Veteran's Day, President Obama reassured vets that his administration was doing everything it could to help them find jobs and readjust to civilian life. "We know the most urgent task most of you face is finding a new way to serve," he said. "That's why we've made it a priority to help you find jobs worthy of your incredible skills and talents."
But despite the administration’s best intentions less than half a year later, many veterans are still out of work. One of those veterans is none other than the SEAL Team Six member who killed Osama bin Laden. In an extensive interview with Phil Bronstein of the Center for Investigative Reporting, "the Shooter" details how after leaving the Navy he finds himself with limited resources, wondering how he will feed his wife and kids and pay for their medical care.
Shortly after the Esquire story was published, Stars and Stripes the military publication, issued a rebuttal, claiming that the Navy SEAL referenced in the Esquire story was actually eligible for more benefits, like five years of health care coverage.
Still, how can a national hero be left with so few options to reintegrate into civilian life? Howard Wasdin, former Navy SEAL sniper and author of "SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper" explains that the issues facing elite Navy SEALs aren't all that different from those facing ordinary veterans.
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Comments [9]
why doesnt he rejoin the Navy? Why doesnt he get a job doing private security? Wait, he doesnt want to carry a gun anymore. You guys are treating this guy like a little child……he needs to go to work and get a job.
Active Duty Army guy with 17 Years in right now and I am not leaving the Army because I know better!
I was really disappointed to hear this story on NPR this morning. I thought that surely NPR wouldn't push the same hype as all the rest, leaving out a very important detail - that this man voluntarily quit his job in the Navy before becoming eligible for retirement benefits. It's no secret that it takes 20 years (or a mandated medical retirement) to get that benefit.
The transition assistance program (TAP), a week-long class that is required for all separating and retiring servicemembers (SMs), would have educated him about his benefits - the ones he keeps and the ones he loses. The TAP is far from perfect and has recently been overhauled, but it is not the ONLY place a SM can learn about his/her benefits. Should we do a better job of educating our SMs about their benefits and resources? Sure. But to claim ignorance now is not cool. He is without healthcare because he didn't ask what's available and I guess he didn't read his mail. (When my husband was getting out, we got 2 letters about COBRA.) He could have extended his family's healthcare benefits using COBRA.
The story mentioned that he has too many medical issues to continue being a SEAL. Did anyone ask him if he could sing? (tongue in cheek there) Did he not consider that he could move to another specialty for his remaining four years and earn the benefits that he was SO close to getting?
The story as reported seems to be getting people riled up because the man who shot Bin Laden deserves so much more than other SMs. That is misleading and demeaning to the SMs who put in the 20 years, whether they drove ships, went behind enemy lines, or sang in the chorus.
I can believe that the military does this to its own veterans (I can't really believe it) but it is hard it won't cover its dirty laundry for this guy.What is Military Intelligence doing?
l
Incredible! When are you people going to balance this show with some people that think soldiers are lazy idiots that want to be told what to do and kill people and not like heroes. They did their job...now they get free health care and many get paid for lie at exorbitant retirements. They already suck up half the discretionary spending of our government and they want more. If the military was 1/4 the size it is now, it would still be to big, but maybe we wouldn't be in such a hurry to run around the world and oppress people for their resources or their strategic importance.
One SNAFU after another.
Fort Hood Hero Says Obama 'Betrayed' Her, Other Victims
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/fort-hood-hero-obama-betrayed-victims/story?id=18465024
I think Howard Wasdin should take up a collection for the guy who killed Bin Laden. I bet there's a lot of people who would give. A little bit from everyone willing could go a long way. I'd buy that for a dollar.
VA's disability backlog hurts Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden
http://cironline.org/reports/vas-disability-backlog-hurts-navy-seal-who-killed-bin-laden-4196
His situation is more poignant in light of the preening, self-promoting chest beater who fancies himself "the-commander-in-chief". Perhaps we should escrow presidential pension until every Veteran who filed during the president's term begins to receive the benefits he is lawfully entitled to? Let that be the law for all present and future presidents, for all veterans.
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