AL’s National Commander: changes to military retirement will hurt national security
Some guy named Mothax posted on American Legion’s The Burn Pit yesterday a press release from their new national commander, Fang Wong, stating that the proposed increases to the out-of-pocket expenses for military retirees will negatively impact our national security, making some of the same points I made the other day;
President Obama told more than 10,000 Legionnaires at our national convention less than a month ago that the budget would not be balanced on the backs of veterans,” Wong said. “Military retirees are veterans. And their benefits, including TRICARE medical insurance, cannot be milked to make ends meet. Make no mistake about it. This is an attempt to balance the budget on the backs of veterans. Military retirees are a small target in the middle of a big problem. They should not be asked to forfeit any of their health-care benefits to solve it.
Wong went on to address proposed changes to the military retirement system;
These are not ordinary government jobs,” said Wong, a retired U.S. Army chief warrant officer. “The sacrifices of those who make careers in the Armed Forces include life-threatening combat, long deployments separated from family, multiple transitions from duty station to duty station, and anything else the nation asks. America has the world’s strongest military because good men and women have made commitments to careers in the military knowing they will be rewarded with a decent retirement in the end.
“Any commission examining this issue in order to reduce the cost of military retirement will inherently search for ways to reduce the value of the benefit,” Wong added. “That’s not good for military retirees. Moreover, it’s not good for America’s national security
This is why, after years of avoiding membership in the American Legion, that I finally joined. The last few years, the legion has stepped back from “going along to get along” and they’ve taken a leadership role in fighting for veterans. My week among the delegates and leaders of the Legion in Minneapolis earlier this month has only reinforced my commitment to the organization. These are folks who are truly selflessly committed to the veteran community and i’m proud to count myself in their number.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Veterans Issues
I joined the Legion again after they endorsed veterans’ efforts to bring back the remains of 13 Navy sailors still buried in a mass grave on the shore of Tripoli. No other veterans service organization had the balls to stand up for those men and their families. The Legion is also taking a leading role on Capitol Hill this month, fighting for an amendment to the Pentagon budget requiring the DoD to bring those heroes home. (Check out http://www.IntrepidProject.org)
Cdr Wong’s statement on the Obama budget is further proof the Legion has grown some stones, and because of that they got me back.
Thanks, guys, for the updates. The vets in this household have also carefully avoided joining the AL, for many of the same reasons. Well, that, and we are just not “joiners” by nature.
I joined the American Legion last week. I’m going to build my post a website since most posts either have no website or a website that looks like it was built in 1989.
The jury is still out for me. I’m already in the V and the DAV.
Will AL help me fight for service connection for my cancer? My cancer will probably kill me sometime in the next 5 years and is making very miserable right now. I’m often not able to pursue things in the aggressive manner such a fight will entail.
Or should I go with some one else?
Suggestions and phone numbers appreciated. I live in the Las Vegas, NV area.
Purple Dragon- I sent an email to the address you used here.
John, TSO I e-mailed you my ph#, address and real name the same day you sent me the request. Did you get it?