Military Thread

I think it's wrong, but it doesn't really bother me for the people that are retiring after 20-30 as for the majority the government probably fucked you more than you'll ever get back. It does bother me to all end when I see E3s-E5s doing it after their initial tour+reenlistment when they decide to go "make bank as a contractor."

On this rotation I just had, I think I had 7 or 8 do just that. None of them were worth shit on the mission and did nothing but bitch and moan while working 08-1100 most days. Iraq is such a fucking joke now.

I don't doubt it. I was actively trying to dissuade my kids and their pipe dreams, but juniors going to junior. Had another handful that are using their tax free pay checks to buy trucks to do contract hauling. With how cut throat trucking is, I'm not sure who made the smarter decision.

Depends on what you did when you were in the military. I did 10 years in the Navy (still reserves) and i pull down pretty good bank as a Contractor. It also helps living in DC.

110-130k is not out of the question depending on if you actually got special schools while you were in the military or not.

Sumdain x said:

Depends on what you did when you were in the military. I did 10 years in the Navy (still reserves) and i pull down pretty good bank as a Contractor. It also helps living in DC.

110-130k is not out of the question depending on if you actually got special schools while you were in the military or not.

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I'm talking about run of the mill suburban/backwoods/swamp kids who barely meet minimums while complaining about not receiving things they are "entitled" to. If I was talking about my handful of high speed Corporals or Sergeants who actually excel at things and volunteer for things (and get selected for schools) it would be different. One of my corporals ended up going reserves and did just that and making 80/90k in about 6 months in DC on contracted reconstruction jobs.

I'm in TAP right now, the VA guy is coming to talk about claiming disability and shit on Friday. I've already started the application but no clue how much I'm going to get. My knees are fucked where they will eventually need surgery but not to the point that I will be unemployable or anything. Jobs I'm aiming for are all physically-oriented and require physical evals anyhow.

I fucked up my ankle twice in the Army and had surgery this past year that didn't go so hot. They completely missed that the main ligament in my ankle was completely torn on the first MRI so I was running on for almost 2 years before I was ever sent to podiatry to have a specialist look at it. Claiming that and an undiagnosed tear in my knee on the opposite leg that was never MRI'd or anything. Ebenefits moves kind of slow and like someone else said I have no idea how much I will actually get each month. I didn't claim any of the PTSD, back pain, can't get my dick up, ringing in my ears bullshit. However my first off-post VA appointment was for hearing even though I didn't claim it.

Anyways, I get my DD-214 on Thursday or Friday. My only qualms about that is that you should get it sooner so you can apply for certain jobs with it. I'm currently using a Statement of Service Memorandum and not getting any call backs for State or Federal jobs.

Cleared everything today and it feels amazing. I said goodbye to like 4 or 5 people on the way out and didn't feel bad about it at all. Couldn't get my actual DD-214 because the system was down and they were closed today for team building or some shit and they told me to come back Monday but already rented my moving truck so they are just gonna mail it to me. Feels good man.

calhoonjugganaut said:

Cleared everything today and it feels amazing. I said goodbye to like 4 or 5 people on the way out and didn't feel bad about it at all. Couldn't get my actual DD-214 because the system was down and they were closed today for team building or some shit and they told me to come back Monday but already rented my moving truck so they are just gonna mail it to me. Feels good man.

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Mail huh? I believe that.

I think when I separated I had 90 days of access to my virtual setup and was able to print of 21039213092 copies of my 214. It is my new wallpaper at the house. I really liked serving, but the family strain was no question leading to a divorce. Saw a lot of "no-notice divorces" for people around 15-20 years from spouses who just don't give a shit anymore and refuse to move for the 50th time.

SeanDoe1z1 said:

Mail huh? I believe that.

I think when I separated I had 90 days of access to my virtual setup and was able to print of 21039213092 copies of my 214. It is my new wallpaper at the house. I really liked serving, but the family strain was no question leading to a divorce. Saw a lot of "no-notice divorces" for people around 15-20 years from spouses who just don't give a shit anymore and refuse to move for the 50th time.

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I was told I can get it off of ebenefits before I think, but not sure if it's that site or iperms or something. Definitely gonna print it out beforehand if I can so I can attach it to job applications.

I love my half brother to death, but god damn his "disability" claims piss me off to no end. At least the guy spent 3 tours in Afghanistan in the Air Force, but his claim is mostly sleep apnea and some "foot arthritis" whatever the fuck that is. The sleep apnea is from his dad (snored like a freight train) and completely genetics. It has zero to do with his time in service. He is now a stay at home house-dad and his wife is an E7 active duty. He gets 80% and spends all his days playing golf and scuba diving while my nieces are in school. He has full 9/11 GI Bill and taking courses, but due to his "disability" status he's been given a load of grants and scholarships. That all also rolls straight into the bank account.

That system needs a serious overhaul and the continued benefits should be based on periodic reviews. Here I am working in the middle east contracting my ass off to make good money. He just plays the system. #jealousasF

Buddy broke his wrist in a pick up football game (pretty sure outside of official capacity). Couple botched surgeries later and a year or year 1/2 into operational force hes MEB'd at 80 % VA. 1200-1500 a month for the rest of his life to a 24 year old. Ironically started a charter / dive company after he was out...

Not mad, but I agree the VA ratings are a botched system. Going through TAPS they brought in someone from the VA to lecture us how it was our duty to file for schedule of benefits. They also brought in a finiacial advisor blue hair who started her 2-3 day speel on how she finished her masters and is 150k in debt, classy.

SeanDoe1z1 said:

Not mad, but I agree the VA ratings are a botched system. Going through TAPS they brought in someone from the VA to lecture us how it was our duty to file for schedule of benefits. They also brought in a finiacial advisor blue hair who started her 2-3 day speel on how she finished her masters and is 150k in debt, classy.

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On tangent, but TAPS is a good idea turned hand waived box check / yellow ribbon virtue signalling. I swear, if half the things the Federal Government tried to do for the DoD were implemented with some semblance of intelligence / planning, the budget would decrease on it's own.

Jysin said:

He has full 9/11 GI Bill and taking courses, but due to his "disability" status he's been given a load of grants and scholarships. That all also rolls straight into the bank account.

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Explain that? If you're getting scholarships/financial aid, I thought the GI Bill would only cover what the other aid would not, up to whatever the cap is (21k something). If he's getting both in full, that might be fraud.

Brikker said:

Explain that? If you're getting scholarships/financial aid, I thought the GI Bill would only cover what the other aid would not, up to whatever the cap is (21k something). If he's getting both in full, that might be fraud.

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GI Bill always pays highest state public school tuition. If I have grants/scholarships paying xx% of my tuition that is at or less than the highest state tuition, then I have at least xx% rolling into my account as a check from the school. Depending on his state, tuition, and which ass load of vet/disabled charities/grants/scholarships he got; he could potentially be making a lot of money.

I just got lectured on this myself for not spending free money on grad school by an O-5 and TAP instructor.

Is it sad that I'm saving my GI Bill for if something ever happens and I end up unemployed for an extended period of time for just that reason? The E-5 BAH alone in most metropolitan areas could probably sustain me for a while.

Fadaar said:

Is it sad that I'm saving my GI Bill for if something ever happens and I end up unemployed for an extended period of time for just that reason? The E-5 BAH alone in most metropolitan areas could probably sustain me for a while.

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I got a Master's with mine and still have over half of it left. Gonna use it for some certificate programs next year. The BAH where I'll be living is $3k

A headhunter apparently checked out my linkedin after I had to revamp it to clear TAP, cold called me yesterday and offered me 86k + benefits with room to grow in a major corporation...