A veteran’s struggles on the academic front
By A. David Verde
It’s been a little more than two years since I put on my uniform for the last time. My last day of work was a funeral detail with the Charleston, S.C. Air Force base honor guard. It was an additional duty that I volunteered to do; my primary job was air transportation journeyman. I had a plan when I joined the Air Force: Do six years, don’t turn into that guy who talked about war all the time, separate and use the GI Bill to finish my degree in music education.
After leaving, I thought it was all behind me. I didn’t realize that after six years and three deployments, I had been fully institutionalized into military life. Only problem was, I wasn’t in the military any longer.
Verde is a six-year Air Force, OEF/OIF Veteran. He is a business owner and freelance photographer residing in Christiansburg and is the Style Street blogger at roanoke.com.
November 18, 2012 - 8:03 AM
Verde’s sweeping indictment of the faculty and staff at NRCC probably didn’t make their day. It was like me saying, oh those army officers and their extramarital affairs, their alcohol abuse, their sexual harrassment and assault of women, their Islamaphobia, their anger-management issues, drug abuse, and oh, their sense of entitlement… “give me all the special help I want in college… make the other students behave!!! Give us Veterans only classes!” Seriously? Thanks for your service in the Air Force, sir, but how many classes did you observe? How many colleges have you attended?
Through the GI Bill, Mr. Verde is already getting a free education; how much more catering does he need? The rest of us had to pay for the privilege of suffering immature classmates, rigorous schedules, and inflexible schedules.
And to the college instructor that needs to tend bar to make ends meet, his job is every bit as important as Mr. Verde’s job at Charleston AFB. Get off your high horse Mr. Verde.
#2 – Mr. Verde is not getting an free education…he paid for it with his service to the country.
3 – Mr. Verde was paid a salary for his service, as well as a housing and subsistence allowance, and the training the military provided him. The taxpayer-funded education is on top of all that.
Understand, I completely support the GI Bill program, and think it is a wonderful opportunity for youngsters, and applaud Mr. Verde for taking advantage of it.
But some perspective is in order. The fact that he has this opportunity does not entitle him to anything more than anyone else who attends. Certainly not those who pay for it themselves, whether through debt and/or part-time jobs, even those who tend bar (or sell hardware or move furniture, as I did).
#4 – No, Hoo, the education benefit is not on top of his pay and allowances…it was part of the deal the gov’t made with him when he enlisted. So yes, he has paid for the education he is getting.
I agree, though, that he is not entitled to anything more than anyone else.
5 – Are you saying his compensation (salary, subsistence allowance, benefits, etc) would have been less if he had not chosen to accept the opportunities offered by the GI Bill?
#6 – Not at all, Hoo. Simply that the benefit of the GI Bill was included as part of his enlistment. Sort of like being promised free health care for life for you and your spouse if you did 20 years.
Unfortunately, the gov’t lied about that one.
7 – yes, it was included as an enticement, but he would not have been paid anything less, or owed anything back, if he had decided not to go to college on the GI Bill ticket. It’s a given that more than one soldier has decided not to go to college on the GI Bill even when offered the opportunity (and the opportunities are not available only at the time of enlistment).
So the expense to the taxpayer (i.e., the benefit to the soldier) is above the rest of his compensation.
I disagree, Hoo.
Yes, the taxpayer is paying monetarily for the education, but it’s because it was part of the deal of enlistment…something the soldier earned by fulfilling his commitment. The opportunity to use GI Bill wasn’t given to me…I earned it. Had I not gone into the military, I wouldn’t have been eligible. So, in essence, I paid for my education by serving my country.
As far as someone NOT using their GI Bill, that’s their fault. They earned it just as I did. Not using it is a personal choice.
…it also adds to the diploma bubble we see today, but that’s a different topic…
As a veteran, and that not withstanding, I agree that Mr. Verde appears to be whining.
However, Michael is correct, the opportunity to attend college, such as it may be manifested, is indeed part of the package offered.
Whether one chooses to use it (or not) is beside the point.
Indeed, ‘Hoo, the fact many do not exercise the opportunity only diminishes what I understand to be your, IMO incorrect, point of undue entitlement.
Not saying it’s undue, Jim, I’m pointing out that the cost to the taxpayers of the GI Bill is in addition to (above) the rest of his compensation. As i said above, i support the program and applaud those soldiers who take advantage of it.
My company reimburses employees who successfully achieve certain professional certifications, licenses, etc. (we reimburse the cost of the exam and to a point, study materials, provided they pass the exam). This is a benefit available when they join, and the cost of it is above the salary I pay them. In other words, they receive the same salary whether they take advantage or not, (although one they have completed the certification, license, etc., they may qualify for a raise and/or promotion).