FULLY AGREED!I don't think these soldiers should have to pay back anything. They were made an offer that they accepted. They re-enlisted so they, in good faith, honored their end of the deal. The responsibility for this mistake falls on the Pentagon who didn't oversee how these bonuses were being given out by it's representatives, not on those that accepted them. Since the Pentagon can't repay the six years these soldiers gave them in their end of the deal, The Pentagon should just eat this mistake and hopefully learn from it so it doesn't happen again.
According to CNNJust in Defence Secretary just announced they will suspend trying to get the money back from vet's.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/26/polit...-california-national-guard-members/index.html
I noticed this:
"After investigators uncovered rampant fraud and mismanagement by California Guard officials trying to meet enlistment targets, the California National Guard has said it was required to try to recuperate the erroneously awarded funds, and does not have the authority to unilaterally waive the debts."
Sounds like this may be at the root of the issue to begin with. Idiots trying to meet quota then put others in a politically (and emotionally) unpopular position.
Suspending attempts to collect is nice, but it doesn't erase the debt. Would rather see them permanently forgiven and all repayments returned to the soldiers that made restitution. That might take an act of Congress, if so, get it done ASAP.Just in Defence Secretary just announced they will suspend trying to get the money back from vet's.
Suspending attempts to collect is nice, but it doesn't erase the debt. Would rather see them permanently forgiven and all repayments returned to the soldiers that made restitution. That might take an act of Congress, if so, get it done ASAP.