Army & Unemployment? …Really?

Alright. This one comes kind of out of left field. For those of you who do not know, I believe firmly, and greatly appreciate military promotions, discounts, and special sales / rates / opportunities. But the little perks here and there, believe me, are not as frequent as you would think. College Students tend to get more perks then military. Being military, I often tend to shop and eat at places who acknowledge service members and veterans. Perhaps it comes from being raised in a military community and family. My Dell Laptop I received a discount on when ordered, and during leave… I emailed the #1 Rated, 5 Star hotel in Seattle… they said “thank you” and offered me a very awesome discounted package. Some movie theaters give military discounts, but I get the “Family Discount” which equals $FREE$ from my brother who is a manager at a theater. Both discounts I enjoy as often as I can. But without a doubt, my favorite discount would be the 10% off Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. I just can’t get enough of them.

Then you’ve got military benefits. These come few and far between, but the ones that are there are pretty amazing.  Everything from Full Medical coverage (family included), Dental Coverage, and driver license perks (the whole “no expiration date” thing is pretty sweet, and in most states if your Drivers license is expired, but you have you’re military license, you’re golden). Then you’ve got big pullers like free college education, The Montgomery GI Bill, or the Post 9/11 GI Bill.  All of which is not limited to college, but can be used for technical training, certificates, and more. The best part is, should you choose to further your education while actively serving, tuition is free and fee’s are often waved, allowing you to save you GI Bill for when you get out. Upon Re-Deployment, I plan to use my Active Status to obtain my Private Helicopter License.

Heck, when you get out of the Army (or respective military branch), you are also entitled to Unemployment… wait… what?! Yeah… This I have some serious beef with. Allow me to explain.

Maybe I’m just an ungrateful ass.  But I really do not believe that someone who is honorably discharged from the Active Duty should be entitled to collect Unemployment. In the most basic of English terms, Unemployment (as far as I understood it), was for people who are fired or laid off from their, or by their employer.  This is understandable, as you could be working for a company for 3 years, have no beef or issues and one day find out it’s your last day. Done deal. No warning. You haven’t been looking for another job, because you’ve been a happy worker for said company for a while. So Unemployment, helps out a little bit while you job hunt. 

The same pathology simply does not apply to those serving in the military and choose to get out. Now, I say choose, because I’m talking about those honorably discharged for now. So let me get this straight…. Joe Blow walks into his recruiters station and says “I want to join the Army”, and he does.  Then he completes his first term of 3 years (because that’s what he selected when he signed up), and decided the Army is good for him. He Re-Enlist for another, oh lets say 5 years. Five years is up. He has now completed 8 years of Active Duty, and decides he wants to go ahead and get out. Someone explain to me why he is entitled to Unemployment?

Lets look at this a little bit more in depth.

First of all. The Military (in case you haven’t figured it out yet) is a very professional organization, that pushes responsibility, maturity, comradery, and professionalism to levels often not found in the civilian world. From Day One in the Army, soldiers are trained and groomed to succeed. If you can think of a ‘self help’ program, the Army has it. Everything from personal finance management, anger management, home buying workshops, alcoholics anonymous… EVERYTHING. You are given responsibilities, and held accountable for your actions, and for the actions and conduct of soldiers under you.  You are given tasks to execute, and with enough time in, assign tasks to be executed. Self Responsibility and forced upon you, and I’ve seen nothing but good things come of it.

So back to Joe Blow, now Staff Sergeant Joe Blow about to get out of the Army. During his 4th year, just after his first reenlistment, he decided this was going to be his final leg.  Or maybe he decided this his last year of his new contract. This means, that Staff Sergeant Joe Blow has seen the end of his military career coming for MONTHS if not YEARS.  The Army isn’t forcing him out. He Choosing to get out.  On top of this… when you are about to get out of the Army, within one year, the Army offers you (on your way out) opportunities for set you up for success in the civilian world. The Program is called ACAP (The Army Career and Alumni Program).

Taken directly from the ACAP Site:

What is ACAP?
ACAP is the Army Career and Alumni Program. It is the Army’s program for assisting Soldiers separating or retiring from the Army as well as their family members and Army Civilians. ACAP also serves veterans and retirees. ACAP services include transition and employment assistance, training, and counseling.

They will help you build you build a sharp resume, and if you inquire, will not only help you out with how to do well for an interview by giving you mock interviews, but will also HELP you find a job, and also has a job placement program. Just another little program Uncle Sam has for soldiers reentering the civilian world.

So… if Guy knows that he’s getting out as often as 4-5 years, sometimes 2-3 before his separation from the military, and chooses to do nothing to prepare him or herself, and get out on a specific date he / she knows WELL in advance… will collect Unemployment?

Am I the only one who see’s something wrong with this picture?

—– Moving slightly to the left. Sort of kinda away from this topic but not really——

Let me give you a brief summary of a real life conversation I had with a soldier roughly 24hours ago regarding this very topic.

Me – “So what is your plan when you get out”
Him – “I’m going to get my Associates Degree, and then go the Medical School and receive a 
           Medical Radiology Degree (or whatever) so I can work in the medical field”
Me – “How do you plan to support yourself through college”
Him – “The GI Bill will give me money for housing, in addition to paying for my school” (Housing 
          allowance will be roughly $1200/mo, possibly higher depending on the area)
Me – “Is that really going to pay for your Apartment, Car Payment, Bills, ect… What about a job?”
Him – “Well I’m also going to collect Unemployment" …[then continued] “…I’m not gonna lie, 
          I’m gonna use it to get high.  I want to get out so I can smoke weed”.

Forgive me if this is premature. But I’ll be damned, if a soldiers, or ANYONE for that matter has the intention on using Unemployment Money for drugs.  We all know it’s being done by people who “legitimately receive unemployment”, but this just takes it to a whole new ball game. I have no problem referring to such individuals as “Low Life’s”, “Scum Bags”, “Scum of the Earth”, or making statements that would put them along the lines of selfish and self centered morons who have no place in this country. A Bold statement? Sure, but they’re a Disgrace to the uniform, and American life.

I have a very low regard for people who use tax payers money (undeservingly or not) for Drugs, legal or not, to get a quick high. And to add on to it, when you’ve done something like that, I could care less about your military accomplishments or awards…  the second that you ( a service member of former) use the hard working American tax dollar, so you can buy a nickel bag (or whatever retarded slang you have now days)… you deserve to be banned from US Soil. 

I do believe the world is going to end in 2012.
Because the generations coming up in today’s world, are full of nothing but young idiotic retards who’s priority is get high, beat women, and listen to stupid rap music. Respect, Health, common sense, and proper English have taken the backseat in modern society.

Have you seen the movie Idiocricy?  That’s a glimpse at our future for real.