[quote=briansd1]I know a guy who joined to go fight in Iraq because he wanted to sponsor his mother who is old and sick.[/quote]
briansd1, your post is telling. This type of fraud is/was rampant in the military. I know of a military “sponsor” who somehow managed to bring over twenty-one (21) “dependents” up to the age of 77, listed on his “Page 13,” all from one particular Asian country. Each of those “dependents” no doubt recieved their own military dependent I.D. card.
Typically, if an American citizen or legal resident “promises” to support a “sponsored” individual in order to bring them here and then the sponsor or sponsored individual later has issues (financial/medical problems?) which make it impossible for the sponsor to continue to support them months/years after they legally enter the US, then that new “legal” immigrant may be eligible for SSI due to age and disability. By virtue of being eligible for SSI, they are automatically eligible for Medi-Cal. If you don’t believe me, check the rules.
[quote=SDRealtor]Bearish I guess as I said I have seen both sides of the service blade. I know plenty of 20 year retirees who live on good pensions and now accel in the private sector. So yes they are eating up valuable funds.[/quote]
SDRealtor, IMHO, a service member who has served twenty years in ANY era DESERVES EVERY PENNY of their military retirement. They have EARNED IT, in SPADES. If the retirement wasn’t there as an incentive, no enlistee would stay in past the four years needed to earn some educational assistance. Yes, about half of military retirees are successful in their careers after retirement. Most of the ones who are successful (due to having an advanced education) were officers in the military. A few enlisted personnel are successful as well, such as my ex-spouse. For retired enlistees without a college degree, it takes a lot of perseverence, guts and the right contacts to be successful, all of which he possessed.
I am completely against the government conferring benefits upon “dependents” outside of a member’s immediate family.
