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Army: Unclear How Many Soldiers Asked To Return Enlistment Bonuses
Despite the Pittsburgh TV station KDKA citing "thousands" of wounded soldiers being asked to return their recruitment bonuses, it's unclear how many actually were, according to Army spokesman Paul Boyce.
Boyce says he has personally been in touch with the station's reporters as part of the Army's efforts to get to the bottom of the bonus-recoupment story, and he's been able to determine that 300 soldiers were asked to send back part or all of their battlefield pay -- not their bonuses. So far, the Army attributes the mistake to an insufficient number of finance clerks at some hospitals where wounded soldiers were admitted in 2004 and 2005, resulting in paperwork mix-ups. In 99 of those cases, the remittance was waived "on the spot" after the Army caught the error. For the remaining 201, some measure of congressional assistance was required, Boyce said, but for all cases that didn't involve a soldier involved in obvious wrongdoing (a more precise number was unavailable), soldiers kept their money. In response, the Army beefed up their finance personnel at its hospitals, Boyce said.
It remains unclear how many wounded soldiers actually received notices from the Army demanding they return their recruitment bonuses -- or who don't receive installments of those bonuses -- after injuries prevented them from finishing their service commitments. Boyce says the Army is "presently looking into the circumstances" of how many soldiers were asked to send back their bonuses.
Comments (4)
Pax Kucinich wrote on November 23, 2007 2:23 PM:The official lie is there are 26,000 wounded. The fact is, as of January ’07, there were 205,000 wounded in just Iraq and Afghanistan which has now climbed to 248,000 wounded, maimed, or mutilated permanently.
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CBS investigation finds alarming rate of veteran suicides.
Last night, CBS News reported that their five-month investigation of veterans’ deaths revealed data that shows a startling rate of suicide.
“Problems plague military absentee voting,” in the Oct. 15 issue.
Carolyn wrote on November 24, 2007 8:44 PM:Weak defense by defense dept. Why would the army ask ANY wounded soldier to return $$$? Isn't the hero in enough deep stuff already? If they overpaid, so what? Nothing will be enough to repay their sacrifice.
Mary wrote on November 24, 2007 9:39 PM:Wow the US department of defense trying to rein in expenses?
I wonder if Blackwater or Dyncorp employees get all of their bonuses.
This truly makes me want to puke.
The US military personel make less than 10 times the amount paid to the mercenaries we have over there and it truly makes me sick that the US government is going to cheat our soldiers who actually believe they are fighting for freedom.
Hey neocons! Great way to build up the greatest fighting force in the world.
scumbags
JP wrote on November 26, 2007 12:57 PM:I say take away the bonuses and let the Free Market rule! The prospect of loosing their enlistment bonus due to injury will incite greater workplace safety. Free Market Warfare Theories have taken root in every other aspect of Prime Minister Cheney's armed forces, why not here?