https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reinstate-military-tuition-assistance-ta-and-block-armed-service-branches-any-further-suspension-ta/kSyVdySm

Recently, all branches of services have decided to get rid of their Tuition Assistance program. This is a program in which service members were given up to $4500 per year to take college classes while serving without having to dip into their GI Bill. It was a great benefit of serving in that it would allow to to better yourself and get more prepared for the transition to a civilian lifestyle if you got out. It also ensured that if you got deployment orders or TDY during the term, that you would not have to forfeit any of your own money. The only reason you would have to pay pack the government is if you failed the course.

Speaking from personal experience, I know that transitioning back to a civilian life style is a very difficult move, in fact, it's one of the most difficult things I have done. If I hadn't taken advantage of TA, I would not have been able to do nearly as well in school as I have. I would have required longer to graduate and would not have been used to the college course load. I was able to ease into it by taking 1 or 2 classes a semester while I was serving and I cannot express how much I am grateful for it.

So please, take a second out of your day and click the link, sign up real quick if needed, and sign the petition. Thanks

-bbehe

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reinstate-military-tuition-assistance-ta-and-block-armed-service-branches-any-further-suspension-ta/kSyVdySm

[Edited on March 12, 2013 at 1:47 PM. Reason : a]

3/12/2013 1:46:06 PM

signed

3/12/2013 2:05:43 PM

signed

3/12/2013 2:05:59 PM

Already signed and shared on fb.

3/12/2013 2:07:21 PM

Already signed and shared on fb.

3/12/2013 2:07:52 PM

If i sign, will you record a video of yourself singing a song?

Im krallum and i approved this message

3/12/2013 2:08:13 PM

3/12/2013 2:08:22 PM

Thanks to everyone who has signed.

3/12/2013 2:11:11 PM

signed.



when i try to get a job with a high level of security clearance, they're going to look at all the petitions i've signed online and use that against me.

3/12/2013 2:20:07 PM

I will have you know I had to reset my password to do this.

3/12/2013 2:23:00 PM

Sign this one next

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/change-national-anthem-r-kellys-2003-hit-ignition-remix/Rm8SC7FP

[Edited on March 12, 2013 at 2:24 PM. Reason : ]

3/12/2013 2:24:24 PM

Quote :

" K. M. Rockledge, FL March 12, 2013 Signature # 51,811 "

that's my hometown! hmmm wonder if i know that person? it's a small world after all

3/12/2013 2:24:38 PM

Signed

3/12/2013 2:31:18 PM

As far as I know, that website exists solely for the entertainment of high-ranking gov't officials:

At-A-Glimpse: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petitions

3/12/2013 4:01:38 PM

yes, let me go ahead and do this because it's going to make a difference

3/12/2013 4:02:21 PM

if you're gonna sign a petition, sign this one:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/designate-may-20th-macho-man-randy-savage-day/2H6B8pnP

OH YEAH

3/12/2013 4:04:39 PM

Quote :

"that website exists solely for the entertainment of high-ranking gov't officials"

Besides, they WANT you to be upset about this budget cut. That's the point. You're a pawn.

You could always go to Washington with other soldiers and protest that you're not being paid what you were promised...but they'll probably just shoot you again.

3/12/2013 4:15:06 PM

internet activist

3/12/2013 4:16:09 PM

Also, that website almost certainly records your information in a database that can be referenced at a later date to determine political leanings. Anyone that signed those "allow NC to secede" petitions is really going to be screwed one day.

[Edited on March 12, 2013 at 4:18 PM. Reason : .]

3/12/2013 4:17:34 PM

i hope nothing happens to me for signing the macho man one.

3/12/2013 4:30:16 PM

There might be a correlation between wrestling fans and "parts of the country I shouldn't bother campaigning in", but you'll probably be fine.

3/12/2013 4:34:38 PM

Did this decision coincide with the sequestration furloughs?

3/12/2013 5:16:57 PM

I know when I run for president in 40 years they're gonna pull up that R Kelly petition and nail me for signing it.

[Edited on March 12, 2013 at 5:34 PM. Reason : But fo real, Francis ain't got nothin on my boi R Kelly]

3/12/2013 5:33:44 PM

http://www.stripes.com/news/congress-passes-bill-to-force-reinstatement-of-tuition-assistance-1.212706


Re-instated.

Thanks everyone

3/21/2013 5:23:11 PM

Yay

3/21/2013 5:27:24 PM

bbehe, I'm in the Coast Guard as well (Port Security Unit 305)

Unfortunately, the USCG did not have their tuition assistance reinstated today. All other branches did except for us. The reason being that their funding comes from DOD and ours comes from Department of Homeland Security.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2013/03/military-congress-saves-tuition-assistance-for-all-but-coast-guard-032113w/

It's bullshit, but there are new petitions starting up to make our case. Hopefully it passes because my tuition is due next month

3/21/2013 5:28:19 PM

Yeah Coasties got screwed, feel sorry for your guys

3/21/2013 6:24:38 PM

Quote :

"http://www.stripes.com/news/congress-passes-bill-to-force-reinstatement-of-tuition-assistance-1.212706 Re-instated. Thanks everyone "

Cool to see some rare bipartisanship in that.

Quote :

"Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., one of the sponsors of the measure, said on the Senate floor Wednesday that numerous troops he has spoken with were dismayed over service officials’ decision to end the education benefit."

Quote :

"Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., another amendment sponsor, said after the Senate vote that the tuition assistance program was the wrong place for military leaders to find savings."

^^Got a link to one of those petitions?

[Edited on March 21, 2013 at 7:03 PM. Reason : .]

3/21/2013 7:02:32 PM

Cool. You got your money back. Now what program got cut to provide for you?

3/21/2013 7:53:32 PM

There is a lot of wasteful spending in the services, they need to cut on that before they cut educational benefits.

3/21/2013 8:35:00 PM

ok. So what was cut to give you money?

The country is in this mess because everyone wants to eat their cake and have it too.

3/21/2013 9:49:20 PM

I actually don't benefit from TA and my GI Bill benefits are allowed to be cut by Congress. I benefited from them in the past and recognize it as an important benefit to those serving which is why I wanted to help bring it back.

As far as what was cut, nothing that concerns you I assure you. Congress didn't give the DoD money for this, they merely told the branches to find the money. This is coming from the pre-existing pool of military money.

[Edited on March 21, 2013 at 9:57 PM. Reason : a]

3/21/2013 9:55:37 PM

yeah signed it, shared it on fb and with my whole platoon & company.

glad to see it got reinstated, I have several soldiers that were gonna get screwed over hard b/c of that.

3/22/2013 8:29:42 AM

Im glad you werent one of the facebook idiots who personally blamed Obama for tuition assistance getting initially cut.

3/22/2013 9:22:15 AM

Coast Guard got TA reinstated today. Holla

Merbig, there is lots of stuff being cut already that I know of in my service. Ship building contracts have been dropped, training schools and programs have been eliminated per diem and BAH is being much more heavily scrutinized etc. etc.

There are so many wasteful practices that should be cut before educational benefits.

3/22/2013 5:22:27 PM

They really need to can all the terrible and expensive projects in the defense budget that has no real sense so shit like TA doesn't get canned... I mean seriously... why the hell does Homeland Security need 2.4 Billion dollars worth of Mine resistant armored personal carriers or 1.6 Billion bullets for Domestic use? That's a lot of money that could be taught teaching the younger generation to not be fuckups or actually do some good now that PTSD is happening way too much with not much support being given (and that support is getting cut too!)

There are ways to balance the budget, reduce our costs and still keep hold to services that should be the last things to cut, not first.

3/22/2013 5:33:48 PM

Quote :

"Im glad you werent one of the facebook idiots who personally blamed Obama for tuition assistance getting initially cut. "

Oh, I don't nor would I ever. I understand that when I enlisted, the only things on my contract were job and rank However, I know how valuable of a program this is and it needed to be saved.

Quote :

"There are so many wasteful practices that should be cut before educational benefits. "

Amen.

Combat/Hazard/Tax Free pay in 'deployed' zones such as Qatar and Manas need to go.
The Air Force's obsession with LCD screens everywhere
Stop paying BAS to single servicemembers when they deploy
Closer scrutiny on TDYs
Things like the KC-X acquisiton program
The Osprey
etc
So much wasteful spending on the top brass decide to can this first? That's shitty leadership. Congress made the right decision

3/22/2013 5:40:37 PM

If a service-members whore wife runs around on him while deployed allow the service member to cut off her benefits immediately instead of waiting until the divorce is finalized.

That alone would save the country billions.

3/22/2013 6:34:31 PM

Srsly.

Off topic - my buddy in the Navy said he had to wait til he was out to divorce his wife or he would be reprimanded by the military. What's up with that?

3/22/2013 6:48:16 PM

^^ Hahaha, yes, yes it would.

^ Uh, I'm not to sure. I do know going through a divorce can take you off PRP status though and you could lose the ability to do some aspects of your job for a while.

3/22/2013 6:50:40 PM

Congress holds the budget, the Brass can'd do shit without a committee that ends up being mostly civilians who are lobbied by everyone in the industry to do this project or this weapons system that needs to be upgraded.

I mean when the Secretary of the Army tells congress to cut all orders of new M1A1 Abrams tanks because we hold a 2000 surplus of non-deployed, but ready main battle tanks in inventory that could have saved some $3 Billion; Congress told him that he couldn't because it would threaten job security of the tank building industry...

Don't forget the wasted $7 Billion for the stealth Comanche helicopter that was scrubbed or the $1 Billion electronic software management for the defense department that never got off the ground. Plus the extremely expensive F-35 JSF program that has bloated to the point of where we should have just spent the money on F-22's instead... but really doesn't matter because the 40 year old F16's and 18's are still vastly superior than what our enemies have anyhow.

I just find humor in the juxaposition of two news articles last week or so of how the Marines said to save every bullet to cut costs while DHS went on a spending spree with the 1.6 Billion bullet order.

3/22/2013 6:52:47 PM

What's PRP?

3/22/2013 6:53:15 PM

Quote :

"Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) is a United States Department of Defense psychological evaluation program, designed to permit only the most trustworthy individuals to have access to nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, and biological weapons. The program was first instituted during the Cold War. Among its goals are, (Quoting from DOD Directive 5210.42)"

It's basically like a clearance. You have to be sane to work around stuff that goes boom.

3/22/2013 6:54:56 PM

Personnel Reliability Program

3/22/2013 6:55:38 PM

Quote :

"Off topic - my buddy in the Navy said he had to wait til he was out to divorce his wife or he would be reprimanded by the military. What's up with that?"

Probably because she could fuck up his career. If a military spouse commits adultery there are absolutely no repercussions against the spouse, the spouse can sit there and live in a free house, using free insurance, screwing whoever they want etc etc and drag out the divorce as long as they want. If the service member has an extra-marital relationship during this time they can turn them in to their supervisors and they get in a load of shit. Most dependapotomous have learned this system forwards and backwards.

If the service member commits adultery (even while separated with a divorce pending) it can really affect his career, rank, ability to get promoted, etc.

Even if he was not cheating, he may have decided it was not worth jeopardizing himself by going through a divorce still in the service.

3/22/2013 7:30:08 PM

Actually, if a service member commits adultery, that's punishable under the UCMJ. Could go to jail for that shit.

3/22/2013 7:52:17 PM

fucking government handouts

everybody wants a piece of my paycheck

fuck you bbehe

3/22/2013 7:55:56 PM

Settle down, settledown

3/22/2013 7:57:24 PM

Settle down, settledown

3/22/2013 8:03:54 PM

Quote :

"Actually, if a service member commits adultery, that's punishable under the UCMJ. Could go to jail for that shit."

That's what I am talking about. The "military spouses" know how to maximize that shit to extract government benefits as long as possible. They can make their husbands life a living hell for months if not years and keep them from dating, or if they are threaten to ruin them for it.

If a civilian wants out of a marriage all they have to do is legally separate (move out) and they can sort out the details in court without it affecting their career.

Some lawyer should come out with a military pre-nup would make the spouse forfeit any assets they might receive in a divorce if they ever accuse their service-member spouse of adultery.

3/22/2013 9:17:46 PM