Re: American Legion Strongly Opposed to President's Plan to Charge Wounded Heroes for
As it stands right now, not every single Vet gets benefits. Upon seperation from service. All Service Members go through a literal head to foot physical/medical exam. IF anything if found during those exams, the Service Member is then sent to a doctor to further examine anything that may be wrong. Most Service Members do not get past this final examination. Because once this final exam is done it is then sent to the VA with the doctors recommendation as to whether this will be a chronic problem for the Service Member as time progresses. The VA doctors then make a final decision based on any prognosis if benefits are to be awarded.
Most Service Members that transition to Civilian life do not recieve benefits, regardless if an injury was sustained while on active duty.
Just because Corporal Joe Schmuckatelly got a paper cut on his pinky one time while filing paperwork doesn't automatically qualify him for benefits.
Even Retirees go through the Seps Phys/Med Screening. Most of them do not recieve Medical benefits either.
So... it's not an automatic thing like your thinking it is.
I think you're missing my point. Allow me to produce a hypothetical scenario to illustrate what I'm trying to say...
Joe Schmuckatelly joins the Army. He goes through boot camp and becomes a soldier. After being a member of the United States Army for 3 months, he is sent to Iraq. His duty is that of a cook. He is in Iraq for a year and ends up severely injuring his back while trying to lift a crate of produce. It is considered an "on duty injury" by the US government and the proper paperwork is filed. His injuries will effect him for the rest of his life and it is deemed that he should receive medical benefits that will assist him with his medical bills for the rest of his life.
AKA - Our tax dollars are helping pay his medical bills.
Sgt. Kickass joins the Army. He goes through boot camp and becomes a soldier. After being a member of the United States Army for 3 months, he is sent to Iraq. He is in Iraq for 10 years and engages in battle on a weekly basis. He is shot at constantly and avoids death on a regular basis. He earns a Medal of Honor and plenty of recognition for his heroic accomplishments in Iraq. He is a true American hero. After returning home from Iraq, he is shipped off to Afghanistan. He spends 5 years in Afghanistan and engages in battle on a weekly basis. In Afghanistan, he ends up getting shot in the knee, shattering his knee cap into a million pieces. His leg can't be saved and it has to be amputated. It is considered an "on duty injury" by the US government and the proper paperwork is filed. His injuries will effect him for the rest of his life and it is deemed that he should receive medical benefits that will assist him with his medical bills for the rest of his life.
AKA - Our tax dollars are helping pay his medical bills.
Joe Schmuckatelly is a cook that spent a year overseas and never saw battle.
Sgt. Kickass is an American hero who truly risked his life, each and every day for 15 years, who was constantly in battle.
Technically, both suffered "on duty" injuries that resulted from their Army responsibilities. One is a hero who lost his leg at war, while the other is a cook who hurt himself picking up a crate. Yet, our tax dollars are being used to help pay
both of their medical bills.
How is that right?
In this scenario, I agree that Sgt. Kickass' medical bills should be paid for, because he
earned it. He spent numerous years in the Army, engaging in constant battle and truly risking his life for our freedoms. But, Joe Schmuckatelly spent only a year overseas and didn't do anything except hurt his back while innocently picking up a crate, so why in the hell should our tax dollars be paying for
that?
