"Oh, You're military?" You're fukked.

[Guest]

Wish this was a funny joke, but its not. Just me complaining about how tired I am of hearing this.
"Oh. You're military".
This is a wicked long rant, so stop reading now if you're not interested.

Did you know that most of your US enlisted military folk qualify for some sort federal aid or programs? But its near impossible to get due to all these "stipulations". How messed up is that?

So I get my son registered for pre-K LAST Spring at my daughter's elementary school. Its free but you have to "qualify" financially for it. Given that my husband is an E-5 (staff Sarge) we pretty much qualify for everything. Doesn't mean we can get anything though.
I was surprised when we were told LAST SPRING our son qualifies and he could indeed attend the pre-K program. Awesome.

Well, I get a phone call from the school this week saying I have to come in to provide an updated proof of income. I tell them that what they have on record from last spring is exactly how it is now, nothing has changed. Whatever. I go in.

Oh guess what!! The Dept. of Agriculture has changed their minds (who knew they had so much control). We now have to count your BAH (basic allowance for housing) and BAS (basic allowance for food- which only applies to the military member- its pennies) as part of your basic pay.
The DOD (dept. of defense) is required to pay all military BAS, it does not support a family. They also have to provide some sort of housing or allowance. Its not considered part of your base pay.
Well- the Dept. of Ag doesn't care. The reason they are involved is because they decide who is eligible for free lunches at school. If the child qualifies for free lunches, then its guaranteed they qualify for all sorts of federal programs- included pre-K which is federally funded. (though you do get a supplies list in which you have to provide everything your child will need throughout the year.) [img]/images/graemlins/brow.gif[/img]
Well they changed their policy three days ago. I kid you not.
Which put us $200 over the top and now my son does not qualify for pre-K.
If we lived on base we wouldn't get BAH. But we STILL wouldn't qualify because the Dept. of Ag says that only if you live in privatized housing can you qualify. (In privatized housing you draw BAH, btw). But there is NO privatized housing at this base and they know it. It makes no sense. [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]
So now my son can't go to pre-K and school starts in less than two weeks. If any of you have kids, then you will know that you have to get things squared away early. All the pre-schools are full now. The only other pre-schools here are Christian/church based and we aren't Christians. And regardless, we couldn't afford a private pre-school anyway. It'd be the same cost as daycare. Which, btw, we could get on base if I worked.
God, it makes my head spin.

And the military wonders why retention is so damned low. Its not really their fault I suppose. But either make it possible for military members to draw aid, or pay them more because communities are going to make it pretty much impossible for you if you are a military family.
[img]/images/graemlins/rant.gif[/img]
Two more years and we're out. Woo-hoo!
If you've read this far- thanks for listening.

Em

[pro-fusion]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

That sucks. The USA needs to stop spending so much on bullsh!t agriculture and corporate subsidies, as well as certain weapons system the military doesn't even want, and treat our military people better.

[guitarsjb]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

Yeah, that sucks.

[Tekky]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

[ QUOTE ]
That sucks. The USA needs to stop spending so much on bullsh!t agriculture and corporate subsidies, as well as certain weapons system the military doesn't even want, and treat our military people better.

[/ QUOTE ]

Take away the agricultural subsidies and you'll be punished with either longer or more frequent Farm Aid concerts.

But I agree that the government needs to treat military personnel better.

[Emthrax]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

Bwahahah!! Longer Farm Aid concerts... that's hella funny. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Yeah- Bush just signed the defense budget for the troops..the boys and gals only get a 3.5% raise next year. That's the lowest its been in 10 years. Not even Clinton was that harsh.
Hmmm...

Em

[mudkicker]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

Clinton was worse. In 1992 we didn't receive a pay raise or adjustment. The next year in 93 he was pressured into a .5% raise for us. Along with closing every base but one, that I was ever stationed at.
I don't see how The Dept. of Agriculture can use your BAH and BAS both non taxable against you.
If you have the seniority I would move into base housing. When I was in Hawaii we lived on base in the oldest housing on the island. You could still see where some units had been repaired from the Pearl Harbor attack. At that time we only had to pay for a phone and cable. Electricity and water were free. We actually saved more money living on base than off.

[Newc]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

Go back to the Dept of Ag and raise the roof. Ask the guy just why in the hell the US Military personnel in this community are being treated like second-class citizens, and who the fuk decides whether US military personnel and their families will be denied anything at any time.
IMO, those who serve should get everything free of charge, because they stand in the one spot every day that could get them killed, whether it's directly defending the Dept of Ag, the public and private school systems, WalMart, KMart, McDonald's, or protecting America's foreign interests.
They're b1tching about a military kid getting a free lunch but they'll hand them out by the assload to the half-dozen children of a welfare case who can't hold a job because of some physical disability but she can spit out kids like a PEZ dispenser??

I'd be in someone's face and on someone's ass 24/7 until the entire town either collapsed or shut the base down (and believe me, there's plenty of other towns that would welcome that base and the money they bring in).

Newc

[Emthrax]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

Mud-
Yeah- did the base housing thing for six years and it blows chunks. I will never do that again. The housing here is not even big enough for our family of four (and we've been married 10 years so its not like we're exactly newlyweds with nothing). Housing just sucks. Sharing walls with neighbors is such a bad idea. Especially if you play guitar. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] The idea is nice, if the housing were at least respectable. The last base housing we had (Dover, DE) we had asbestos. Nice. Besides- it gets old having your lawn measured every damn week, you just want to live like normal people. Bwahahah! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Newc-
Yes, I would love to raise holy hell. I just don't have the energy to do it anymore. No one listens to you. And it would jeapordize my husband. Ask me how I know. "Tell your wife to shut the fuk up or we give you a letter of counseling".
BTW- I had a look at the list of kids who are getting pre-K. At the risk of being electrocuted with that lightening graemlin... they were all kids of migrant workers. I asked the secretary. Ah well. Yeah, these kids deserve education as much as mine does but my child is a US citizen and his Dad has gone to war for our country. Kinda rubs me in a bad way.
But you know what- Im getting over it already. Just one of those things. Unfortunate but true.

Thanks for the replies,
Em

[lerxstcat]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

Em, that really sucks! Your child should be covered by the program and they're being completely unfair by springing this on you.

It won't make you feel better, but it's just as bad in the civilian world. I am disabled but Social Security won't acknowledge it. have heart failure, diabetes, extreme high blood pressure and had a stroke last year.

My application was just denied, and the social worker helping me said, "Well, now at last a doctor will have to look at your case." Yes, you get denied at first without a doctor examining your file! It's part of the "Let's
hope he'll die before he gets through the appeals process", which is exactly what they do.

They were happy to take my taxes from 1974 until 2002, but now they literally want me to fukk off and die. They might get that if they string me along long enough, because without disability there's also no Medicaid and no prescription subsidy. Meaning, no meds.

So cheer up, it can always be worse!

[pro-fusion]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

Y'know, if the migrant workers are getting the pre-K but the military families aren't, you really ought to consider contacting your Congressman's office. That's bullsh*t. Trust me, those bureaucrats will change their tune awfully fast if Congress comes snooping around.

[Emthrax]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.


Now Lerx- that just BLOWS. I am very sorry to hear that, I have heard similar stories. My Grandfather is a disabled vet (WW2-purple heart- the works) and is getting screwed by social security and insurance people as well. Evil evil.
Yes, does help me realize this situation is null in comparison. My best wishes to you and your health.

Pro- Hmmm...contacting the Congress people... that is a mighty fine idea [img]/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif[/img]... hmmm... wonder how that works seeing as how we are California citizens. Don't suppose it matters.
Maybe Newc is right and I should do something about this.
Hmmm... [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

Thanks for the ideas people.
Em

[lerxstcat]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

Thanks Em; sorry for the threadjack. Your issue is just as important; didn't mean to sound otherwise. Best wishes to your gradnfather as well; my dad was a WWII vettoo.As for your Congressional rep, maybe you should write your California Senators, Boxer and Feinstein, rather than your House rep. They have more power, I'd think, and could have pull with the Senators for Texas. Sorry that the military clamps down on your husband when you have a legitimate complaint. I never served, but my dad was career USAF and I know how the military can be. Theylike things nice and quiet, and orderly.

[Emthrax]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.


Lerx (everytime I type that I can't help but think of Lurch from Addams Family... LOL! sorry).

Threadjack anytime, I don't mind in the least.
Great idea... I like Feinstein. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
LOL, nice, quiet and orderly- too funny. Lawns have to be manicured too. I think it has something to do with the military's golf fetish. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

You take care,
Em

[horns666]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

Typical political red tape BS and the S H I T always rolls downhill to those who are needed most....that's a shame..

Because Of my city's residency laws I must reside in the city (COP now disabled) . So I pay $2650 a year for my son's tuition and yes it is a catholic elementary school , he's going into fourth grade. I just dropped off the check that was due today for half a year $1325....just to keep him from our diplorable inner city school system of thugs and human pollution....oh yes another Levi will pass November for the fifth time since '96 and my house taxes go up again and again ...just keep throwing good money after bad....it's a big deal right now here in Cleveland ...it's all over the news everyday.....they keep getting the Levi $$$ and the schools continue to get worse every year....while all the school board members are pimpin' in new cadillacs and living in half million dollar homes with tax abatements....they're part of the human pollution and the problem!

Now our parish is excepting "Vouchers' starting this year WTF???!!!....I immediately complained about the voucher program but it seems that all private schools are adopting this crapola ....so maybe you can take advantage of that ...apply for it if all else fails ...why not ??!!

I can't "I make too much"... yeah right!!!!

Believe me Em ...I went to a Christian school all my life ....and I'm not a Christian .....Just ask Satan. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I'd Follow NEWC's advice make some noise ...a lot of noise ...call and complain so much they will be sick of hearing your voice ...hell call and write everybody.

I know this has to be frustrating as hell ....but I'm sure things will work out ...they always seem to eventually....but going thru this BS is BS.

Good Luck ....make some damn noise!

Bill

[Newc]

Re: \"Oh, You\'re military?\" You\'re fukked.

Em - That truly blows that the Brassholes would come down on your husband if you stood up for your Civil Rights. Makes me wonder if maybe there needs to be a few lynchings of traitors among the Higher Ups in the US Armed Forces, because any US Military leader that says "don't make waves when you're being fukked by a pissant civilian" is a pinko fukking commie douche, and ain't fit to wear the uniform.

Newc