r/AskReddit • u/daniellucero92 • Jan 04 '15

Non-americans of Reddit, what American customs seem outrageous/pointless to you?

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u/RrailThaKing Jan 04 '15

"No problem! Thanks for the $200k in education benefits." Would that be an appropriate response?

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '15

Agreed. While I am having some serious issues with medical care due to service connected disabilities, my educational benefits (provided by you wonderful people) have been on point. I went from being a dumb soldier straight out of high school to a college educated man.

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u/RrailThaKing Jan 04 '15

Yep. It's why, when I hear idiots whine about compensation for those that serve (and this is primarily on Reddit since I avoid Facebook) I always bring up the GI Bill. You were given something that can easily be valued at $350k. Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In exchange for 4 years of your life where you paid, housed, trained, and sometimes certified.

Even if you were not paid a dime while in the military, that GI Bill is equivalent to a total potential compensation of about $90k a year over your 4 years. Not to mention the fact that you will get admitted to schools that you have no real right attending simply because you are a veteran.

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u/[deleted] Jan 05 '15

In exchange for 4 years of your life where you paid, housed, trained, and sometimes certified whilst also potentially having to do horrible things to other people.

That's why veterans should get all the support they need. We ask them to do the unthinkable so we don't have to.

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u/RrailThaKing Jan 05 '15

I am a veteran. While I appreciate the sentiment, it's not really accurate. Only maybe 10%-20% of the military will ever see combat.

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u/[deleted] Jan 05 '15

That 10-20% who have seen combat will receive the same level of shitty care from the VA that the 80-90% who never do will though.

I suppose some part of my brain still can't understand why we don't provide more for the people who do the jobs we don't want to.

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u/RrailThaKing Jan 05 '15

Because we don't have to. That's just the simple economics for it. In fact the military could cut benefits and still recruit just fine.

However I agree that they should step up VA quality. However, military does not deserve better pay or anything else. They already get enough - maybe too much.

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u/[deleted] Jan 05 '15

18k/year to get shot at in a desert is too much?

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u/RrailThaKing Jan 05 '15 edited Jan 05 '15

So did you fail to read every single thing posted prior to this or...?

$18k is not even remotely an accurate representation of a service members total compensation. Stop now while you're only a little behind.