Let me tell you of just one of my sacrifices. I spent 6 months in 1997 in Germany in support of Operation Joint Endeavor. My oldest daughter was born while I was there. I didn't see her until she was almost 3 months old. What price (in compensation) would you put on that?

Yes, I knew what I was getting into. Been doing this since I was 17. Does that mean that I should have to suffer poverty conditions because I chose to answer the call to defend my country? How cruel are you?

Let me see here, the nearest BX/PX to my house is 2 1/2 hours away (Camp Lincoln, Springfield IL). It's about the size of a small delivery truck, and not at all worth the drive. The nearest real Bx/PX and Commisary is at Fort Knox, KY. That is about a 5 hour drive from where I live. I hope I don't have to do the math for you concerning all the savings I'm going to get by shopping on post. :rolleyes:

Because of my 6 months in GE, I have verteran status, and this qualify for free healthcare at a VA hospital. Want to guess how many hours away that is?

Yes, I am in the NG, but these are my benefits. However, they are useless to me if I do not have access to them. Now, want to guess how many other Reservists are in a similar situation?

Hell, I can't even use my educational benefits. I cannot quit my jobs to go to school(3 if you count the Guard), as my family would be out on the street, starving. That leaves some kind of on-line course. Problem is, those courses (from IL accredited institutions) are so few and far between that I have already taken everthing contained therein. IL Guard benefits state that they must be used at an IL institution. Now, if they would open it to institutions in other states (like American Military University), I could have had my Master's Degree in Criminal Justice by now. How stupid is that? I am prevented from attending a military-specific university because my state will not pay my benefits, that I earned, to that school because it is in Virginia and not IL. Again, another "perk" that is useless.

I don't think you have a clue.

"When I take action, I'm not going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It's going to be decisive." - President George W. Bush

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