RatherBeOnATrain

Some very troubling news from the Stars and Stripes:

Stars and Stripes:
Vet Mistakenly Declared AWOL Arrested, Jailed
February 11, 2012

A short quote:
He enlisted in the Army when he was 17 and left with an other-than-honorable discharge less than 2 years later.

Ari

He isn't much of a veteran; I don't have a ton of sympathy for him.

jkhuggins

I would argue that being jailed for 12 days, being forced to withdraw from his university and delay his graduation, and losing his financial aid package as a result, all because someone screwed up his discharge paperwork, makes him worthy of "a ton of sympathy".

This isn't about how "much of a veteran" he is. This is about an administrative screw-up costing a young man --- who, by all accounts in the article, was starting to turn his life around --- thousands of dollars and probably months of his life.

Ari

He can sue for money and hopefully win.

I didn't say I had no sympathy for him, I just don't have a ton of sympathy for him. I'd have much more sympathy for him if he were a 'real' veteran who actually served his country.

The government did wrong in this case and should compensate him accordingly. (He also had a larceny warrant to take care of, so his initial arrest was not a false arrest; only the time after he took care of that fine and was still detained on the Army detainer is actionable in my opinion, even if the Army warrant was the only reason he was arrested).

chollie

+1

I would argue that the person responsible for this screw-up isn't 'much of a veteran' either. Too bad he/they won't be held accountable for this waste of government resources. Wonder how many other service members had to deal with faulty/missing paperwork because of his poor service.

Someone should certainly look into the jerk who told him to go to the airport, where a ticket would be waiting for him. That individual (Kersey?) doesn't want to comment now. Another paperwork screw-up?

Most sickening: in 2012, the 'digital' age, this can only be resolved by sending him cross-country to do it in person? Wonder if there would be the same insistence on the 'rules' if he was the son/daughter of a sitting Congressman?

This has the whole office buzzing this am - apparently this type of screw-up is sadly not uncommon. Guys separating from service, not always in the best of shape if it's because they're going out on a medical, are handed papers, told where to sign, etc. Amazing how many ex-military didn't realize the importance of some of the papers, found errors in their records, sometimes years later...Yeah, you should always read what you sign, bla-bla. Our facilities guy is an 20-year vet, heck of a guy with his hands, not so good with paperwork - he's a classic example of a 'good vet' who had no idea what he was signing or what was in the bundle of papers he got when he left service.

jkhuggins

If the best we can say is that he'll "hopefully" win ...

... aw, never mind.

We Will Never Forget

Everyone who is wronged by the Government is either "a good person" or "turning their life around" according to the media.

jkhuggins

From the article:

Not just the author of the article believes this, apparently ...

etch5895

This is certainly something that is ripe to be changed, especially in the era of downsizing budgets. As it stands now, believe it or not, AWOL servicemembers have to fly back to Germany to formally out-process the Army when their unit is stationed there. The DD 214 is a very important document but it would seem that it could be generated at an office in the states, maybe even at a local MEPS station. Usually by the point they return, most of their out-processing has already been handled by their old unit.

We Will Never Forget

Wow, the best employee in the bagel shop.

Such accolades.

My point is that the media always tries to introduce emotion in stories where it isn't appropriate.

chollie

This is the kind of garbage (waste of taxpayer's dollars) that comes to mind when I hear folks say if we reduce the military budget, our national security will suffer.

4nsicdoc

It sounds to me like your point is more that some American citizens are worthy of the protections of our Constitution, while others, depending on economic/employment circumstances, are not. As a combat disabled veteran, that kind of "point" makes me want to puke.

Black Adder

+1^

FlyingHoustonian

I'm a "combat disabled veteran" (which can mean many things) too and I agree with him (WWNF) in that the media does too often toss in emotion when irrelevant to the story focus or "facts".

etch5895

Yesterday's Stars and Stripes ran another article. He won't be required to fly to Colorado after all; his DD214 will be done in absentia. A small victory against wasteful spending. Hopefully this is a harbinger of things to come in re government wasteful spending and modern efficiency.