I know that when I joined up in 1997 a lot of those bonuses simply disappeared if you didn’t keep ahold of your original paperwork. Sometimes they had a lot of hidden clauses, so you could lose the bonus for a minor infraction. Or, the bonus was really part of your pay and the full amount would be paid out after if you actually completed 8 years instead of the 2-4 year commitment you started on.
All I know is I personally ended up permanently disabled at 18 and fought with the VA until 2019 to get my disability compensation. Which they only paid me back pay from 2009 instead of from the date of disability in 1997.
Getting money from the government takes a long time. The people downwind of the Atomic test sites have been fighting 50+ years for the full payments from being irradiated during the 50’s.
But hey, joining the military is a good job if you aren’t stupid and taking a combat MOS when you could have a steady non-combat job with perks. Right now the Commissary benefits for cheap food is worth it with how food prices have been going.
Yeah, it’s shit that they backdate stuff from your intent to file date. There was a lawsuit that made it to SCOTUS about equitable tolling, and to everyone’s non-surprise all nine judges voted against it. Can’t give a bunch of vets a windfall, need to keep up poor.
When I got out, I filed three times and every time it was “lost”. Sorry, dude, file again. Hahaha fuck you!
Was convinced to file again during Covid and the process had completely changed. Was all digital, no more lost paperwork. Took almost two years, got it all sorted out
Were you in the guard? I know the Guard went through a couple different signing bonus scandals back in the day, but I haven’t ever heard of the same for active duty.
I think the recruiters have a lot more leeway and control over Guard recruits, since they’re all mostly operated at the state level. I know in the 90’s in California the recruiters were basically just stealing enlistment and reenlistment bonuses.
I know that when I joined up in 1997 a lot of those bonuses simply disappeared if you didn’t keep ahold of your original paperwork. Sometimes they had a lot of hidden clauses, so you could lose the bonus for a minor infraction. Or, the bonus was really part of your pay and the full amount would be paid out after if you actually completed 8 years instead of the 2-4 year commitment you started on.
All I know is I personally ended up permanently disabled at 18 and fought with the VA until 2019 to get my disability compensation. Which they only paid me back pay from 2009 instead of from the date of disability in 1997.
Getting money from the government takes a long time. The people downwind of the Atomic test sites have been fighting 50+ years for the full payments from being irradiated during the 50’s.
But hey, joining the military is a good job if you aren’t stupid and taking a combat MOS when you could have a steady non-combat job with perks. Right now the Commissary benefits for cheap food is worth it with how food prices have been going.
Yeah, it’s shit that they backdate stuff from your intent to file date. There was a lawsuit that made it to SCOTUS about equitable tolling, and to everyone’s non-surprise all nine judges voted against it. Can’t give a bunch of vets a windfall, need to keep up poor.
When I got out, I filed three times and every time it was “lost”. Sorry, dude, file again. Hahaha fuck you!
Was convinced to file again during Covid and the process had completely changed. Was all digital, no more lost paperwork. Took almost two years, got it all sorted out
Were you in the guard? I know the Guard went through a couple different signing bonus scandals back in the day, but I haven’t ever heard of the same for active duty.
I think the recruiters have a lot more leeway and control over Guard recruits, since they’re all mostly operated at the state level. I know in the 90’s in California the recruiters were basically just stealing enlistment and reenlistment bonuses.