Should The Gov't Pay Down The Growing Debt Of The Soldiers?

Question

Recent reports have indicated that many Iraq War Vets are hamstrung with growing debt that is highly correlated to their inability to earn enough to provide for loved ones, pay bills.

Many of these patriots are Reserve Troops that had homes with mortgages, car payments, etc that they were able to make on their regular civlian salaries.

Is the Govt obligated to assist these troops when they come home so that they dont come home to financial ruin?

Answer 1

I would love to say "yes" to this question because our soldiers deserve so much more than they get however I'm hard pressed to say that this would be fair for the taxpayers because people can make the choice not to go into debt... I wish I could get my husbands debt payed off but I dont expect anyone else to do it for us. In the military we have a difficult time making ends meet but we manage to by bein frugal and making sacrifices that almost anyone else can also make.

There are a lot of peolple livng well beyond thier means in situations of thier own making.

As for the people no longer able to pay for the things they used to... there are many military pay charts that are fairly accurate and any person who is financially wise would look into what they are gettting into financially. They can get a cheaper car and they can find cheaper housing... If you change to a job in the civilian world that makes less you expect to earn less and you adjust acordingly... thats just the way money and living go.

As for us I wish we got payed a little more because it is difficult to get anything into savings and in the long term thats gonna hurt.

I have heard of several soldiers comming home to financial ruin due to irresponsible actions of their dependents and this is not the enlistees fault directly... that makes me sad to no end and its too bad they dont have anyone to help them... but it would difficult to keep unscrupulous people from taking advantage of financial help should it be offered

I think payraises are the only answer to help with this, however giving people more money to spend is no garantee that they wont still mangae to spend themselves almost literally to death.

Answer 2

What a good question. I believe that the government should do so much more for our soldiers. Our soldiers deserve so much more respect... after all, they are the ones out in the field, doing what they are told without question.

But do I believe that the government should pay their debts? To an extent, yes, I believe soliders should be compensated more than the average; their salaries should be much bigger than they are, but not so big that even people with no interest in America applies for the Armed Forces, just for a paycheck.

I don't think the government should pay for anyone who ruins their own credit and don't pay their bills.

Maybe a credit/financial class and a little more opportunity for the soldiers to put money somewhere so it can grow. Have that class up front, so the smart ones can save and learn how to pay their bills and keep up with their debt. The dumb ones, well, they can learn the hard way like the rest of us.

That's what I think. Yes, the government should take special care for our soldiers' futures, but for the people who don't use their money wisely, then no, the government should not be obligated to them. More financial education is the key. Teach them in boot camp!

Answer 3

The Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act gives substantial protections to Reservist who are recalled to Active Duty. The SSRA is in fact designed to keep Citizen Soldiers from coming home to financial ruin and for the most part it works quite well.

I used to know the workings of SSRA intimately but I have been out of the loop for so long the details escape me at the moment.

I am sure the problem you are referring to is undisciplined young people who have always been an easy mark for unscrupulous people. The government is under no obligations to be responsible for irresponsible people.

I read the same article you read and it dealt only with soldiers/sailors who were so deep in debt they were considered security risks and lost their security clearance. This has always been a problem and some folks just have to have their career put on hold in order to learn responsibility.

Answer 4

Not no but heII no !

While I support our troops 100%
There are other methods, freeze interest, freeze accounts, etc until the soldier returns home.

The question you are asking applies to soldiers that are not full time active, for the most part. These people are using the reserve and guard to subsidize their lifestyle to begin with, then BAM, they get called up, and whine their butts off for having their lives disrupted. These people have budgeted poorly, they budgeted for the highest paying job, knowing full well, the lowest paying job could be the ONLY job they have, in the future.

FULL TIME military know full well what their budgets are...before deployment. They actually get a raise (combat pay).

Answer 5

Absolutely not. I served 22 years in the navy (1975 to 1997) and never had a problem.

The problem is low level enlisted people trying to live a life style that's beyond their ability to support.

Answer 6

Being an active duty soldier myself, the government is absolutely responsible to help the soldiers fighting to keep it in business.