Marine Corps and Army Tuition Assistance Stops, Other Services May Follow Suit.
73 replies, posted
Oh awesome. That program I was hoping that could take me as far as getting my core classes/pre-reqs done with an EMT cert is dying.
This program was one of the top 5 reasons I found the military attractive and DEPed in.
This is why we can't have nice things;congress.
Long as the GI bill still exists in the next 5 years and community college is still cheap, I'll still be able to get a degree.
[QUOTE=SKEEA;39840641]Source: [URL]http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/03/05/marines-halt-tuition-assistance-program.html?comp=7000023317828&rank=1[/URL]
The Marines cut, and now I just received guidance from my command that the Army stopped as well. College is huge in the military, and our pay really is not adequate to pay for it out of pocket. It usually takes 6 years for an active duty person to get a bachelor's degree, and you must do it on top of your duties. I have said this time and time again, sequestration is the wrong answer, and congress needs to be ashamed of themselves on how they handled this. There are so many other places in the military they could have made reductions to. Instead, we just were forced to cut by an arbitrary amount. All other pays are going away soon, such as flight pay and language pay. Hell, my meal allowance was eliminated. Things are going to be very rough for military personnel, and government contracted civilian employees. You wanted military cuts? You got them. It is a lot more than the precious fucking Blue Angels, this is people's professional and personal development we are talking about here, as well as forcing even more hardship on military families.[/QUOTE]
A lot of people don't realize that, a lot of programs are being shut down or limited. Civilian DoD Employees are getting hours cut or removed from positions all together. When everyone was rating the "sequester" winner in one thread I was pretty sickened. A lot of people don't really understand the full effects all they see is "Military spending cut."
A lot of good people are going to get fucked over because of our lazy congress.
Fuck. Havent heard the air force say anything yet, but its only a matter of time. I cant even touch TA till my trainings done, so I'm SOL. Glad I did apply for MGIB though, so ive got somethin to fall back on.
why is everyone assuming that the government is required to pay for your schooling. it was just a scholarship program that got cut. if you're joining to get free college, you're joining for the wrong reasons
[QUOTE=areolop;39844083]why is everyone assuming that the government is required to pay for your schooling. it was just a scholarship program that got cut. if you're joining to get free college, you're joining for the wrong reasons[/QUOTE]
Because when you enlist you learn how to be a soldier. You can't be a soldier in the civilian world; you need an education to be competitive once you leave the military. This is another method of ensuring that veterans are capable of sustaining themselves.
[QUOTE=areolop;39844083]why is everyone assuming that the government is required to pay for your schooling. it was just a scholarship program that got cut. if you're joining to get free college, you're joining for the wrong reasons[/QUOTE]
Because qualified people are a country's best resource?
Wait, I should probably clarify. If there's one thing a government would [I]want[/I] to do is help you with your tuition.
My tuition assistance was approved by command 2 days before the sequestration measures. I haven't heard from big navy yet :( sigh.
[QUOTE=DesolateGrun;39843410]Marine application rates drop to zero then
I was considering rotc to pay 4 medical school now I'm not[/QUOTE]
Sort of the same deal here. I was thinking of applying to the HPSP.
I wrote a paper about minority representation within the armed forces last year. These cuts are most likely going to see the representation of them drop disproportionately as it is one of the major reasons why many join the military. Of course it'll hit everyone, but for those who saw the military as an avenue to social advancement, this is going to ruin it.
Transition from a 10-year wartime military into peacetime fucking sucks.
Nobody needs more officers/soldiers. My ROTC brigade is already scraping the bottom of the barrel for scholarships to hand out and I was lucky to get my 3-year.
This is awful. Something like this seems enough cause for widespread protests among college-going military personnel.
They could've cut a small amount of military assets, say an expensive plane or two, or a naval vessel that would've been built... But no, they're cutting the bread and butter of how military personnel are thanked for their efforts.
[QUOTE=areolop;39844083]why is everyone assuming that the government is required to pay for your schooling. it was just a scholarship program that got cut. if you're joining to get free college, you're joining for the wrong reasons[/QUOTE]
It's horrible that people planned to get their education through joining the army and now may be denied it, but it really shouldnt be that way. Education should be accessible to everyone, and much cheaper then it is in the states.
If they're going to do that, jack up the pay to a MUCH higher level.
The financial support and military benefits were what were supposed to make up for the very small amount of money you get for risking your life.
[QUOTE=iTrolol;39844969]If they're going to do that, jack up the pay to a MUCH higher level.
The financial support and military benefits were what were supposed to make up for the very small amount of money you get for risking your life.[/QUOTE]
Except they did this to try and save money. That would kind of defeat the point.
Someone change up the OP.
It's official for the Army now.
[url]http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/03/08/army-suspends-tuition-assistance-program.html?comp=7000023317828&rank=1[/url]
US gubment really sucks bad doesn't it? This is why a lot of people join.
I have a feeling that veteran's benefits are going to be soon to go as well.
[editline]8th March 2013[/editline]
OP and title updated.
I just signed up a few days before this shit came out. So fucking pissed, tuition assistance was getting me through college to become an officer instead of a water purification technician.
Looks like my computer engineering degree isn't coming after all.
When the belt needs to be tightened, these motherfuckers'll make sure the working class suffers first.
So, uh, what happened to the military having so much money they couldn't spend it all? Surely there's some research program [I]somewhere[/I] that's not really doing much of anything important. Why not cut R&D before other stuff? You don't have to cut really important stuff like autonomous computing research, but it's ok to stop hemorrhaging money to Lockheed Martin.
[editline]8th March 2013[/editline]
I'm not in the military, but I'm pretty damn sure that these cuts are being made to these areas specifically so that Congress returns the money.
I remember the marines trying to recruit me, explaining how my college would be free. Looks like thats not the case, not that it ever was, considering the time you serve. Thank god for athletic scholarships.
[QUOTE=DarkendSky;39851145]
I'm not in the military, but I'm pretty damn sure that these cuts are being made to these areas specifically so that Congress returns the money.[/QUOTE]
I get the feeling they were made to save money, and to try to turn away as many people as possible that want to enlist.
[QUOTE=ScoutKing;39851271]I get the feeling they were made to save money, and to try to turn away as many people as possible that want to enlist.[/QUOTE]
They are doing that by other means as well. The Army just changed the promotion system for NCO's. Now, you need a minimum 6 years time in grade for each NCO rank before you are even going to be considered for the next one. That is going to cause a lot of Soldiers to be intimidated by that and probably just do their initial contract and ETS.
I dont know how the Navy is doing it now, I should find out. All I know is that my rate hardly ever gets promoted because there is such a saturation of medical professionals. I heard the same story regarding Army 68W from a friend as well.
Guess that makes me appreciate the referrals I have gotten without even doing anything.
I never actually referred people, just friends of mine went in and talked to a recruiter and dropped my name.
I dont know why, but i strangely have faith that congress will do better next year regarding budget.
I dont know why though, because its really fucking stupid of me to think congress won't mega-fuck something up.
[QUOTE=ScoutKing;39856641]I dont know how the Navy is doing it now, I should find out. All I know is that my rate hardly ever gets promoted because there is such a saturation of medical professionals. I heard the same story regarding Army 68W from a friend as well.
Guess that makes me appreciate the referrals I have gotten without even doing anything.
I never actually referred people, just friends of mine went in and talked to a recruiter and dropped my name.
I dont know why, but i strangely have faith that congress will do better next year regarding budget.
I dont know why though, because its really fucking stupid of me to think congress won't mega-fuck something up.[/QUOTE]
First rule about the military: Don't get your hopes up. Second rule: Congress is going to fuck you no matter what. Just lube up for the green weenie.
I know.
But a man can dream. A man can dream of a confident congress.
Whats the approval rating on this congress at? wasn't it nearing like 9%?
A little bit more and they could be below the unemployment rate.
[editline]9th March 2013[/editline]
Correction, its at 15% RIGHT NOW. it was at 10% in august.
Heres an idea. Lets take the Democrat party leader, and the republican party leader, put them on an island filled with weapons, last man standing wins congress, the opposite party has to hush up. It'll stop the bickering and grid lock!
+ it'll be awesome as shit watching two dirty old white men fighting.
We'll call it: The Congress Games.
[QUOTE=ScoutKing;39856997]I know.
Heres an idea. Lets take the Democrat party leader, and the republican party leader, put them on an island filled with weapons, last man standing wins congress, the opposite party has to hush up. It'll stop the bickering and grid lock!
+ it'll be awesome as shit watching two dirty old white men fighting.
We'll call it: The Congress Games.[/QUOTE]
Just do it like the old days; two angry white men take ten paces away from each other, turn, shoot. With bazookas.
Honestly, this sorta kicks you in the teeth. You had people harping on about defense budget and pushing for cuts. We got them, but they're not in the areas we expected them to be in IE weapons research and shit. Isn't US military tech super duper advanced? Shouldn't we hold back on that for now without effectively bottlenecking or outright pushing people out/keeping people out of the military?
[QUOTE=SKEEA;39847918]I have a feeling that veteran's benefits are going to be soon to go as well.
[editline]8th March 2013[/editline]
OP and title updated.[/QUOTE]
God damn I don't need to hear that right now. I got out of the Army last year and started going to college, I need this bad. If I lose my benefits I'm fucked. :(
Damn, this is really shitty. If it helps you guys that are about to left holding the bag;
Most cities, counties, and local governments (sewer/water districts) in California offer a "Veterans Preference" in the hiring process. It will definitely help getting on with the tech/labor jobs.
Welp, this is the only reason I would have ever agreed to a mandatory 4 year stint in the military.
Oh well.
[QUOTE=Forumaster;39861622]Welp, this is the only reason I would have ever agreed to a mandatory 4 year stint in the military.
Oh well.[/QUOTE]
You still get the GI bill.
.
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