Comments on: Esquire article wrongly claims that SEAL who killed bin Laden is denied health care

By: MechanicalBill

MechanicalBill — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:31:58 +0000

Some troll just convinced this “reporter” that he was the shooter.

By: dmacleo

dmacleo — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:11:58 +0000

bullshit.
when I took terminal leave in 89 due to knee injuries that prevented re-up I had a lot of paperwork and talks about the VA stuff.
and I would not have had the unit support this guy would have had.

By: trs

trs — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:48:48 +0000

If the government was only half as good at explaining military benefits to solders as it is at explaining freebies to illegal aliens there wouldn’t be a problem.

By: Sgt Steve

Sgt Steve — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:20:12 +0000

melle1228 on February 12, 2013 at 8:54 AM

My wife teaches the Army Career Alumni Program here on post (she’s on TDY teaching it this week, matter of fact), and if the Navy has anything, it’s a week of briefings, classes and workshops dedicated to explaining what you’re eligible for as a veteran, how to improve your resume and convert your DD214 into civilian-speak, and some other things about transitioning from soldier to veteran. I know the Navy offers something similar, because the Navy sends their sailors to our program if they’re on an Army post.

If this “Shooter” didn’t attend, despite it being mandatory, and feels left out in the cold, he sees the person responsible every day, probably when he’s shaving and brushing his teeth.

By: GWB

GWB — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:19:59 +0000

There is also the fact that any injuries/damage incurred as a result of service is covered by the VA just about in perpetuity. Yes, it’s a pain to prove it, etc, etc. But it *is* covered.

By: Bmore

Bmore — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:19:17 +0000

Many from the front page thread seem to think the entire article is basically a hose job. They do however seem to give Esquire the benefit of the doubt. I’m not sure they should.

By: conservative pilgrim

conservative pilgrim — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:07:05 +0000

No, it’s very highly likely that he didn’t know about the benefit.
HondaV65 on February 12, 2013 at 8:08 AM

Sure, there’s a slim chance that this guy didn’t know about the VA, but highly unlikely. Maybe he blew off the out processing meetings and didn’t read the material that explains all his benefits and the ramifications of his choice to get out at 16. Are you saying he had never heard of the VA during his time? There are a lot of holes in this story, and this one is a red flag.

By: melle1228

melle1228 — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:54:48 +0000

It’s very hard to believe. We in the Navy have a week-long seminar for all separating servicemen, and it goes into sometimes mind-numbing detail on the benefits we are eligible for. I should know – I did it twice, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

Jeff Weimer on February 11, 2013 at 11:51 PM

I do too. My husband just retired from the Army. There was a class for everything and every benefit. It was just for retirees either. THese class included medical discharges and those that were leaving the military. I find it hard to believe that he didn’t realize that he had access to insurance since the there are classes specific to the VA and Tricare.

No, it’s very highly likely that he didn’t know about the benefit.

HondaV65 on February 12, 2013 at 8:08 AM

I don’t buy it. Maybe years ago, but the outprocessing is set up now that every benefit is reviewed via classes. And if not everyone has access to a computer. We specifically looked up what benefits were given to us as a retired Veteran in our state. I find it hard to believe that someone who obviously needed the service wasn’t proactive enough to look to see if he was eligible.

By: ricnrolle

ricnrolle — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:37:56 +0000

I call BS. This Navy Seal with 16 years in service, doesn’t know to ask a question or use google? I understand that one might not know all the bennies available to him but there is too much information out there. After I broke my back the second time I found out about the V.A. Pension. Not much bread but almost pays the bills. And that is for non-service related disability. As a Seal they would bend over backwards to help him IF he asked. Our clinics and hospitals are staffed with veterans and I can say that I have never had a bad experience since I have been in the system. The only requirement that I had to meet was service during Vietnam termed “wartime service” and my injury. He apparently has some health problems which would qualify him for service related benefits.

By: BuckeyeSam

BuckeyeSam — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:12:52 +0000

There’s a bigger picture here. The Navy eats these SEAL’s up and spits them out early in their ‘career’. It’s much tougher to do 20 as a SEAl than any other job I know.

As for not understanding VA benefits….it’s a nightmare. And the VA is hard to navigate for claims and it’s a flip of the coin to get them IMO.

BierManVA on February 12, 2013 at 6:43 AM

On your first point, that’s an excellent point. I never thought of that. It would seem to warrant a thoughtful legislation solution.

Your second point is well taken too. I guess I just don’t understand how, for all the increase in the number of federal employees in the past few years, Obama hasn’t done anything to beef up VA staff to assist with these transitions. This seems like a national disgrace. I suppose the last thing we need is more lazy, fat-a** federal employees sitting around picking their noses for a gubmint check. But couldn’t some of these normally useless bureaucrats be assigned to the VA to help vets leaving the service?