"The U.S. Defense Department is ordering almost 10,000 one-time National Guardsmen from California to pay back enlistment bonuses, according to a news report.

 

Many of the veterans have to pack back the bonuses, totaling as much as $15,000 or more, or face such penalties as interest charges and tax liens, according to an article published Saturday by David Cloud, a reporter for The Los Angeles Times.

 

Like other branches of service, the Guard used enlistment bonuses to entice more people to enter the ranks a decade ago during the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, California Guard officials were found guilty of mismanaging the program.

 

Indeed, eight current or former members of the California National Guard in 2014 were indicted on federal charges for fraudulently obtaining recruiting referral bonuses, according to The Associated Press.

 

Veterans say they feel "betrayed" by having to return money for an error that wasn't their fault, The Los Angeles Times reported."

 

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/10/22/california-guardsmen-ordered-pay-back-bonuses-report.html

 

This is ridiculous. How do you expect people to pay money they've already spent. We really should be treating the people serving in the military better.

Edited October 24, 20168 yr by VisitJoan

The servicemen/women were not at fault bc they entered their new contracts in good faith. They did not know- the recruiters did, therefore it should not be their responsibility to pay back. Time for a class action suit.

This is what happens when you have an administration that despises veterans.

Somehow I'm not surprised. I remember reading about the 'Bonus Army' protests of 1932. The government has always abused their veterans and always will.