[theoddz]

Originally Posted by AtLastHome

Yes, this clarifies a lot for me. Thanks. Especially retirement and the disability status and military benefits. Although, personally, I think service members should get a hell of a lot more overall. Bothers me.

I don't have a good background here (yet, have family that did serve, but really as enlisted during war time or drafted during a Vietnam) and also, so many of the things I did learn way back when don't apply today.

Goofy was right on with his comments here!! Thanks for giving this info, Brother!!! I was in the barbershop, waiting for a haircut, when I read this thread on my Blackberry. I tried to type out a response on it, but was called for my haircut before I could finish!!

Like Goofy said, it depends on the character of a member's discharge that determines what kind of benefits they are eligible for, post discharge. You can read more about them and what benefits are given or lost here at this Wiki site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_discharge

Back when I was serving in the Marine Corps, my friends and Drill Instructors who were kicked out were given, by and large, General Discharges Under Other Than Honorable Conditions. For a Marine, it was an issue of "Conduct Unbecoming of A Marine", even though the Marine's character of service may have been exemplary. This meant that they lost their VA benefits, meaning health care and home loans. Educational benefits were contributory back then under the VEAP (Veterans Educational Assistance Program), so I don't think those were necessarily lost, but I'm not sure on this.

When DADT is overturned and GLBTQ members are allowed to openly serve, I do hope that those who went before, our Veterans, who were unjustly discharged because of sexual orientation/identity will be allowed to have their discharges amended/upgraded and their benefits as Veterans restored. It is simply only the right thing to do.

Semper Fi,
~Theo~