The Broken Soldier

Got an email from MI Guard folks today.  $1,000 check from the Family Relief Fund was mailed, according to the person writing the email, four days ago.  We can certainly use the money.  Not that we’re poor.  Far from it.  My wife makes twice the mean national annual salary.  But my Guard enlistment has been very costly to us, and hasn’t paid out as we thought it would.  In fact, though I haven’t done the actual calculation, I’m betting my wife and I have actually paid more for my Guard membership than we’ve made.

Sarah and I entered into certain financial obligations on the reasonable assumption of two incomes.  Hers, which we already knew would stay the same or increase, and mine.  My income would have been cadet pay and allowances for 9 weeks, roughly $8k total after tax, a $10k bonus for completing OCS, and then 2nd LT pay and allowances for at least 4 months to a year and half, depending on what officer job I took/was assigned, roughly $15k-$70k after tax.  Then, more than likely, I would have been sent to Iraq or Afghanistan on an 18 month deployment.  Several of those months would have been spent spinning up at Fort Dix, during which time my income would be taxed.  Boots on sand, and no taxes.  There’s a possibility I may have been promoted during that 18 months, but if not, which actually simplifies the calculation, I’d have had a net income of approximately $85k.

If I didn’t deploy, I’d have entered the job market a triple bachelors holding U of M grad, continued pursuing professional education, or perhaps both.  In any event, my student debt, which is substantial, could have been paid or would have remained deferred.

This assistance, though late (we were told this check would be sent several weeks ago), is appreciated, but it really isn’t enough.  As well, it will likely go to paying for prescriptions, and there’s a strong chance, if past experience is a predictor of future outcomes, TriCare will not reimburse these costs.  What’s $1,000?  Especially in light of the information provided above.

I thank God everyday that my wife has a wonderful talent.  Without it, and the salary it commands, we’d be in far worse shape.  But we shouldn’t have to be where we are now, barely getting by.  We should be well off, and we could be well off if the government actually took care of those of us injured on active duty as was promised when I enlisted.  But nothing has happened as was explained to us.  Bad info.  Bad consequences.