Other than Honorable Discharge Update 04

Overall, that 125,000 number amounts to 6.5% of all post-9/11 service members. In contrast, the report found that only 2.8% of Vietnam-era veterans and 1.7% of World War II-era veterans were excluded from VA benefits due to bad paper discharges. Further, the report suggests this may be in violation of the 1944 GI Bill of Rights. In the GI Bill of Rights, officially called the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, Congress deemed that other-than-honorable discharges can only bar a veteran from basic VA services if the individual’s misconduct led to a dishonorable discharge after a court-martial due to serious crimes. As TREA and many other veteran service organizations have noted, two of the VA's main purposes are ending veteran homelessness and stopping veteran suicide. Veterans with bad paper are at higher risk for both homelessness and suicide, but are purposefully excluded from services that are specifically designed to help them.

The report cites the VA’s regulations as the problem because they do not match the eligibility standards set up by Congress, as noted above. Apparently this policy of denying veterans' benefits to those with other-than-honorable discharges is not consistently applied. www.Taskandpurpose.com reported that in 2013, VA regional offices denied eligibility to 90% of veterans with bad paper discharges. While the Boston regional office denied 69% of veterans with bad paper discharges, the Indianapolis regional office denied 100%. In an interview with taskandpurpose.com, Deputy Secretary of the VA Sloan Gibson said:

“Under long-standing law and regulations, VA considers whether individuals with less than honorable discharges are eligible for VA benefits on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the reason for the discharge. I believe the report provides us as a department an opportunity to do a thorough review, take a fresh look this issue and make changes to help veterans.”

As reported in the conclusion of CNA’s latest retirement study report, Retirement Choice 2016: We find that, for almost all servicemembers, the REDUX retirement plan plus a $30,000 bonus paid at the 15th year of service is a bad choice that significantly reduces their retirement income. The higher the grade, the lower the years of service at retirement, and the longer the servicemember lives, the greater the reduction. Moreover, as each year passes, the difference between REDUX and High-3 retirement income increases (https://www.cna.org/cna_files/pdf/DRM-2016-U-012997-Final.pdf).

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  Debt collection 46%
  

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  Mortgage 15%
  
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  Credit reporting 11%
  
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  Consumer loan 7%
  
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  Bank account or service 6%
  
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  Credit cards 6%
  
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  Payday loans 3%
  
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  Student loans2%
  
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  Prepaid1%
  
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  Other financial service1%
  
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  Money transfer0.8%
  

Debt collection complaints totaled more than 46% of all complaints by service members, the CFPB's report says: "While this could be due to a variety of factors, one issue … is the concern that unpaid debts can threaten a military career." ACA International, a trade group representing debt collectors, questions the report's accuracy. "It simply does not provide important and relevant details, including the actual data, methodology or supporting arguments," says Cindy Sebrell, ACA vice president of public affairs. The trade group criticizes the agency for issuing the report with complaint data that have not been verified. "The CFPB report itself acknowledges that the number of debt collection military complaints could be caused by a variety of factors," Sebrell says.

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  Debt collection: About 44% of the bureau's debt collection complaints from service members involved attempts to collect debt that the service members believed they didn't owe. "Veterans are often left stressed and worried about their credit report due to these potentially erroneous collections," the report says. In particular, the agency routinely hears from veterans who struggle with collectors on debts stemming from medical bills. "Many veterans leave the hospital believing their services were covered by their (Veterans Affairs) health insurance or Medicare/Medicaid, only to be hounded later by debt collectors," the report says. Only 1% of the complaints about debt collection were closed with monetary relief. A majority of the cases -- 66% -- were closed with an explanation that was tailored to the individual consumer's complaint. For example, this category would be used if the explanation substantively meets the consumer's desired resolution or explains why no further action will be taken.
  
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  Mortgages: Around 2,800 complaints covered home financing. Service members experienced servicing issues when they had to relocate from one base to another, the report says. Some complaints center on the Department of Veterans Affairs Home Loans program, which guarantees the loan with the lender. Veterans are charged a funding fee of 1.25% to 3%, but those disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities are not obligated to pay the fee or can have it refunded. "We often hear from our disabled veteran consumers that they are struggling to receive a refund," according to the report.
  
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  Credit reporting: Of approximately 2,200 credit reporting complaints from military members, 72% involved incorrect information on their credit reports. They usually learned of the problem after returning home from deployment and checking their credit report. Sometimes, the issue can be much more serious than just a mistaken listing on a credit report. "Many active-duty service members who submit credit reporting complaints highlight issues with fraud and identity theft," the report says. "They often struggle to rectify the situation with both their creditors and the credit reporting companies."
  

The agency also received veterans' complaints on consumer loans, bank accounts and services, credit cards, payday loans, student loans, prepaid cards, money transfers and other financial services complaints. The majority of complaints in the financial services category -- 50% -- involved accusations of fraud or scams, the report says. Another 26% dealt with excessive or unexpected fees, while 8% involved issues of disclosure or lost or stolen checks. With credit cards, the largest percentage of complaints -- 15% -- centered on billing disputes. The CFPB says service members complain that they are confused and frustrated by the billing process and by their limited ability to challenge inaccuracies on their monthly statement. Service members lodged 500 payday loan complaints, with 51% dealing with fraud or scams. Debt collection complaints about payday loans outnumbered debt collection complaints about auto loans, mortgages, and student loans combined, the CFPB says. "The cost and structure of a particular (payday) loan can make it difficult for service members to repay," the report says. [Source: Bankrate.com | Stephen Pounds | April 04, 2016 ++]

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Saipan, Mariana Islands, 19 June to 7 July 1944. When his entire company was held up by fire from automatic weapons and small-arms fire from strongly fortified enemy positions that commanded the view of the company, Sgt. (then Pvt.) Baker voluntarily took a bazooka and dashed alone to within 100 yards of the enemy. Through heavy rifle and machinegun fire that was directed at him by the enemy, he knocked out the strong point, enabling his company to assault the ridge. Some days later while his company advanced across the open field flanked with obstructions and places of concealment for the enemy, Sgt. Baker again voluntarily took up a position in the rear to protect the company against surprise attack and came upon 2 heavily fortified enemy pockets manned by 2 officers and 10 enlisted men which had been bypassed. Without regard for such superior numbers, he unhesitatingly attacked and killed all of them. Five hundred yards farther, he discovered 6 men of the enemy who had concealed themselves behind our lines and destroyed all of them. On 7 July 1944, the perimeter of which Sgt. Baker was a part was attacked from 3 sides by from 3,000 to 5,000 Japanese. During the early stages of this attack, Sgt. Baker was seriously wounded but he insisted on remaining in the line and fired at the enemy at ranges sometimes as close as 5 yards until his ammunition ran out. Without ammunition and with his own weapon battered to uselessness from hand-to-hand combat, he was carried about 50 yards to the rear by a comrade, who was then himself wounded. At this point Sgt. Baker refused to be moved any farther stating that he preferred to be left to die rather than risk the lives of any more of his friends. A short time later, at his request, he was placed in a sitting position against a small tree . Another comrade, withdrawing, offered assistance. Sgt. Baker refused, insisting that he be left alone and be given a soldier's pistol with its remaining 8 rounds of ammunition. When last seen alive, Sgt. Baker was propped against a tree, pistol in hand, calmly facing the foe. Later Sgt. Baker's body was found in the same position, gun empty, with 8 Japanese lying dead before him. His deeds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.