McCain’s revisions should be saluted
As a Marine veteran who uses the GI Bill to fund my UCLA education, I strongly support Sen. McCain’s proposed revisions and incentive program in opposition to S22, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act.
The Student Veterans of America seem to be more concerned with gaining access to larger sums of money than considering actions they could have taken to put themselves and fellow veterans in a better position after service.
Better planning and not more money is what is needed to successfully transition from a military life to a civilian life.
Cost of living and tuition should not be sudden surprises to a transitioning service member.
Instead, forward thinking, research, saving, budgeting and common sense should be exercised while still in the service.
Sadly, too many service members are more concerned with “just getting out” and going to college than with listening to their career planners or doing independent research on what kinds of programs are out there to help them.
Incentive programs, such as those proposed by McCain, would allow service members more time to consider their options for schooling and even provide access to a large amount of free schooling while they are active.
As veterans, we understand the true worth of both an education and our nation at large, but this does not negate our responsibilities to ourselves to do everything we can to ensure we receive the best education possible.
Mike Ries
Third-year, political science
U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, two tours in Iraq