I realize that there will be some that do not share my opinions on some and maybe all these subjects, but the idea here is to direct your attention to issues that are having an impact on Veterans, Retirees and Marines and provoke some thought and discussion.  If I can get some of you to look at, review, analyze and maybe act on just one issue affecting veterans and/or Marines, than maybe we can stop the ever increasing erosion of benefits to the military and veterans and be better prepared to help the younger Marines just joining the ranks of us veterans.  

Some Marines and veterans have other interests and concerns and don’t have the time or inclination to worry about or get involved with issues such as the one associated with military health care fees.  And there are those who believe true sacrifice, like true charity, when made openly and voluntarily, should not be made with expectations of reward; times change and things get more expensive for everyone.  I submitted to them, this isn’t about rewards or things just getting more expensive.  I certainly don’t consider my health care benefits a reward and I was well aware of things getting expensive through out my career and having to do without or having to make life style adjustments in order to fulfill duty assignments because of salary limitations.  For most, if not all career Marines, it wasn’t about the money and our rewards came in the form of just being able to spend a lifetime serving with and leading Marines...that’s why we stayed.  You can not put a price on that!  This issue concerning health care fee increase is about keeping a promise, a commitment and ensuring the commitment made to military men and women who earned these benefits through a career of arduous service, including wartime service, is fulfilled.  This is about stopping a consistent erosion of benefits for those that are willing to serve this country and especially those who make the military a career.  This is about being fair.       

General Pace is not the Commandant of the Marine Corps, but I expect that our Commandant, General Michael Hagee, is aware of this issue and has had his say on the impact it could/would have on Marines, active, former and retired.  This may not be and rightfully so, a priority for him; the readiness and welfare of his active duty Marine force, is and should remain his focus of effort so that they can perform their ever demanding missions safely and successfully.  To become overly burdened with the issues concerning veteran Marines and retired Marines is not something he should or could take on with the current military situations in the Middle East and thus looming elsewhere.  I don’t believe personally contacting him is the way to address this issue either.  I am also sure all the service chiefs understand the impact of changing mainstays like military retirement pay and military health care can and will have on retention and overall readiness.  They had to deal with this when the “high three” retirement was introduced and replaced the 50/20 retirement plan in the 80’s.  I’m confident they have stated their concerns/opinions and like good Marines and soldiers carry on with the missions at hand trying to take care of their active duty warriors the best they can.  The leadership for addressing issues involving changes such as this comes from grass root support within the veteran and retiree communities and organizations like the VFW, American Legion, Marine Corps League, MOAA (Military Officer’s Association of America) and individual Marine veterans and veterans in general.    

This change may not impact all…yet.  But as they say, “let the camel’s nose under the flap of the tent and get prepared for the rest of him”. If left unchallenged, this increase and reneging on another promise/benefit could generate further changes in other areas of medical health care and associated costs for more than just retirees.  It could impact reservists and the most recent additions to the veteran’s communities, those with horrific disabilities returning home from the Middle East, those who have already sacrificed too much.  They too will end up having to share in this cost increase.  For those who say there is always the VA, does anyone really think the VA alone can handle all this?  The government has been cutting that budget for years despite the efforts of the VFW and American Legion.  The VA is struggling with what they already have to deal with and   although the VA has done better since the Viet Nam Era, it still has a ways to go.  It's time veterans stop allowing themselves to be treated like mushrooms and get more involved and challenge some of these decisions.  They should be able to this without accusations of being disloyal or being unsupportive of whomever or whatever organization is proposing the changes.  We are not nor should we be blindly obedient; we should question, we should ponder, we should continuously evaluate and we should protect and guard our benefits and privileges as veterans.  At least the ones we still have left.    

Although Marines have this image of being blindly obedience to orders and maybe there are some that actually do it or have done it that way or still believe this is the way we do things, I can assure it not the norm.  Marines know the time and a place for blind obedience and we know when it has to be executed it is under the premise of faith, trust and confidence in fellow Marines, especially the leadership.  This, however, is neither that time nor that place.  Just because someone says something is good or bad, doesn't always mean he or she is right or in it is the best interest of ALL.  There is a time for questions, identifying what the “intent” is and what the impact is going to be. This is healthy and what makes Marines different despite the belief, we blindly obey orders, we do challenge things and we do that well.  Read our history, we have Marines that challenged the conventional thoughts of the time...Smedley Butler and Al Gray to name two.  They questioned, challenged and were strongly opinioned in regard to all things Marine and affecting Marines.  The impact both had on the corps is legendary.

My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military.
Smedley Butler 

War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.
Smedley Butler

I don't run democracy. I train troops to defend democracy and I happen to be their surrogate father and mother as well as their commanding general.
Alfred M. Gray 

All of you are assistant mothers and fathers. That is an awesome responsibility.
Alfred M. Gray 

The average Marine vet most likely is not aware of how the system works and only thinks in terms of "the system and my leaders will take care of me"; this is the way we were trained.  As veterans and dealing with veteran’s issues that philosophy doesn’t work.  This current issue on health care fees may not be big issue or concern to some, but consider the average retiree, a SSgt or Captain, with a family and a retirement that barely meets basic needs.  Increase costs associated with their benefits only drives these vets into tougher financial situations or puts the burden on their extended families unless they are fortunate to be independently wealthy or have the luxury of a second retirement.  Who stands up for them?  Who is making sure they are getting a fair deal?  Haven't they sacrificed enough throughout their careers?  I sound bitter some say, no not bitter just very concerned about the trends in the reduction to military benefits for veterans and retirees and the lack of concern for doing something about the military pay gap.  I am convinced that the only way this will change is if we all stick together, stay aware, and become ever vigilant in regard to making sure all veterans are treated fairly, respectfully and honestly all the time and yes, do it objectively.  I also realize that times change and costs increase, but how many times do we have pay.  MOAA recently posted the following in their current issue as part of an article on their efforts to challenge the increase to health care fees:  RETIREES UNDER 65 ALREADY GAVE 10%…Just a reminder to those that may have forgotten and served during this time frame, for most of the 80's and 90's military pay raises were capped BELOW the private-sector pay growth.  These caps already depressed retired pay an average of 10% for service members who retired between 1984 and 2005.  For an average 05 who retired in 1993, this is more than $4000 per year.   I applaud MOAA for taking a stand on this and other issues affecting those of us that made the military a career and the VFW and American Legion’s stand on VA co-payment increases for all veterans. 

Yes, it was a lot of sacrifice and some gave more than others, but it isn’t just about the sacrifices; it was a calling, it wasn’t done for the money, it was done because we loved our country and corps.  We did it, we STAYED IN because we LOVED BEING AROUND MARINES. But as an old Gunnery Sgt use to say to me from time to time, Whatever’s fair, Sir; I submit to all those that are indifferent about or want to see any increases in costs for vets and career military for whatever reasons…Whatever’s FAIR!