Outrage as Feds Say California Vets Must Repay Enlistment Bonuses By Rick Moran

https://pjmedia.com/trending/2016/10/23/outrage-as-feds-say-california-vets-must-repay-enlistment-bonuses/

A federal audit has discovered that up to 10,000 California National Guard enlistees received improper bonuses at the time of their recruitment and now the government wants the vets to pay the bonsues back.

The bonuses were meant to spur recruitment a decade ago when Guard enlistments were lagging. But the money was only supposed to go to recruits who signed up for “high demand” positions. Thousands received the bonuses anyway.

CBS Los Angeles:

“The way to fix it if the law needs to be changed,” says McVey, “that’s what elected officials are for. They should fix the problem not lay it off on what in fact are turning into the victims.”The money was given to the soldiers upfront, similar to an athlete getting a signing bonus.

According to the LA Time, the bonus money was supposed to be limited to soldiers who were taken on high-demand assignments.

A federal investigation uncovered thousands of bonuses and studentloan payments that were given to California Guard soldiers who didn’t qualify under the high-demand assignment criteria.

Fajardo also spoke to retired US Army Chief Warrant Officer Warren Finch who also served in the Guard.

She asked him if he believed the money should be returned?

“I don’t think so.” he said, “I think they took the bonus honestly believing that’s what they were authorized. To be perfectly honest I think the people that did it, promised them the bonus should be the ones paying it back.”

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