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Before 1989, every military recruiter told countless thousands of young men and women considering military service, they would be guaranteed unequaled heath care benefits for serving at least 20 years. These benefits were taught, as part of the curriculum, in Recruiting Schools and Career Counselor Training Courses as an incentive for joining and re-enlistment. During all the prior years of training, there is no documentation of even a single recruiter or counselor questioning the validity of what they were promising. There was no reason, they were told the same thing when they joined and retirees were receiving promised health care. Sadly, since 1989, this has not been the case and the phrase "the truth changes" increasingly is used when referring to most promises made by our government. In 1975, I decided to join the Navy. The first step of the process involved testing, physical, classification and most desirable, the promise, in return for 20 years' service, free medical care for me and my immediate family for the rest of our lives. I joined and I served 20 years retiring in 1995. The words left out of the promise were "space available." Initially, this omission was not important. Today, it has great significance. The reason; the military has downsized considerably over time and therefore, there are fewer doctors, nurses, other health care professionals, and especially hospitals to provide space available health care. They are the words now being used as justification to change military health care benefits. Most believe recruiters and career counselors have lied to military retirees and disabled service members, especially since 1959 when Congress enacted the "space available" addition to military Health Care. This was the first of a number of laws enacted to reduce and limit access to retirees...the Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act 0f 2003 acknowledges promises of lifetime health care were made and broken for many years after these laws were passed. The quandary, Congress and the Joint Chiefs, never ordered military recruiters to stop promising free health care for life. Today, Congress blames recruiters for lying to new recruits. I wonder at the number of members of the Congress who recruiters informed their Health Benefits would extend for life if they served 20 or more years; now respond with ignorance of recruiter promises. In 1969, there were 329 veterans or retired in the house and senate. Over time, the number with military service has dropped to its current level of 121. Their collective wartime service includes World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. They all knew upon enlistment or commissioning the benefits of joining the military and retiring. All who retired received or are receiving the benefit of this promise. Yet, when they entered the Congress or Senate, they treat addressing recruiter promises as taboo, avoiding any mention of military recruiters lying to them about benefits. I was in Navy Recruiting in about 1989, when we were informed to cease and desist telling prospective and new recruits about any guarantee of free health care for life. Although it was known since about 1959, Congress never moved to denied promises made by recruiters were not authorized or had ever been guaranteed through legislation. When I went to Recruiting School in 1986, we were taught free health care was a critical recruiting tool, again, "space available" was not mentioned. Benefits were major compensation in enticing recruits to join military services. I found this to be true and it was one of the major reasons for my success in recruiting. The recruiter is not at fault in this deception of millions, and they did not lie, nor did I. It was the Congress who knew what was being promised, yet did nothing to legitimize. Hundreds of members of the Congress served in the military and knew what recruiters promised, yet allowed continuation. They knew they were promising benefits not condoned or supported by legislation and turned their heads because recruiting was successfully meeting the demands of National Security. The military is a unique extension of American society. Our pay and benefits pale in contrast to our civilian counterparts. If there are no incentives for military retirement; if congress is allowed to erode the benefits of today's retirees and disabled; how then do those entering the service or deciding to remain, believe promises they are being guaranteed. Verbal Agreements are apparently enforceable only in the civilian sector; ignored in the government, they are subject to denial and change at discretion. The dilemma looming largest on the military horizon, will our President and Congress force the inclusion of "buyer beware" as a disclaimer warning future recruits, "the truth changes" in relation to benefits promised." Author Note: This article does not address CHAMPUS or TRI-CARE as programs that have existed since 1967. It address what recruiters and career counselors knew prior to about 1989 in making promises that were sanctioned but not legislatively authorized. No matter what you write, someone will love it. I am Mac McGovern. I write articles, poetry, and blogs for many internet websites. My poetry may be found at: http://allpoetry.com/mac_mcgovern, and my articles at: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mac_McGovern#more-information. You may follow me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/themacmcgovern.
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