AGD's Soldier Bro Needs Cheap Air Fare
 

ThetaSigAGD posted this on the AGD Discussion Board but I thought that I would re-post it for her. She hasn't been around lately so I thought this would help get the word out. I know that we have GC'ers with military family so y'all might know of websites/orgs to help.

Any questions, pm ThetaSigAGD


Hello Everyone!

I have a question. My brother is currently fighting in Iraq, Tekrit(sp?) to be exact, in the army.

His son was born Nov. 18th and he wants to come home for the holidays to see his son and family before he goes back for another year in Iraq.

The Army has granted his leave for the holiday, in part because of his first son's birth, but the soliders have to find there own way home. Airfare is not paid by the Army.

I know there are some websites, and organizations that help soften the financial burdens for these soliders but I do not know what they are. Can anyone help?

Um.......that is bullshit....soldiers are given airfare back to the states. He actually got it all the way to his hometown...though sometimes they drop you at a port city, like Baltimore. Have him talk to people again. I am fairly sure that large leg of the journey is paid!

Thanks! Another AGD has given her great advice on the AGD board.

However, I didn't appreciate the profanity. Just remember that these are young men and women (and their families) who have probably never been in this situation so they don't know all the "things that lhey should probably know". After all, I'm sure there are things that the military leaders aren't telling their troops about other things, unfortunately.

Anyway, hope it works out for any soldier or non-solider who is trying to make it to a special place for the holidays.

I grew up in the military.....and with a lot of the annoyingness that goes with it. They always do things like say you have to pay when you really don't. It has been dubbed *bullshit* since I was like 3....and I have used that word since about them...it isn't profanity in my house....I guess it is just two different worlds..

Thanks for your "clarification";)

That's "one" bad thing about posting, we're talking to strangers that we don't know who may be using words that are part of their regular vocabulary.

I was in the military too, but I was only in TX, CA, and OH (for a very long month!).:)

Couple of thoughts here. I'm concerned by some comments in this and related threads that our soldiers are poorly informed and denied some special entitlement. A free trip home is not an entitlement, it is a privelege. For what should be obvious reasons, I am very much in favor of making sure our soldiers get the best support and not only all their entitlements but all the priveleges they deserve. But it is congress that sets the limits and appropriates the funds. The policy has been for many years that a soldier on leave from a remote or hazardous location will be furnished transportation gratis to the aerial port of entry (APOE) in the US. Once back in the US he/she may proceed to his/her home or anywhere else he/she wants to go but at his/her own expense. The Dept of Defence has tried for many years to extend this to the soldier's home of record but apparently Congress is reluctant to vote the funds to do this. If one voluntarily extends a tour of duty in a remote or hazardous location one can get transportation to an ultimate destination gratis, but only as part of an extension package.
A key point to consider is that there is not a single draftee in the Army today. Every soldier, be they Regular Army, Army Reserve, or National Guard is a volunteer. These are not our poor boys/girls sent into danger against their will, these are volunteer soldiers doing exactly what they signed up for.
Our soldiers are very well informed of exactly what their mission is, what their entitlements are, what their priveleges are, and what limits apply under what circumstances. There is no room to feel sorry for any of our soldiers. Better that you feel a deep and glowing pride in these honorable Americans. I for one am damned proud of every one who steped forward and took the oath and then honored that committment by doing his/her duty. Soldiering is not easy, honor your brothers and sisters who put their neck on the line, but do not treat them as children who ought to be given a free ride home. They are responsible men and women who are every bit as, and often more so than their civilian counterparts, capable of handling their own affairs and working within the rules under which they voluntarily placed themselves. They are not kept in the dark and mis-informed. They know the score and they play by the rules. God bless then all.

Not to kill the patriotic mood you set...but it has been my experience that most soldiers are uniformed about what entitlements they have. The military offers a lot of support to deployed soldiers. They get extra pay, extra leave, they are allowed two weeks R&R on any tour over 6 months (well- there are tweaks to this rule because it is "non-combat").

Soldiers are aware of the risks and DO go voluntarily but that doesn't mean they are aware that there are things available to them no matter where they are if deployed. They can even get leave if a immediate family member has a wedding and sometimes a baby (not always again depends on what unit and what mission they are on). Often they don't ask, and don't know. My cousin assumed he would have to pay from Baltimore for his home town...not only did he not but the stewardess upgraded him to first class simply because he was a soldier.

Anyway, my point is...yes they are not *poor* soldiers but like any large anything- things get lost in the shuffle and so do a lot of their entitlements. My father has had to demand things because the army forgot....or his boss didn't THINK they were permitted when in reality you just had to do some research.

Just my two cents...

'Space A' (for Space Available) travel extends to all military members on active duty or retired, regardless of service. Reservists and National Guard may also use Space A if they are traveling on active duty orders. If there is space available on the aircraft, one can hitch a ride on it. Only applies to transport aircraft; combat aircaft don't count. However, the exigiencies of the military mission may dictate that the Space A passengers may be dropped off short of their destination.

(Case in point: as a young Civil Air Patrol cadet (the Air Force extends Space A privileges in support of CAP/JROTC activities), we took Space A travel to the several national special activities. My group hopped on a T-43A (a Boeing 737 navigation trainer) from Homestead AFB in Florida to Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas via Columbus AFB, Mississippi. On the way back, because of a change in mission plans, our return flight dropped us off at Palm Beach International Airport instead of Homestead. Waited almost two hours in an executive terminal until our parents drove up the nearly two hours from Miami.)

If you have 'orphaned' frequent flyer miles (miles accrued but not enough for a free trip, and they're in danger of expiring) you can donate the mileage to HeroMiles, which will help a soldier with getting home at no cost.

Website: www.heromiles.org .

For Ariesrising: All branches of the armed services are extended the privelege of "Space A" travel. As usual there are rules and priorities set by Air Mobility Command and governed by the DTR (Defence Transportation Regulation), and DOD 4514.13R (Air Transportation Eligibility Regulation), but unless a service member has lost his privelege for mis-conduct all military, both active and reserve, can travel this way. Non-Active duty reservists have more constrained priveleges but are still eligible.

For Susymoonspider and AGDLynn: In my experience, every outfit in which I served made sure that all of its soldiers knew not only what was expected of them but what entitlements were due to them and what priveleges were available to them. I have been a platoon leader, company XO, brigade staff officer, and cav troop commander and I made sure that all my soldiers were kept very well informed on all matters that affected them, their duties, their families, and their personal development as well as their group obligations. I expected my junior officers and NCOs to teach, lead, and look out for their soldiers and would rip the hide off of any who did not measure up to these absolute requirements. In discussing matters of training, motivation, morale, and mission readiness with other officers of both senior and equal rank I have found that what was the rule in my outfit was pretty much standard across the board in other outfits. One of the very first things I learned about being a soldier was that if one day you might have to ask your men to follow you into situations where they might very well be killed you had better have earned their trust by looking out for their interests and getting the word out to each one. Train hard, play it straight, respect your soldiers and keep them in the loop (informed), expect the best of your soldiers, and give them nothing less than your best. Otherwise you don't have any business holding an officer's commission. I learned that from my Dad who was a regimental commander and senior staff officer before retiring to practice law. He taught me that if an officer did not look out for his men all the way then he had missed the whole point and would be hard pressed to demand much from those he had failed. So, I am troubled by the experiences you described in growing up as a fellow Army Brat. My experience has been very different. Yes, in very large organizations like the Army things can get lost in the shuffle but its the officer's and NCO's job to make the system work the way it is intended to work. "Don't know and didn't ask" are unacceptable in my Army where it is my job to make sure that my soldier does know and is encouraged to ask. My soldiers were always told to use their chain of command. It doesn't only run from top to bottom, it also runs from bottom to top and is for them as well as on them. When I commanded a Cav Troop my First Sergeant would have crucified any NCO who failed to take care of his troops, possibly to save that NCO from the far worse fate of having to answer to the Commander.
My two cents...

So dekeguy...your soldiers are informed.....good for you..maybe you need to become president and pass it on to the WHOLE military. (I am being serious NOT sarcastic)...maybe if there were more leaders like you then it wouldn't be an issue. The fact remains that if AGDLynn and I both know several people that have these experiences it DOES happen. Even if not directly linked to you...

Edited: I typed deketuy instead of dekeguy:) I am spelling challenged.....it's finals I am not fully with the typing after about 30 pages worth of papers....and more to go BLECK!:)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dekeguy
In discussing matters of training, motivation, morale, and mission readiness with other officers of both senior and equal rank I have found that what was the rule in my outfit was pretty much standard across the board in other outfits.

Suzymoonspider,
Thanks for the suggestion that I run for President. However, since the guy who currently lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave is a Brother DEKE I really can't try to get the job for myself, at least yet. Besides, you have to be 35 to be President and I have quite a way to go yet before I qualify. Anyway, what I wanted to say was that while I am sure that there are some officers and NCOs who do not do a very good job of keeping the troops in the loop it has been my experience that they are in the outrageous minority. The vast majority rigorously maintain the standards I described in my previous post.
Hmmm, another DEKE in the White House. OK, since it was your idea, if, in the fullness of time, I get elected, will you come to the Inaugural Ball, save me a dance, and consider accepting appointment as a Presidential Adviser?

Sure I will come to the ball....and be your advisor....but beware- I am one of those environmentalists:) LOL- not the crazy ones but the save the cute fuzzy things kind:) Look me up when you run:)

suzymoonspider,
Ok, I will count on your being at the Ball, saving me a dance, and advising me on environmental matters. Actually, this could work pretty well considering that without some input from the "cute fuzzy thing" protector kind of environmentalists I would probably turn into Alex P. Keaton, Jr.