View Full Version : Esquire interview with the man who shot UBL
Kraven251
02-11-2013, 10:52
It is a long read, but it is amazing. It also tells that very real story about how the .mil/.gov sucks at taking care of its own after they are out.
http://www.esquire.com/print-this/man-who-shot-osama-bin-laden-0313?page=all
Some of his "facts" are a little off- OEF/OIF vets are pretty well taken care of by the VA- you get 5 years medical coverage after separation, lifetime coverage if over 50% service connected disability... coverage on injuries for life if service connected.
10mm-man
02-11-2013, 11:08
I don't know if I 100% agree with the statement. They could do more and yes it does take some time to get back on your feet when you get out, but in the long run; you are taken care of in the long run. When I got out it sucked not knowing what to do and it takes some time to get in the swing of things. I read some were in a comparison chart, it compared a Mil man with someone with a four year degree. It showed four years of service and four years of school. The civilian would be farther ahead as to pay, benefits, etc. from the 4-8 year mark, but then the mil man would surpass that individual. People complain about our vets not being taken care of, but if a vet chooses to work hard, the people, Gov, etc. take care of them. There are a lot of programs out there; GI Bill, V.A. medical, business loans, business training and many more. I was surprised at the amount of things out there for Veterans, you just have to go get it, like anything else in life!
Kraven251
02-11-2013, 11:15
I will say this up front "I don't know," but I thought a lot of this was based on being active reserve etc. I know my father stayed active reserve to get his full benefit package, but there was no way they were going to call up a gunny with a leg/knee full of shrapnel. This guy though would probably have been activated in some capacity just because of his skillset.
I wondering how it plays when you are just out, leave with no strings etc.
I wondering how it plays when you are just out, leave with no strings etc.
Do you mean with no VA disability rating? You get 5 years of medical coverage, IIRC, and are entitled to all sorts of great benefits mentioned by 10mm-man such as hunting/fishing licenses for free or huge discount (haven't taken advantage of this yet so not exactly sure), VA home loan guarantee, GI Bill, SBA support (federally mandated), VA small business loan assistance, Veterans preference on gov jobs, and the list goes on for about 15 pages [Beer]
Kraven251
02-11-2013, 12:04
Thanks Ronin and 10mm, makes me curious why he isn't taking advantage or it may just be the initial transitioning is the issue. I was just used to seeing vet benefits get cut with every "balanced" budget that passed through the fed.
Thanks Ronin and 10mm, makes me curious why he isn't taking advantage or it may just be the initial transitioning is the issue. I was just used to seeing vet benefits get cut with every "balanced" budget that passed through the fed.
95% of the benefits veterans are entitled to aren't really disclosed very well, I had to look up most of the cool stuff I get when I got out... And I go through the Disabled American Veterans org for assistance with my VA Disability, because the VA isn't very good at helping you through that process. I can't say for everyone, and every post/unit/etc but my experience: they don't tell you shit, you have to go out and find what benefits you get after leaving service.
Umm.. You don't do 20 -- you don't get full bene's.. What am I missing here?
Why he wouldnt take 3 years of some other duty is very strange.
buckeye4rnr
02-11-2013, 14:19
Does someone here have a list of the benefits your get if you leave military service before your 20 years? I know the answer is "jack shit" but someone is arguing with me saying they get a bunch of benefits and won't accept first hand accounts as factual. He wants an actual list which I have been unable to find.
Umm.. You don't do 20 -- you don't get full bene's.. What am I missing here?
Why he wouldnt take 3 years of some other duty is very strange.
Does someone here have a list of the benefits your get if you leave military service before your 20 years? I know the answer is "jack shit" but someone is arguing with me saying they get a bunch of benefits and won't accept first hand accounts as factual. He wants an actual list which I have been unable to find.
Wrong and wrong... This is where a lot of misconception lies. No you don't get retirement benefits- but there are a lot of veteran's benefits regardless of how long you served (granted you need an honorable discharge for a lot of good stuff). Here are a couple extensive looks at what vets are entitled to after service:
http://benefits.va.gov/benefits/
http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits
Bailey Guns
02-11-2013, 18:40
That was a great read. Thanks!
10mm-man
02-11-2013, 19:42
Thanks Ronin and 10mm, makes me curious why he isn't taking advantage or it may just be the initial transitioning is the issue.
I forgot to mention a BIGGIE!! The V.A. is mandated to do 100% business with a Service -Disabled Veteran Owned Business. All work must be set aside for these companies 1st, and if a SDVOSB can fill the requirement, they get the work. I compete in this market today and it has saved my company!! My 1st house was V.A. backed as well....
I believe a lot of veterans think they are owed something and should be taken care of. Not all but some........... That maybe is why some don't realize how taken care of we really are? They wanted it handed to them, instead of going out there and getting it! I see a lot of veterans with this mentality everytime I am at the V.A. hospital. Like i said not all, but some.... [Flame] on
tmleadr03
02-11-2013, 20:15
I have to say I am really getting tired of reading about these SEALs. The rampant narcissism is very hard to swallow. Just because he was a SEAL does not mean he should get special treatment like getting early and still getting full retirement.
Must be hard going from being king of the hill, unlimited training budget, unlimited ammo to being just another vet.
Always regretted not going into the military, but I graduated HS in 1974 and after all those years of Vietnam it just wasn't a popular career choice for my age group. And after having my 3 older brothers in the service during Vietnam, it wasn't a very popular career choice for me with my parents or brothers either.
But I'll always feel like I missed out on some special experiences.
Always regretted not going into the military, but I graduated HS in 1974 and after all those years of Vietnam it just wasn't a popular career choice for my age group. And after having my 3 older brothers in the service during Vietnam, it wasn't a very popular career choice for me with my parents or brothers either.
But I'll always feel like I missed out on some special experiences.
You missed out on the STRIPES era.
You missed out on the STRIPES era.
Razzle Dazzle!
What I don't like is that some vets benefits are different per state. I don't understand how I'm a less of a disabled veteran in Colorado than when I lived in Oregon. I'm pretty sure I served the nation as a whole. Other than that I think the benefits are great and I appreciate them.
navy seal who killed bin laden isn't really screwed
http://qz.com/52720/navy-seal-who-killed-bin-laden-isnt-really-screwed/
also
http://www.military.com/video/operations-and-strategy/terrorism/seal-who-killed-bin-laden-revealed/946112926001/
Rooskibar03
02-12-2013, 00:08
Ok technicality question. The Shooter claims to have given the magazine from his rifle to the female CIA agent with 27 bullets in it.
So he fired 3 shots into OBL, which would leave one in the chamber and 26 in the mag. Does a solider clear his weapon and replace the round to the magazine or is this just "artistic license" by the author?
USAFGopherMike
02-12-2013, 01:22
Gotta love Stripes.
"are either of you men.....homosexuals?"
"What like flaming?"
"It's just a standard question."
"We're not homosexuals, but we ARE will to learn."
With that out of the way and as an active duty guy with 20 years of service who's known a few guys that got out before their 20, I'll tell you they all have their reasons for doing it. I'll pose this question for the sake of conversation: Fox is talking about this guy being out of work. For the record, I haven't seen the film yet, but it's made over $100M. So... what do you think? Should the makers of zero dark-30 donate 1% of the total take to a foundation that pays a small monthly amount based on royalties to the guys on that team?
Vets are better taken care of now than they were 25 years ago and there's a lot out there for us. I'm not complaining, but..... the sequestration is total BS and in the end, the troops will suffer greatest.
Gotta love Stripes.
"are either of you men.....homosexuals?"
"What like flaming?"
"It's just a standard question."
"We're not homosexuals, but we ARE will to learn."
With that out of the way and as an active duty guy with 20 years of service who's known a few guys that got out before their 20, I'll tell you they all have their reasons for doing it. I'll pose this question for the sake of conversation: Fox is talking about this guy being out of work. For the record, I haven't seen the film yet, but it's made over $100M. So... what do you think? Should the makers of zero dark-30 donate 1% of the total take to a foundation that pays a small monthly amount based on royalties to the guys on that team?
Vets are better taken care of now than they were 25 years ago and there's a lot out there for us. I'm not complaining, but..... the sequestration is total BS and in the end, the troops will suffer greatest.
See other thread for my feelings on the matter.
I am calling BS on the Esquire Story,
http://twitchy.com/2013/02/12/msm-serves-up-big-steaming-pile-of-bs-about-former-navy-seal-who-shot-osama-bin-laden/
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/02/12/on-second-thought-the-man-who-shot-bin-laden-does-have-free-health-care-sort-of/
something doesn't sound right i doubt this guy is the shooter or even one. The closest he got to a seal was the animals in the ocean while swapping decks.
I haven't read the article, but I do disagree that vets aren't taken care of when they get out. Someone said it above me, but there seems to be a general sense of veteran entitlement when they get out. Sure there are some things we are and rightfully should be entitled to (service connected disability) but by in large we are so well taken care of compared to previous generations of warfighters.
Also, before I got out they were considering lowering the retirement service requirement to 15 years, don't know if it went through or not. This was to aid in the reduction in force.
There was talk months ago about not letting military retirees collect until they were at a certain age instead of the way it is now. I'm sure it was to save money, but how do you like that bullshit.
USAFGopherMike
02-12-2013, 20:08
There was talk months ago about not letting military retirees collect until they were at a certain age instead of the way it is now. I'm sure it was to save money, but how do you like that bullshit.
I don't. The crap a G.I. has to put up with justifies the retirement at 20.
I don't. The crap a G.I. has to put up with justifies the retirement at 20.
You can still retire after 20, but you wouldn't get paid until your are like 50 something.
USAFGopherMike
02-12-2013, 23:47
You can still retire after 20, but you wouldn't get paid until your are like 50 something.
That too is horsesh*t. I'll be lucky if I can walk or function at 50. If I hear any inkling of that kind of legislation, I'm dropping paperwork.
That too is horsesh*t. I'll be lucky if I can walk or function at 50. If I hear any inkling of that kind of legislation, I'm dropping paperwork.
I found it. I'm not sure if this is dead or not.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2011-09-07/Proposed-changes-in-military-benefits-have-troops-worried/50305324/1
Mick-Boy
02-13-2013, 02:31
I think the biggest deciding factor for me on the "retire at 20yrs but not collect until 50 something" would be the implementation.
If they leave the system as is for the guys that are in (who were sold that bill of goods when they joined) but started the new system for guys joining tomorrow, I'm fine with it. They'll know what they're getting when they sign on the dotted line.
But if they take a guy who is at 19 and tell him he's not going to get what he was promised for another XX years... Well.. That dog don't hunt.
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