The signing bonus the military is offering has been a point of contention at my house recently. My husband, who served six years in the military, has said more than once that he is thinking about rejoining. As the signing bonus gets higher, so does my husband’s push to have me consider the possibility.
I have said no. That isn’t all I have said, but this is the G-rated tear-free version of my response. He has used logic to argue his point, which normally works for me. He could stay in and eventually get retirement benefits; it would be additional income every month; the bonus would allow us to pay off several bills and maybe even a car. It’s good for the family.
I do not argue logically. Instead, I am totally selfish and emotional. No. I like my husband, and I want to be near him. I like our weekends we spend together, unencumbered.
Plus, there is a reason why the signing bonus is getting bigger — it is intended to recruit people at a time when recruitment numbers are low and the need is great.
Knowing all of that, I have done everything possible to keep my husband from signing up. It is my opinion that a $20,000 signing bonus just isn’t worth it. Frankly, I can’t think of a number that would make it worth it. I can’t put a dollar figure on keeping my family healthy and intact and together.
And then this morning I heard on the radio that the Army is contacting soldiers who were injured in Iraq and requiring them to repay their signing bonus.
My jaw dropped. These soldiers signed up with the possibility of risking their lives being very real; and even if we take the life-threatening possibility out of the equation, it is still signing up for a life that interferes with your family relationships in a very big way. While fulfilling their duty, the soldiers were injured, permanently injured, and now the Army wants their money back because the soldier only fulfilled part of their contract? In my opinion, the soldier’s injuries mean that soldier is destined to serve a lifetime contract of service to our country. Every injury and long-term impact caused by that injury will be endured by the soldier in service to this country, and I am amazed anyone, including the Army, could possibly think otherwise.
I don’t see the signing bonus as an incentive. Even without the possibility of the Army will try to collect part of it back, I see the signing bonus as a gamble, and I am not a gambler. I don’t like to lose $20, so it is no surprise I am not willing to gamble with my husband even if the currency is just time away from family.
I have a hard time reconciling this issue. My dad retired from the U.S. Air Force; my brother retired from the U.S. Army; my other brother and my husband both served in the military as did my brother-in-law, father-in-law and numerous other relatives. I grew up in a town that is home to the largest National Guard training base east of the Mississippi. I understand the need to protect our country, and I am thankful for the men and women who do this every day. I know the sacrifices they are making to do this, and this is where my problem reconciling this issue comes in. I am not willing to make that sacrifice, and I am lucky because I have a choice. I rarely ask others to do something I myself would not do, and although I didn’t personally ask anyone to serve in the military, I benefit from their duty each and every day. In making my choice, in telling my husband no, I feel guilty because I know there are others who didn’t say no, and there are too many who are saying no.
Since the initial news story broke, the Army has indicated this request was “an anomaly” that will be corrected. It was also “an anomaly” that apparently has been repeated over and over.
This story has made the sacrifice and duty our soldiers have given even more awe-inspiring. Despite this level of incompetence, soldiers are still willing to serve their country, and they do it with pride and grace and daily sacrifice. Thank you.
