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Benefits issue resolved for 600 guard members (MN "Red Bulls")
KSTP.com ^ | 11/16/07 | Justin Piehowski

Posted on 11/16/2007 12:14:13 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo

The Army has resolved the eligibility of more than 600 Minnesota National Guard soldiers for full education benefits through the Army Board for Correction of Military Records.

To date, 930 of the 1,162 soldiers affected have applied to have their eligibility adjusted or declined the benefits. So far, 616 have been approved, and the pending ones are expected to be as well, Capt. Allan Hetteen, education officer for the Minnesota National Guard, said in a telephone interview Friday. He added that none have been turned down to date, and that very few have declined their benefits, although he didn't have an exact number.

Upon returning from Iraq this year, nearly half of the soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division - one of the longest serving U.S. military units in Iraq - discovered they weren't eligible for full education benefits under the GI Bill. For some members of the "Red Bulls," just one day of service prevented them from being eligible for the full package, although all were eligible for some money.

That led to a flurry of activity, with members of the Minnesota congressional delegation pressing Pentagon officials and even President Bush for a fix, as well as introducing legislation to resolve the issue favorably toward the soldiers.

"The bottom line is that this situation is being taken care of," said Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., who provided an update of the situation on a conference call this week. "There will not be a need for legislation. I'm very pleased about that."

Hetteen said that the Army Board has been taking about a week to resolve a case after the board submits it on a soldier's behalf.

"Things are moving along, and it's been relatively quick, and we're pleased with the turnaround that the Army Board for Correction of Military Records has been able to do," he said.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: Minnesota; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: benefits; nationalguard; redbulls
'Bout time........
1 posted on 11/16/2007 12:14:14 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo
The "Red Bulls"...

The folks that brought you....


2 posted on 11/16/2007 12:15:19 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo (Carry Daily, Apply Sparingly.)
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To: MplsSteve

Minnesota Bump....


3 posted on 11/16/2007 12:28:24 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo (Carry Daily, Apply Sparingly.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

Well, obviously, these folks need some help with spelling!!! VBG!


4 posted on 11/16/2007 12:52:07 PM PST by blu
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To: NorthWoody; Manic_Episode; mikethevike; coder2; AmericanChef; Reaganesque; ER Doc; lesser_satan; ...

WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC’S MINNESOTA PING LIST!

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5 posted on 11/16/2007 1:24:07 PM PST by MplsSteve
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To: blu

bttt

these folks need some help with spelling


6 posted on 11/20/2007 5:20:06 PM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: george76

Aww, you just want to get me into trouble, doncha? (I’m from a neighboring state, and we all spell funee up hear!)


7 posted on 11/20/2007 8:51:50 PM PST by blu
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