Sponsor |  Mustang-Kev | Jan 18, 3:32pm | fred08.com/Virtual/Vets.aspx [fred08.com/Virtual/Vets.aspx]
The United States is a great nation that serves as a beacon of hope and freedom for others around the world. Our greatness is attributable to the sacrifice of millions of American patriots who have worn our nation's uniform, through peace and war, with pride and distinction. While we often focus on the high tech tools of combat, our true strength comes from those willing to take up these weapons when duty calls. Our nation is eternally indebted to the veterans who served our country bravely in the past, and the young men and women who follow in their footsteps today.
The rights and freedoms made possible by our military have also made us a target of others. Islamic extremists look at the current war as part of a struggle that has been going on for hundreds of years. Their intent is to bring the United States to its knees. Other, more conventional threats also lurk beyond our borders that we must be prepared to confront. To protect our country and the American people, we must maintain the world's most preeminent military force and demonstrate the will to prevail. We must match the determination and valor of our young men and women in uniform by increasing the size of our military, modernizing the force, and taking care of our troops, their families, and our veterans.
The nation's obligation to our men and women in uniform does not end when they leave the battlefield or active service. Sometimes it's just the beginning. Our current and former military personnel don't ask for much, but many have needs that must be addressed. Caring for our veterans is not only the right thing to do, it is also a national security issue vital to recruiting and retaining the next greatest generation.
As President, I would take the following actions to revitalize our Armed Forces and care for our veterans.
* Devote as much as 4.5 percent of our nation's GDP to revitalize and modernize our military after the neglect of the 1990s. Increased defense spending will also ensure our military personnel, their families, and our veterans receive the best pay, benefits, healthcare and support possible.
* Build a 'million-member' ground force by increasing the Army and the Marine Corps end strength by nearly 250,000. This increase will help our military meet future contingencies, and give our military personnel more time at home between training exercises and overseas tours.
* Provide concurrent receipt for all of our disabled military retirees so that they can receive the military retired pay they earned and the VA disability compensation they deserve.
* Ensure that all veterans have the best healthcare available in a timely manner, that their families are fully supported, that bureaucratic red-tape is eliminated, and that Defense Department and Veterans Affairs Department systems and procedures are fully streamlined and integrated
* Increase the pay and benefits (especially healthcare, education and housing) of our military personnel and their families to enhance recruitment, retention and quality of life.
* Improve education assistance and financial reimbursement times for service personnel and veterans by modernizing the GI Bill.
* Reduce the VA claim backlog of our veterans and realign the DOD-VA process for rating disabilities to today's health care requirements.
* Improve the care of veterans by implementing many of the recommendations of the Dole-Shalala Commission and the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission.
Taking care of our Veterans and our military personnel is not a burden the nation must bear. Rather, it is a privilege that we all share on behalf of those who defended the rights, freedoms and opportunities we continue to enjoy today. I will select the best people to lead the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Near the end of the Civil War, President Lincoln said it best when he stated that the nation must 'care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.' I am committed to fulfilling the task rightly presented by Lincoln at another grave moment in our nation's history. We must always remember what Lincoln knew well, that our nation's greatest resources are the young Americans in uniform, and their families, who sacrifice, toil, and risk their lives daily for love of country and freedom. |
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