This is a guy who thought he could cash in on his 'fame' while it was still hot (something he couldn't do if he were still in the military), and when it didn't translate into as much as he thought, is whining about how 'he got screwed'. The only screwing here was self-inflicted....

WOW... I don't think I ever met someone in the Military that joined, " for personal gloy...". Sure would like to know where you did...

Most of the men that I knew joined because we felt it was our duty... a few because they wanted college money, some that just had nowhere else to go.. but glory??

Evelyn, it is pretty obvious there are some forces at play here that have yet to come to light. I believe I heard this former Navy Seal state that he just couldn't do it anymore. I was an Army Aviator for 32 years and at any time during that 32 years I could have quit flying and still remained in the service. As a highly trained Navy Seal there were plenty of other jobs he could have performed and certainly would have been quite good at. I suspect he elected to leave the service to shed the shackles of confidentiality and capitalize on the fame while the heroism of their deed was still fresh in the public eye. Apparently it didn't work out too well for him. If the stress of his job was too great for him to have functioned in some other capacity he could have always pursued a medical discharge. That would have provided both income and medical care. The bottom line to all of this is, he made the decision to leave and did it kowing full well what the consequences would be. The service didn't turn its back on him, he turned his back on the service....... Thank you for your service young man and good luck with your future life.

well put!

Army Vet-2155850

If he couldn't do it anymore, then that's tough, but the rules for retiring are the same, I left after 10 years, should I get a pension? No this is either a case of PTSD, or the guy left to cash in and is now whining about not getting a big piece of pie. If it PTSD, then he should make his claim, but he hasn't.

Evelyn, as a young man I joined the Corps not for glory, but seeking respect. I didn't really know it at the time but that's what it was. I was a teen who thought that the adults in the workplace looking for me to do my part and chewin' my out when I did dumb stuff were being disrespectful. Now I get a kind of respect as an old man because I'm a combat vet. It saddens me because it is a glorification of war, and whereas war is sometimes a necessary duty, it is in no way something to glorify.

This guy was smart enough to kill Bin Laden, but too dumb to know what resigning from the military would mean to his benefits? I don't buy it. I think he lied!

Its claimed we have a volunteer army. But in reality because of low recruitment and the huge increase in pay and bonuses, we have a mercenary army now. People are paid three times what I made ten years ago for the same pay grade. And they get bonuses to encourage enlistment that were meagre or unavailable before the war in Iraq.

So when you put all these incentives for people to join, you are getting greedy selfish people. Not to mention, anything elite or special will create narcissism in many of its members. Most SEALs are good soldiers, but many like any other job, have issues.

I don't talk in detail about the things I've done while in the military, mostly because I don't want my family to know. Not because I am ashamed, but because it is just not the type of things you want to remember or have people think about you. The people who bother me most are the ones who when they find out you were in the military and the first thing they ask you, "Did you kill anyone?" I have had potential employers ask me that and my question back to them and other people who ask is always, "What business is that to you?" There is no "glory" in battle - only survival and doing your job to the best extent you are capable of. After you leave the military, you must find new pursuits and make a new life for yourself. No military member leaves the military without taking a class that discusses your benefits and what benefits you will miss out on if you leave before 20 years. This soldier made up his mind to leave 4 years prior to retirement eligibility and that is on him. I respect and thank him for his service, but he made the decision to get out early.

I will give this man some latitude. It is daily when we hear that either this way or that way, the government weasels out of paying our debt to these men. Why is it that nobody contests congressmen's pensions but those that actually serve this country must fight for what they are owed. Just saying' seams a little odd to me.

john, I regularly have contested congressional pensions and perks. Some of us do care, but Congress sets its own rules for itself. It's not right and I've railed against it for decades, but it hasn't changed and it will not, at least not in my lifetime.

Back on topic, this guy had full knowledge of the risks of leaving the service so close to qualifying for a pension and hoped to cash in on his fame (and put his family and team cohorts at risk IMO). Things so far haven't worked out for him and.... that's life.

I appreciate him plugging Bin Laden, if in fact that's the case, but that caper was a team effort, a rather large team, requiring a decade of intense, often frustrating effort. He comes off as self-serving and shallow.

Any of those posting who didnt serve should keep thier fffkg mouth shut.

Anyone that serves in combat deserves , at the very least, to have a job that will pay him a living wage (One that's adequate to support himself and his family in case you RIghties forgot what that expression means) upon his return/discharge. It's the politicians job. Besides, it's smart. Treat these guys right and more people with bettter qualifications will want to join up in the future, rather than having to take duds.

Should have stayed 20 years to get retirement. Did not believe the media aired his interview. He knew what he was losing (retirement) when he got out!!!!!!!~!!!!!!!!!!!!

stopfreeloaders

I mean no offense, but wouldn't it be kind of a quiet board? I could understand your anger if someone who hadn't served was stating what it was like to serve, but getting angry over others opinions about the rationality of someone deciding not to is kind of senseless. Don't you think?

Who's Sgt. Clinton Romesha?

Mr. Binkie, Sgt Romesha was just awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afganistan in 2009.

All this talk of assassination is something I have never considered before when people die in combat. I spent 6 of my first 8 years of life as a child in London during WW11. When my farther came home I asked him if he had shot any Germans. He never spoke of his time in combat. Over 8 years I volunteered for 3 tours in Viet-nam. I have never discussed that time with my children either.

Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon were my CinCs I voted for only one of them, but I never questioned their authority to lead this great country. I feel the same about Obama. I firmly believe in the Constitution and I would fight to the death to guaretee your freedom of speech however some of the talk here preaches sedition and that is borderline treason.

I'm sure he was not under aged when he decided to QUIT, there is a saying I forget what it was but I know there is one fitting this situation. Life is full of decision making now how or why We decide to take a certain action is solely on us, people really need to take responsibility for their actions, do I feel sorry for him NO, he did what he thought was right for him now don't try to play on peoples sympathy because it did not go as planned.

But so many enlist for personal glory and what ever they can gain for personal use

13 years in the Navy and not a single person I knew was in it for the glory. I'll be the first to admit I joined for my own personal gain. I was in boot camp in San Diego 6 days after my 18th birthday and didn't visit home for over 2 years. All I wanted was to get away. So yeah, selfish reasons.

he could of arranged to have his last 4 years in a quiet duty noncombat

17 years and medically retired. I understand there are many on here who just want to point fingers, but let us also remember that people who serve in our government for short periods get a pension for life. Just ask the elected officials and most of them have not set one foot in combat. I was there when they flew into the BIAP and met with people in the chow hall, but few got in a vehicle and went out for a convoy. Yet they get a pension for life at 100% of their pay. Give them half pay after retirement like the military and we'll have plenty of money to help soldiers like this one (remember they don't even have to serve 20 years to get a pension). There is no glory in combat.

Congressmen get lifetime salary and benefits after two years, and while serving get a piece of the insider trading pie. What should happen is like any other worker they should contribute to 401k and benefits end when your job does.

I served 4 years in the USAF and got out and went on my merry way as a lot of others did. We all knew the requirements for retiring and benefits. Everyone of us knew the rules and it was not that complicated. Everyone knew all the way down to the dumbest and youngest enlisted man. He was short 4 years of getting his retirement, he knew the rules, but he still may be able to reenlist and finish out his 20 years unless he has burned too many bridges. He doesn't have to be a SEAL to finish up. He may need the help of a congressman to re-enlist if he has pissed off the Navy.

Steven; sorry but this guy knew full well that if he got out early he would not get a pension and he chose to get out early. I read some of the article and he was even complaining because he thought that if he did stay for 20 that it was not fair that he would get the same retirement as every person of the same pay grade. He just felt that because he got bin laden that he was supposed to get a major increase in a pension and an immediate retirement with a couple million to boot....Even MOH recipients do not get anything like what he expected to get!!

Sorry, but that is not the way it works in the military and any and all people who have served no that full well including this whiny baby!!!! Even though he was an operator he has lost all respect from all fellow members because of this....

No actual man of an elite team does it for glory we do it for each other, we all start out doing it for some personal reason but in the end it is about each member of the team that we stick it out, we go on every mission our team goes on for them, and because we do not want to worry about whether our not being there might cause something bad to happen, we re-enlist to stick with our team members and when the time comes to ride a desk we sit at the very edge every time a team that we were attached to goes out on a mission and we breath a sigh of relief when they come home safe... This man some how lost that honor or he never had it!!!

All I can figure is he lost the desire to be a team member and got greedy! I know for a fact that he was given every opportunity to take a break, step down from the team and go on light duty, every member is given that chance if they think that they might jepordize the mission or the team, just like he was also given every opportunity to re-enlist. If he would have re-enlisted he would have gotten about a $175,000 re-enlistment bonus or more plus all of the extra perks for being on a team and his base pay!!! If he did decide to leave the SEALs do everything they can to insure that all team members know what is on the outside to assist them including the VA and its benefits.

This guy has caused this problem for his self and he is responsible for it!!! Maybe he does need to think about seeing a VA doctor and talking about the possibility of some issues that he might have.

I feel this article about the Navy SEAL is definitely just sensationalizing his departure from the Navy. All military members are afforded a transition program before separating from the service. The services have different names for it, but I know it as TAP (Transition Assistance Program). In these briefings the veterans are briefed on job interviews, resume writing, and VA benefits. They are also briefed on ALL benefits available to veterans depending on their status at separation. For this 16 year veteran to say he didn't know what was available to him is very hard to believe. Even if he didn't go to a TAP brief, after 16 years in the military you know what benefits are available, the services have been beating the drum for years to make sure the vets are notified.

All that aside, I have a bone of contention with those that post the never ending, but wrong story, about congressman and senators getting a pension for life at 100% their salary. While I do not support the lazy attitude of most members of congress, I will say this story is completely false. A simple search on the net will provide plenty of information about their pay and retirement system. They are no different than any other government civil servant (from a retirement eligibility stand point). They have to serve a minimum of five years and then based on age, years of service, and whether they are under CSRS or FERS, their retirement pay is calculated using the high three years of their salary. According to the Congressional Research Service, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service as of Oct. 1, 2006. Of this number, 290 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $60,972. A total of 123 Members had retired with service under both CSRS and FERS or with service under FERS only. Their average annual pension was $35,952 in 2006.

Again, I'm not defending these members of congress, I just get frustrated with so much misinformation being tossed around. Cheers.

The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves

Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples’ liberty’s teeth

How many of you have ever served in the 3% of the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces of the US Military of the 1 % of US Citizens currently Serving while 92% of US Citizens NEVER Served.

Evelyn-3744078 - But so many enlist for personal glory and what ever they can gain for personal use

Maybe when you are an immature 18 year old with no other Future. The average age of an Operational USN SEAL is 35 at that age it becomes a matter of Survival and if you cannot control things, then it becomes survivors guilt, instead of lessons learned from your close friends made in Combat Deaths.

That personal glory and what ever they can gain for personal use IS YOUR GREEDY MOTIVE, Evelyn-3744078, as a Freudian Slip, that is NOT the motive of the Majority of the 1% of US Citizens Currently Serving the US Military as a "Civic Duty".

Army Vet-2155850 - I believe I heard this former Navy Seal state that he just couldn't do it anymore.

The US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces, is NOT like any other US Military Career Field, I have seen this before; after someone killed someone up close and personal for the first time. I don't care how much training you have to kill without hesitation and or with extreme prejudice. Killing someone else changes you, no matter what you want to believe. The first time I killed an enemy, the only way I got over that was that my buddies (that had previously killed and got over that) helped me, their way, getting my arse drunk repeatedly so I would pass out and finally get some actual sleep. Months later it finally did not bother me anymore, as I was more concerned with surviving.

Army Vet-2155850 - I was an Army Aviator for 32 years and at any time during that 32 years I could have quit flying and still remained in the service.

My father was an Aviator during the beginning of the Vietnam War, he more than likely trained those Instructor Pilots, Examiners, that trained you. The ones that trained you were those that on numerous occassions inserted us or extracted us (LRRP/Rangers), something my Father never got over, it was much later that I finally did what he wanted get my US Military Aviator Wings (Fixed and Rotary) eventhough that is not my US Military Officer Career Field.

You do know that the US Army Special Forces, USAF STTs, USMC MARSOC, USN SEALs, if you get out, you will be required to still become a Ground Combatant Career Field, as "Needs of the US Military", it is not like you can choose. The US Military rarely will completely retain you just so that you can stay in till Retirement.

And you and I know from experience that flying a Helicopter NOE is NOT the same as flying a Fixed Wing at high altitude like the USAF, USN, USMC jet jockeys. Just like a standard Fort Rucker Graduate is not the same as an Aviator of the 160th SOAR. And that is the difference between being a US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces Team Member and ANYONE else in any Career Field of any Branch of the US Military.

There is also the shear physical burn out rate, by the time you are age 35 you feel like you are in your late 40s, everything from f**ked up ankles, neck and back pains, loss of hearing, screwed up fingers and hands, and those are just from Training; like the USN SEAL O-6 that fell from a Helicopter during a Training Recapture Mission and broke his back a while ago.

Mr. Binkie - Who's Sgt. Clinton Romesha?

One of many of a US Army Cavalry Unit of the 4th Infantry Divison that ended up in one of the Former USSR Bases located inside a Valley. Those of us that survived Operation Cyclone advised against occupying those former USSR 40th Army Bases located in valleys as we would be up above the Russians on the Mountains with the 1980s Pro US Afghan Muhajeen shooting the USSR "Fish In the Barrel". So of course no one listened to us, so Sgt. Clinton Romesha's Cavalry Unit ended up at FOB Keating located in a valley. Like I stated before, 2/3rds of Afghanistan is Mountains, 1% of 3% of the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces are trained in Asymmetric Mountain Warfare (Technical Mountain Climbing Summer, Winter), so most do not know the Force Multipliers that the Taliban, Al Quada, Islamic Jihadists are using as Asymmetric Mountain Warfare, and the US Military Commanders darn sure do not listen to us, same Area of Operations as the now deserted FOB Keating. The ONLY way you can defend a FOB inside of a Valley is to control (have people) on the surrounding mountain ridges, here the mountains are above 6,000 feet (unless you are acclimatized or have a O2 bottle you will pass out). So routinely FOB Keating received sniper and mortar attacks. And no, we did not train the later 1990s Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban or Osama Bin Laden nor his later Al Quada, the proof being if we did no one on FOB Keating regardless of USAF, USN, or USMC CAS would have survived, as to what we did to the USSR 40th Army during Operation Cyclone, eventhough the USSR specifically made Hind Attack Helicopters, Mi-17 (high altitude) Helicopters and SU-25 CAS aircraft to hunt us and more Aircraft during the height of the Cold War at Afghanistan than the US currently has, our skills and experience versus the entire USSR 40th Army backed by the entire USSR Conventional Warfare Forces. And no I am not going to post what we did during Operation Cyclone versus what the Taliban, Al Quada, Islamic Jihadists did; as there are still US Military FOBs, COBs located in valleys. Any of you ever study Dien Bien Phu, pay careful attention to what the Vietminh did to defeat the heavily fortified French Bases of Dien Bien Phu even with (US) CAS.

Terry-753375 - He doesn't have to be a SEAL to finish up.

Like I stated before average age of USN SEALs is 35, who is going to Enlist someone age 35, considering President Obama as Commander In Chief has Ordered a Reduction In Forces of 90,000 US Military to be thrown on Unemployment further straining the Veteran's Affairs, and the Unemployment of 108,000 DOD Civilians.

And like I also stated before "Needs of the US Military", what branch is going to retrain him to other than a Ground Combatant.

I will give this man some latitude. It is daily when we hear that either this way or that way, the government weasels out of paying our debt to these men. Why is it that nobody contests congressmen's pensions but those that actually serve this country must fight for what they are owed. Just saying' seams a little odd to me.

I agree with you 100% too many are sckeptical about paying this guys what they deserved ,they do not sleep in their comfy chairs like senators and gov. lazy ass are caught many times by media .They are our heroes ,for whatever reason they enlisted ;second chance in life,self respect ,wanted to be heores ,truly defend the great country on earth ,on &on .

We have too many on the streets ,that we hand a free sandwich ,that once where in the line of fire ,only they know what they face in their thoughts on that pillow at night .......or maby that is why ,they do not want a pillow but a cardbord .

Loosing up people and for once put your self in their shoes ....if you have enough intelect to think that far ......

I will always buy his story he deseves a statue ,a first place in society ,not kiked and insulted by you ,freeloaders of freedom,without sacrifyes ,internet phd proclaimers .

Go ahead young man write a book ,let us know ,we will buy it ,YOU ARE A TRUE HERO ALONG WITH YOUR CREW ,God bless you and your family for ever .

Its idiotic to blame this Seal. He is not asking for pension you morons. He is asking for protection.

Few months back I worked with somebody from Special Forces group and I have first hand experience from him that he has done things around the world and he can't put one single thing on his resume because when the employer tries to verify any of it - the employer is going to find nothing because its all classified.

As much as I am anti war - I think we should not forget the humans within these soldiers who still need a job and a paycheck and security for themselves and their loved ones.

Since so many current ex military are claiming PTSD we may as well include it on all military pay packages.

Agree with ArmyVet. Would add that the reporter is also looking to cash in by advocating that the Seal is screwed. The reporter has calculated that public opinion for military especially the Special Forces is running so high and so emotional that he can cash in using this Seal as his currency. The Navy Commander describing the information given to members looking to leave the service is convincing to me. They don't coddle you if you are leaving, but there is some info available. They don't spoon feed it to you but you can get it if you reach out and show some initiative.

BrianB from reading your comment you obviously have never served in the military. I'm currently active duty and I would love to see "All these incentives for people, and greedy selfish people" you speak of in my military. That is disrespectful to the things we do. Paid three times the amount of ten years ago? Have you heard of inflation? Or the fact that 10 years ago we were were being paid 14% below the private sector? Believe me, I am not currently serving to get rich as you assume.

david-475776

Terry-753375 - He doesn't have to be a SEAL to finish up.

Like I stated before average age of USN SEALs is 35, who is going to Enlist someone age 35,

David, being prior military, then you know as well as I do that prior service re-enlistment happens all the time even after a year or two break in service. Unless they have changed the law since I was in, he can kiss any re-enlistment bonus good-bye if his break is over 90 days, though. Sometimes the enlistees even change the branch of service too when they re-enlist. I also stated that if he had burned bridges and pissed off the Navy he may have to enlist the help of his congressman to support him in his re-enlistment efforts. There is a price to be paid for "whiny baby stuff" but if he creates a congressional stink the Navy will probably let him back in, happens a lot. No commander wants a congressional stink on his record. If he wants his benefits he knows what the requirements are, and he needs to quit the damn whining and fullfill the requirements.

Hey david-475776 I stopped reading after the first sentence. Succinct much?

Wordweevil

Evelyn, as a young man I joined the Corps not for glory, but seeking respect. I didn't really know it at the time but that's what it was. Now I get a kind of respect as an old man because I'm a combat vet.

Now that's a new one. You joined the Corps "seeking respect?"

" I was a teen who thought that the adults in the workplace looking for me to do my part and chewin' my out when I did dumb stuff were being disrespectful."

And you don't think being "chewed" out by the Corps was disrespectful?

Two strange statements from a Veteran. Why, here's my reasons: Myself, US Army Infantry, Retired, 34+ years, SFC, E7, first combat tour, Vietnam, 1970. Now, I was drafted, and had never, in my life been so humiliated, or disrespected as I was in Basic and AIT. Drill Sergeants back then were like Gods, they owned you and made you know it, but yea, before my two years was up, I was hooked, loved the Army and ended up doing 32 more years to protect my country, not for glory, or respect, hell, rarely do I attend anything with any Military regalia on, I really get tired of all the hypocrites thanking me for my service when they know damn good and well they don't like me. I did my job as I should have, I have my pension, my family is proud of me, that's all I need, don't need a bull@!$%#, hypocrite stranger thanking me for anything.

IWonder-932455

What? I thought that our "dead eye" president got Osama?

And the ignorance continues. Everything I've heard, saw, or read, the President said "WE" got bin Laden, nowhere did he state "HE" got bin Laden.

Man, some of you people are sad!!

BrianB-2641029

Your pay grade isn't getting paid three times what you made ten years ago. Google the military pay chart. The difference for an enlisted the most is almost $700 a month increase from 2003 to 2013. There are different types of pay they can get. Flight pay, diving pay, hazardous duty, hostile fire and imminent danger, submarine duty, hardship duty, foreign language proficiency, special duty, career sea pay, dislocation allowance, family separation, COLA, housing allowance, insufficient housing allowance.

@DiggernNE

You forgot the Combat Tax Exclusion as well. That alone is a huge boost if you re-up in a combat zone. Mine in '95 saved me almost $8,000 in taxes. For an E-4, that seemed like a fortune at the time, lol.

I've been fairly satisfied with the care I've gotten with the VA, Being 100% disabled my pension runs a little over $2900 a month (E-6 and married). I'm fully covered for medical, dental, and optical as is my spouse. Sometimes appts for specialists can be a bit slow, the average neuro appt takes about a month to 2 months for me to get.

Since so many current ex military are claiming PTSD we may as well include it on all military pay packages.

Guess what - less than 10% of all police officers without any kind of disability.The majority retire with 50% or better disability.

just think about it --- the day before they retire, they swear to be able to work at 100% readiness level and still pull as much over time and they stand, there is always overtime or civilian work for off-duty cops.

No one ever seems to think that's weird, but let some soldier evidence mental pain from carrying out "Bush's" war (of convenience) and all of a sudden, the Penny pinching starts.

Agree Beo: Bush/Chenney/Wolfowitz/Rumsfeld war for profit. The privitizations of military responsibilities and contracts awarded to conduct operations is phenomenal. IT's why the mil budget cannot be sustained.

Sam, it could just be an awakening of his sense of mortality. You were probably being facetious about "picking up cigarette butts on an Army base," as that is hardly a job description for (Navy) SEALs.

But, we obviously can all speculate when someone "retires" so close to a culmination of something (whether career, college degree, etc.). Hopefully, it's because we care about each other.

Wasn't referring to Seals when I mentioned picking up butts. I was referring to soldiers with non-combat jobs.

Actually, I was thinking of Beetle Baily.

Sam, he didn't retire, he just got out. At 20 (or more) you retire.

I picked up many butts when I was in the Army. And I had a combat MOS 11B. They had a daily detail (fatigue detail) that was rotate through all the troops on the post, combat or remfs.

He expected to get rich off his deed because it was Bin Laden. This attack on a house probably had far less danger then many missions faced every day in Afghanistan. Every man and women serving are hero's with none deserving special treatment because of who they kill.

BINGO!

Can't he reenlist to finosh his term or must you stay in for 20 straight? back when I was in you could reenlist because they hounded me for years after I finished my tour. Glory to a non enlisted man means the pride in wearing the uniform which today is not as good as it used to be since the vietnam war. People bent over backwards to help service men before that then it changed and thats why today you rarely see men wearing their uniforms while on leave. Back in my day you let everyone in your neighborhood see you in it. I see this person making a quick decision finding no oil at the bottom of the hole and now he is regretting his mistake. They should at least let him back in to serve the final 4 in a non combat situation...

@ Sam you are disgrace to the military personal ,and deserve to go back in your basement and continue your freeloader freedom ,and don't come out 'til one of Bin Ladens followers are calling you .

bambi@12

@ Sam you are disgrace to the military personal

bambi, I don't see where he is a disgrace at all. He is stating his opinion as is his right, and as military vet, I also think he is correct in his observations. The SEAL made his decision, knowing the rules, and he will have to live with it. The "whiny baby" @!$%# is really not very becoming of the tough guy image the former SEAL is trying to capitalize on. I appreciate his service to the country, carry on.

Larry-367607

He expected to get rich off his deed because it was Bin Laden. . Every man and women serving are hero's with none deserving special treatment because of who they kill.

Exactly!! Bingo!!

Throughout my 34 years in the Army, I've seen many guys who just had to seek out "I'm better, because," status. Unfortunately, in America it's always been the, me, me, me, syndrome.

I've posted my Military career on these blogs because I'm anonymous, but in public, rarely do I care about people knowing, or thanking me for my service.

Larry367 said it well.

Sam, no problem. You were being general in your statement - I was being more specific. That said, I enjoyed the cigarette butt/Beetle Bailey reference (brings back old times!).

In the Esquire article it states that the Team had a plan, they were getting out, but it fell through. There was no cha-ching for him. The article also states he was less than 36 months from retirement. We're retired military, it's a simple process. One year before you choose to separate from the military you file the paperwork. If you're retiring at 20 years at exactly one year before, you file.

He made a tactical error that led to a strategic failure. That seems odd for a Seal.

I am sure they would have him back,he could always ask to re-enter and finish his 20, but the rank he would finish at might not be to his liking.

I am not sure they would have him back in his former job as a S.E.A.L.. After going public with his story, I doubt they would. There used to be a time when you never heard anything about the missions ran by the S.E.A.L.'S, then comes along Richard Marcinko and everybody is writing books or going to the media. This guy left before his 20 of his own accord, so he has no beef with the Navy. By going public with the story, he put the bullseye on his and his familys backs, so he has nobody to blame but himself.

The Scum bag Admiral is a liar for he wants all the perks for himself even the head money of $250,000/- which was rightly to be given to the SEAL who shot Osama Bin Laden.

My guess would be he did felt like he deserved more than others if he pressed the trigger. But it's always team work so no, he doesn't deserve anymore than the Intel personnel who found the scum and watched him for months, the pilots who landed him there, his teammates etc.... Not a one-man show. Maybe he hoped for a promotion that never came while others were basking in the glory. Maybe yet something else made him leave that we are not aware about. Could be shock, PTSD, who knows? He does I hope. We can only speculate but the truth eventually comes out.

In this case I am sure that factored into his decision why else leave either 36 months or 4 years whichever it was....Not many places where you can retire after 20 years. Elist at 19 retire at 39 with benefits? The thought that you would expose yourself to the Jihadists as the guy who shot BL is mind boggling.

I sincerly hope our GOV. we not make this man just a statistic ,but help him and his falily it is a lot of burden to take (live in hiding not be able to be who you are ) even if it was atem work "HE WAS THE ONE " .

I'm all for my tax dollar to for fill his needs and the others as well .

Write that book bro I will buy it ..........

It doesn't matter if he made a mistake by exiting ,I'm pretty sure some hungry lawyer /publisher ,advised him.And PST is a factor too ,I just hope that not one of cruel jealous dude will have his hands on like the one in Texas .He deserves the best of all ,I'm a true PATRIOT with respect for those who gives me the freedom from picking cigarettes ,to target OSAMA .THANKS TO ALL OUR HEROES .

Greg in New York - I have never been in the military

Thank you for being honest. I will explain.

The US Military is NOT what 92% of US Civilians that have Never Served believe.

Of the US Military only 3% are Asymmetric Warfare Forces (aka Special Warfare, like US Army Special Forces, USAF STTs, USMC MARSOC, USN SEALs). Selected from the USN SEALs are the USNSWDG (aka SEAL Team Six), just like Selected from the US Army Special Forces are the 1st Detachment (aka Delta). In most cases those above the Asymmetric Warfare Forces like USNSWDG, 1st Det, etc. are attached to the CIA's SAD/SOG.

For comparison purposes, being a US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces is like doing Marthons continuously for 20 years. Being with the USNSWDG, 1st Detachment, etc. is like doing Triathlons continuously for 20 years. In many cases you might be away from CONUS indefinitely. The US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces are considered Strategic. Before, after previously serving with the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces and proving yourself (skills and maturity), you may be asked to "volunteer" to go to one or more of the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Schools; because of previous shortages (too many deaths, previous Layoffs (Reduction In Forces)) most of the US Military started sending immature straight out of "Boot" or Basic Training to become US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces, even then it took a minimum of 10.5 years to train new US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces (still no required College Level Language(s) and Culture(s) For their Area(s) of Operation(s)). If you prove yourself with the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Teams you might be request to be assessed (tested) to join the USNSWDG, 1st Det, etc.. The majority of US Politicians do not like US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces due to the differences, as the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces rely on skill and experience (requiring Retentions), instead of the very expensive US Military Equipment (jobs) manufactured in the US Politicians States for the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces.

The 97% of the US Military are Conventional Warfare Forces. Usually, takes about one year of training, Conventional Warfare Forces considered as "expendable", easily replaced. Usually, the US Politicians love the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces since the expensive US Military Equipment of the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces are manufactured in their State (US Civilian Jobs), because of this the majority of the US Military Commanders are Conventional Warfare NOT the Elite US Military Asymmetric Warfare Qualified. The Physical Standards of the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces, even the Ground Combatants is the minimum; so is the training (just enough to survive to gain some experience), so for comparison it would be like the Conventional Warfare Forces walking from home to the nearest Supermarket instead of what the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces must do, run a Marathon. So if you want to take the time and observe for yourself (definitionof a Fact) since their are USN SEAL Teams on both Coasts, as well as USN Conventional Warfare go look at the USN SEAL Chief Petty Officers (CPO) with half the awards and decorations of the USN Conventional Warfare Chief Petty Officer (CPO) with a chest full of "Participation Medals" and a pot belly; are you figuring out the difference, how about a NFL Pro Football Player versus a Junior High School Football Player. The USN SEAL CPO snapping an enemy's neck like a twig, the USN Conventional Warfare CPO b!tching about the food in the CPO Mess.

Sorry, did not explain, a "Participation Medal" is when you were NEVER in possible danger and still received a Award, Decoration, Medal, etc. that counts towards promotions. In many cases that also means that you never set foot in a Nation, yet still got the Campaign Medal pertaining to the Combat at that Nation.

From personal firsthand experience, during the so called "Peacetime" US Military while most of the US Military was with their families, weekends off, shopping at the BX, PX, NEX, Commissary, taking breaks in the Snackbars and Cafeterias, having regular meals at the Dining Facilities, having toilet paper, getting US Civilian Degrees, going to more US Military Training, worrying about what their uniforms looked like, painting rocks, secure bases, etc.; we were training, leading US Ally Iraqis Combat Units into Combat during the Iran Iraq Wars, then rotated to Operation Cyclone, vetting, training, then leading the 1980s Pro US Afghan Muhajeen into Combat against the USSR 40thArmy. When we finally returned the Missions were not Declassified, so when it came time for promotions we were last, so when the Reduction In Forces (RIFs, Layoffs) of the US Military occurred we were first to be considered for the RIFs (Layoffs), while the Non Combatants of the majority of the US Military were getting promoted (they had the free time to go to more US Civilian and US Military Schools for Promotion, Civilian Education Level (CEL) and Military Education Level (MEL)). Was not "Fair" then and is not "Fair" now, just like for the US Military Women that were with us as Combatants.

I mentioned at post#1.33 how killing someone changes you.

What we do (after fully trained, as well as having previous "Operational Experience"):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxKhJIjIiY

And why after "winning" Afghanistan did we "lose" after losing so many of us during the fierce urban warfare at the Afghan Cities (another poster mentioned before that they do not send us on "suicide missions", wrong), the link above does not mention that all the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces not only the US Army Special Forces were here October 2001; because the Politicians of the United Nations and NATO appointed Conventional Warfare Gentleman British General McColl as the Commander ISAF, he did nothing to stop the Taliban, Quada, Islamic Jihadists that we chased to Northern Iraq, Pakistan, etc. from returning to Afghanistan while we were at Northern Iraq 2001 Operation Viking Hammer eliminating the Taliban, Al Quada, Islamic Jihadists that we chased on the Old Silk Road into Northern Iraq that combined with the Kuristanis PKK, HPG, KGK and became Ansar Al Islam. Before we could eliminate all of them many fled to Southern Iraq or into the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran and then back into Afghanistan. The typical Academic Idealistic British Conventional Warfare mentality of "Fair Fight" of allowing your enemy to gather at the appointed place and time designated battlefield; as NOT going to happen during Real World Asymmetric Warfare Afghanistan.

Also in most cases in the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces, unlike the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces, when you say that you no longer want to be in the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces they will tell you to quit (get out of the US Military completely). In the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces (usually not in Combat, on Mission, or 80% to 90% training for next Mission; so they have lots of time) you can request for a different Career Field (Military Occupational Skill, MOS), and usually get what you want or similar.

Are you getting the picture now.

breadex - Not many places where you can retire after 20 years. Elist at 19 retire at 39 with benefits?

Not many places that require you to be in tested physical condition, paid below minimum wages or not a "Fair and Living Wage" like what Unionized US Law Enforcement gets, required to do those things that you would normally not want to do, etc.. If you Enlisted at age 19 by the time you are 39, you will feel like you are 50 (physically worn out) if you are of the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces, if you survived that long (a lot do not). NEVER EVER COMPARE THE US MILITARY, ESPECIALLY THE US MILITARY ASYMMETRIC WARFARE FORCES TO US LAW ENFORCEMENT NOR FIREFIGHTERS, if you want to get shouted down go ask the US Law Enforcement or Firefighters that after leaving the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces became Police Officers, Firefighters, EMTs/EMS to continue to Serve the US Citizens, like the many of us lost, that pissed us off that were lost due to the 9/11 2001 Attacks (why a lot of us volunteered to come back on Active Duty from comfortable Retirement again.).

Now let's discuss the rest of your post:

breadex - The thought that you would expose yourself to the Jihadists as the guy who shot BL is mind boggling.

First the "shooter" did not disclose his name and Texas is a very big State to attempt to find one person, that is trained in Actual Force Protection unlike the Rest of the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces.

Second, have you ever been to the Home Port of the USNSWDG (aka SEAL Team Six), Go See For Yourself (definition of Fact), there is NO way to Secure Anyone there, even the USNSWDG Team Members. Just like another USN SEAL Team that moved from a Secure Location to a vulnerable location because some f**ked up US Politician thought it was a good idea. So how the f**k are you going to provide Security to the USN SEAL Team Member's Family Members. You stay there, you may as well as stand in the middle of a Football Stadium with your family and all the seats filled with Al Quada, Taliban, Islamic Jihadist and shout you killed Osama Bin Laden.

Third, Redacted, from Firsthand Experience (definition of Fact). Go see for yourself (Firsthand Observation as a definition of Fact).

He can go back in and finish his 20 years, but not as a Seal.

I saw a guy get out of the Navy with only 6 months left before retirement; did it because his cheating wife divorced him and was awarded 50% of his Navy pension. Now she or he don't get any of it.

I was in the Navy Submarine Service for about 4 years, it was the 60's, and the thought of 16 more years was incomprehensible to me and I made it known. But still, just before I got out, they officially talked to me about shipping over. I think the military has to talk to people who are about ready to separate. If they would talk to me, somebody they knew was getting out, I know they talked to this shooter dude, if he choose not to listen, that's his big problem. After 16 dangerous years, he could do four more standing on his head!! Sometimes, greed is not good!!

This guy knew what he was throwing away, but he's had time to think it over. It doesn't look like such a good idea now.

a 16 year vet they would of bent over backwars for a seal

Re-enlist..., eat crow and get the additional 4+ years.

Artie, I sincerely hope the service would not take him back. He has clearly demonstrated that his primary concern is himself. I wouldn't want him on my softball team.

I've never been in the service, so you folks who think I deserve no say in this can ignore this post. And, while you're at it, you can bite me, because I do finance the military, some of which I do voluntarily. I didn't serve because I didn't want to. America, get it?

Somewhere, whether he admits it or not - I'll bet cash money, there is sheet of Military documentation with his name and signature on it ... which shows he was informed of the consequences of early release from military service - in specific that he was informed and that there would NOT be free medical care nor pension unless he did at least 20 years or stayed for the full 30.

He was likely informed that if he just could not stand to stay for 36 months more duty in Active duty - he could transfer (transition) to active reserve, ready reserve or National Guard. Most of the time all that is required for reserve/national guard is showing up on one weekend a month to shoot the @!$%# for a few hours and "maybe" polish a truck or clean some gear.

There is no way he left the service without being fully informed ... several times. The Military invested way too much time and money into the training of SEAL to allow him to leave with tossing every inducement, "Cherry" assignment, or lame, made-up duty just to give him a chance to do the right thing.

Damned straight - his name is plastered, initialed, counter signed (in triplicate). Then copies of each paper are presented to the discharged service member.

Been there, done that - Some CO and his staff had to go through that paper work - page by page and sign his own life away swearing that he checked everything.

Beoweolf, you obviously have absolutely no understanding of the current place our National Guard and Reserves occupy in today's military establishment. Don't try to paint a picture unless you are an artist. If this former Seal were to enlist in the Naval Reserves or any other reserve component he would have to complete his remaining 4 years to have 20 good years of credible service and then an additional 2 or 4 to have the amount of time in the reserves to qualify for retirement. After he completed all of that, he would then have to wait until he was 60 years old to be eligible to receive any pay and most other retirement benefits, to include health care. I doubt this individual is currently more than 36 to 38 years old. 60 is still a long way off for him.

I doubt this individual is currently more than 36 to 38 years old. 60 is still a long way off for him.

What you are saying, if Im hearing you right, is - any workingman (not born with a silver spoon inhis mouth or having parents who release his enourmous Old money inheritence) would be stupid to think that 16 years of service, in the military is way out of line to mount a serious complaint that "Uncle Sam"owes him a free ride for the rest ofhis life just because he did the job he signed up to do?

So we seem to be in agreement. If he wanted the "full-boat" earned retirement - then cashing out at 16 years was not something you would encourage?

Uncle Sam could never afford to retire every solder, sailor, marine, airman, coastie - at full pay (or better) for as long as he lives.

So, where is the conflict?, dispute?, stipulation? ... we agree. Now if, he wants a pension anyway, either of the alternatives could get him there without him being active duty in his current MOS or Navy NEC.

Arguing a point just to be sure we all aware there are subtle differences is cool - mint green is not the same a Olive drab, even if both are green and Navy blue is not Air force blue.

Bottom line doesn't change anything. He needs 4 more years of full time or the equivalent points if he wants to pursue an alternative. When you are right, you are right. Thanks for pointing that out.

If you don't want ice cream - we could give you yogurt, Gelato, sorbet... its cool, flavored and tasty - but it ain't ice cream. He didn't want to stay in the service, wanted something else - yet wanted it to taste exactly the same?

You're making excuses, these are really smart guys. He failed to make the right decision.

If he gets to go to the media and whine, we get to comment on it.

Exactly...

Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at age 62 if they have completed at least five years of service. They are eligible for a pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service, or at any age after completing 25 years of service. The amount of the pension depends on years of service and the average of the highest three years of salary. By law, the starting amount of a member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80 percent of his or her final salary.

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Perhaps something as simple as he thought his story would bring him lots of money and he wouldn't need his retirement. And then he found out it didn't bring him as much as he thought

..That's very possible... (as the old knight told Indiana Jones, in the Quest for the Holy Grail - ... "Chose wisely"....)

He can thank the Republicans for the big damper they put on anything which made The Obama Administration look good. For 11 - 12 years they said it couldn't be done, wasn't worth doing ... but allowing that sack of Crap to breath air after planning the deaths of as many Americans, on American soil - was unforgettable, unforgivable. He needed to be kilt!!!

Then the Republicans sucked all the air out of the event. If he needs someone to blame - place the blame where it was deserved. Shooter got every accolade he deserved - from every man, woman and child who understood what it meant to send Osama bin laudan to his final reward.

Matt,

Statistically it is still the Army or Marine infantry that take the most casualties and suffer the most fatalities...not the Special Operations Forces like the SEALs. It would be wrong to even suggest that one is more "important" than the other. And exactly how would you manage a compensation program that is based on subjective "risk" or how much "harder" one job in the military is to another?

I spent some time on an Aircraft Carrier once and as a soldier you couldn't pay me enough to do that duty. Living in cramped quarters and constant noise looked a lot harder to me than what I was doing. But that would be just my opinion. In our military people volunteer for the jobs they do...and often work very hard for the priviledge of getting those special jobs.

That was true for me. It must have been true for this SEAL at one time or he wouldn't have made it through BUDs. Special Operators get quicker promotions than their conventional peers plus special pays (dive and parachute pay for example) while they serve. But having said that, I never met anyone who did it for the pay. And I don't think a special retirement category would desirable or ever be workable. Just my opinion.

He could even go to work for the CIA or the Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Department, etc, . If they took Panetta, they'd take anybody.

Because he's a whiner. Others have blabbed and he wants his fifteen minutes, to which he is not entitled because every mission he ever went on, all the training he endured, the citations for all his medals, the names of everyone on the teams IS CLASSIFIED.

Hell, if he does your wife, it's classified.

Unless he has a bar against him to reenlist, he can still reenlist. Think he was misquoted.

Reserve drill is half-time toward retirement, unless you're activated, so it would have required 8 years of normal reserve time to make 20, not four.

@ jr

One day of active is one point, 365 points per year, 7300 for a 20 year retirement, a guard or reservist get 2 points per drill or 4 points for a drill weekend ( UTA ) 48 points per year plus the 15 days Annual training for 30 more points, and 70 for the year. If he goes in the Reserves and only does the Uta's and the two week camp for the 70 points it will take him 21 more years to retire with 7300 points, He could join the Guard or reserves and still retire with less than 7300 points, with 20 good years, but unless he is active duty or active guard and reserves ( AGR ) he will not collect until age 60.

Rocky, you can't just join the Guard or Reserves and only serve the remainder of your 20 years for retirement. You must remain in the Guard or Reserves for at least 6 or 8 years, not sure which, to be able to retire from the reserves. If you have satisfied that requirement and the combined service still only totals 20 years then yes you can retire at 20 good years, but you are correct the pay and healthcare benefits don't start until age 60.

@ Army Vet

I just retired from the guard with 29 years 13 of it active duty, if you have 20 good years you can retire no matter how many you had on active duty. Guard and reserve collect at 60 active duty and AGR at retirement

If you join the guard with 16 years and get hired as a AGR (active guard reserve) you will retire at 20 years of service and collect on retirement. not age 60, like the drill status guardsman. Where do you get the 6 or 8 years from?

AnOpinion

: Yes he could have done that. A person my wife works with served 6 yrs. Regular AF, then spent the the last 14 in the Air Guard and he is getting his full pension at retirement age. Another did the something in the Army Reserve and retired at the rank of Major. He'll do ok :)

Rocky 373690

Thank you for your service. There is a mandatory minimum number of years that you must remain in the Guard or Reserves to be eligible for retirement. I believe the number is 6, but I'm not sure. The intent of this requirement is to prevent people with allot of active duty time from joining the Guard or Reserves, serving a short tour and then once they have 20 good years, getting out. Let's say you served 19 years in the Navy and then for whatever reason you just quit. You could not join the Navy Reserves and stay 1 year and quit and then draw a retirement income at age 60. If my 6 year number is correct you would not be eligible for retirement until you had a total of 25 years service. This has nothing to do with being AGR so let's don't confuse the issue with that status. It doesn't surprise me that you don't know this, since it would have never been an issue with your service.

richg8,I can live on $2500,00.00 a month.I've lived on less.This isn't about the military pension compensation.It's about him making a decision that was not in his own best interest.It happens everyday to the private sector also.He needs to do what everybody else has done that wishes to have a roof over their head and that is get a job to support himself.I lost retirement money big time due to ATT breaking the Federal Erisa law.My telling people doesn't change those facts.I started a business and got on with my life.I'm older than this guy and have no sympathy for him.

Quit whining. 27 surgeries and your health care bites? Get real, use your degree and do something. You CHOSE to go in the service. You chose to do something not transferrable. your choices, deal with it.

First of all, kknoop....thank you for your service. It is men and women like you who we count on when things get crazy. It is a well known fact that the VA is backed up YEARS and our service people wait forever to get their benefits. I'm appalled at the lack of concern and support voiced here. And all the garbage about this man talking in order to get money and fame is ridiculous. He has insisted his identity be kept secret. How much fame can you get when no one knows your name? We don't know why he did not reenlist, but I can guess. The possibility of another deployment taking him away from his family? The mental stress from a job that required him to kiss his children goodbye, sincerely believing that he would never see them again (read the article!)? Shooter...if you are out there reading these comments, please know that the masses are asses. They love to degrade and criticize those who are better than they are. Those of us who appreciate your contribution to our national safety far out-number them. We're just quieter.

Choose your rate, choose your fate!

kknoop,Nobody is compensated anymore not even the private sector.This society keeps saying it's not fair,I wasn't compensated,I want to sue somebody,write a book and make a movie out of my plight.All of the energy spent whining about not being compensated could be redirected into making a good healthy life for oneself because the stress and anger will kill you.What price does one put on their quality of life? This guy,you and others who have been treated unfairly need to just get on with life because those whom you feel cheated you are not losing a moment of sleep over it and neither should you.

Lots of companies recognize military service. Just one example of 100's is Swift Trucking provides free training and a job for veterans. Many disabled veterans with bum legs go into trucking and drive trucks with automatic transmissions. Trucking companies love those guys & respect them. A university degree doesn't mean much anymore in the American economy if it's not marketable. Look at The Truckers Report website where there are 1000's of college guys with degrees looking for work.