He was Puertorican Afterall!!!!

[RHM]

Originally Posted by Nal0whs

But Scandall,

Is this an assumption or fact?

-NAL

I said "I imagine" before I said what I think of the 11 year vacation.

All the rest is fact.

Scandall

[rellosk]

At first I thought that story was a fake. After all, the article says he was a veteran of the National Guard; identification should be easy. They must have his picture or fingerprints on file. There are plenty of people that lose their documentation in a foreign country. I imagine there are quick and simple procedures to establish identity. The story sounded very bizarre, but not nearly as bizarre as this http://www.snopes.com/travel/airline/airport.asp

[TimInDR]

Originally Posted by Scandall

Ahh...a voice of reason. Thank God.

NEWSFLASH...being in the National Guard does not make you a "veteran"...and being in the U.S. military does not mean you are a citizen...you only need residency to join. Which is why there was a resolution on the floor of the House of Representatives that passed and went to the Senate to fast track citizenship for soldiers serving in Iraq. I am not sure of the outcome.

Scandall

On a bit of a tangent...

Successfully serving in the National Guard for six years and either re-enlisting or being honorably or generally discharged does indeed gain a person the status (legally and otherwise) of "Veteran". Mobilization or war-time service not required.

Tim

(don't know what the person in question did with the guard or for how long... but there ya go)

[RHM]

Originally Posted by TimInDR

On a bit of a tangent...

Successfully serving in the National Guard for six years and either re-enlisting or being honorably or generally discharged does indeed gain a person the status (legally and otherwise) of "Veteran". Mobilization or war-time service not required.

Tim

(don't know what the person in question did with the guard or for how long... but there ya go)

Timmy,

They would be considered having served honorably. But the title "veteran" typically implies having served in combat. For example: I have served in the enlisted and officer ranks in both the reserve and active components, in the US and abroad. But I would never call myself a "veteran" because I never served in any official combat position.

We are all eligible for VA benefits but if you look closely into them you will see that those who have served in combat environments are rightfully entitled to more.

I do not mean to split hairs with you. BTW: I am an American Legion member and the benefits are actually pretty good. If there are other organizations that I could join, support and enjoy benefits from please PM me.

Scandall

[NY1]

Anyone who has dealt with the US Embassy/Consulate in Santo Domingo, will not doubt their ineptitude for one minute!!

[RHM]

Originally Posted by NY1

Anyone who has dealt with the US Embassy/Consulate in Santo Domingo, will not doubt their ineptitude for one minute!!

That is true. I have dealt with them too. But I still pin this one on the "Puerto Rican National Guard Veteran".

Scandall

[NY1]

Scandall my guess is as someone else alluded, the guy is probably some campesino that had no clue what it is to contact a Congressman or even a Senator.
I know in PR they don't have Senate Reps, but I would have sent a letter to all 100 of them hoping someone would get off their butts!

[RHM]

Originally Posted by NY1

Scandall my guess is as someone else alluded, the guy is probably some campesino that had no clue what it is to contact a Congressman or even a Senator.
I know in PR they don't have Senate Reps, but I would have sent a letter to all 100 of them hoping someone would get off their butts!

Amen. I would do the same and I guarantee it wouldn't take me 11 years unless I wanted it to.

Puerto Rico has Congressional representaion without voting rights. They have offices in the Capitol Building etc. but cannot drop ballots on Congressional issues. But hey...they don't have the IRS! They get all of the benefits and very little of the responsibility. God bless'em. Nobody will ever get that kind of deal again.

Scandall

Scandall

[sunshine_79]

Originally Posted by Scandall

Action he can take?...aren't we assuming a bit here?

...and look at this realistically...11 years? he must not have been trying very hard...

Scandall

(Beware: Acronyms used abundantly; too lazy to write everything out)


And...

The guy was still an E-4/Specialist after 6 years in the Guard????

Of all the military components, the Guard has the highest incidence of promotions and of upward mobility in general.

No promotion board, no primary/secondary zones, no nada.

No PLDC before you get your E-5, BNCOC before your E-6, etc. You simply have to have a "slot" on a unit's MTOE and be MOS-qualified.

I'm not sure if the Guard has a RQP (Retention Quality) but I know if you find yourself staring at ten years as an E-4 on AD, they boot you out.

6 years as an E-4 in the Guard?

I'm sorry but the guy couldn't be the brightest crayon in the box.

Or I suppose I should say, for the sake of embellishing upon Scandall's points, he couldn't have been a highly motivated person.

I can see why it might have taken him 11 years to get everything straightened out.


Disclaimer: I am in no way insulting any National Guard or other reserve component soldiers/sailors/airmen.

[RHM]

Originally Posted by sunshine_79

(Beware: Acronyms used abundantly; too lazy to write everything out)


And...

The guy was still an E-4/Specialist after 6 years in the Guard????

Of all the military components, the Guard has the highest incidence of promotions and of upward mobility in general.

No promotion board, no primary/secondary zones, no nada.

No PLDC before you get your E-5, BNCOC before your E-6, etc. You simply have to have a "slot" on a unit's MTOE and be MOS-qualified.

I'm not sure if the Guard has a RQP (Retention Quality) but I know if you find yourself staring at ten years as an E-4 on AD, they boot you out.

6 years as an E-4 in the Guard?

I'm sorry but the guy couldn't be the brightest crayon in the box.

Or I suppose I should say, for the sake of embellishing upon Scandall's points, he couldn't have been a highly motivated person.

I can see why it might have taken him 11 years to get everything straightened out.


Disclaimer: I am in no way insulting any National Guard or other reserve component soldiers/sailors/airmen.

Congratulations, Sunshine. You have posted information that only Tim and I understand.



Scandall