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Should children from military families receive college tuition discounts?
Results so far:
| No | 29% | 140 votes | Total: 478 votes | |
| Yes | 71% | 338 votes |
No
by Nouri Arif
Created on: June 09, 2007 Last Updated: September 09, 2008
Absolutely not! The armed forces are a thing with which the U.S. can not live without. Having said that, the families of those in the military are given quite enough benefits for having a loved one serve his or her country. The military is a choice in this era of no draft and the people that make the choice to serve in the military are given more than enough over and above what they earn for having made the choice to serve.
If the individual that serves in the military wants to live in base housing they are often able to do so without spending the type of money most people pay for either rent or mortgages. Assuming that they choose to buy their own home they are given assistance from the government or lower mortgage rates as a gift on the part of the lenders. Once put into active service they can often times defer payments until such time as they are back in the states. In general all aspects of home ownership and housing are vastly easier for those that are in the armed forces.
In terms of feeding one's family those that serve can shop for their families in the post exchange and not pay the outrageous prices or taxes that the rest of us subject to when we shop at the local grocery. These post exchanges also sell clothing and electronics as well as host of other goods upon which the military family can get the kinds of breaks that regular tax paying citizens can not ever hope to see.
As far as schooling is concerned the person serving our country gains a great education as part of their job description, in most cases, and for those that don't get great training in the military, they have the G.I. Bill waiting for them after service. The bill allows the person who has served to get a college education at a cut rate that, again, the average citizen can never dream of seeing.
The military is a great thing for which we must all be truly thankful. I want to thank every person who has served our country at any time whether it was during war or peace, but enough is enough. Making the children reap further rewards for having been born into a family where a parent has chosen to serve is beyond the pale. How much more must we give to the military families? How many more breaks do they really need to survive? How much more should the children of non-military parents have to pay to off set the breaks that might be given to the children of military families? When will we finally say that it is a choice made by the individual and not a sentence imposed by the state? The military families are in pretty good shape, it seems to me, and further aid to them or their children will make things more difficult on those that have chosen another path and on their children.
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Yes
by Arthur Gibson
Created on: June 21, 2007 Last Updated: September 09, 2008
Yes, all too often the family members of our service men and women are forgotten. While not wearing the uniform of the military service, the spouse and children are serving just as much as the military member. Military service requires frequent moves to new locations, deployments of the military member away from family, and other trials seldom encountered by the civilian population. One must also remember that those serving in the military are serving us, the people of the United States.
Because all members of today's military are volunteers; these men and women have chosen to serve. In doing so they knowingly accept lower pay for their talents and skills than those in the civilian community. When was the last time you glanced at a military pay scale or checked the multitude of job skills used in today's military? While the military member has chosen this life style and so has the spouse; the children have little or no voice in the matter. I say the spouse has chosen this lifestyle because he or she should have some idea of military life before they married the serviceman or woman.
While military life does offer some advantages to the children, living in different location around the globe and experiencing different cultures. These locations are seldom found in popular tourist locations. This presents unique challenges for the children, particularly of career military personnel. Children of military families are frequently uprooted from friends and familiar schools and activities after 2 or 3 years. Often moving in the middle of the school year. Once at the new location they have to try to pick up the pieces and put their lives back together. If they are lucky, they may find someone they knew from a previous location. Try helping your child get on a sports team, cheer leading squad or other typical school activity in the middle of the year. Or explain to a high school student why he or she can't stay and graduate with their friends.
As if this isn't bad enough, each service has its share of isolated duty assignments where the military member cannot take his family. Navy ships are often at sea for 9 months or more depending on what is happening in the world. Army, Air Force, Marine and Navy personnel can be assigned to a war zone or other world hot-spot for a year or more. Try explaining to a 3 or 4 year old why daddy or mommy can't be there for a birthday, Christmas, or other special occasion. Or even more difficult, why daddy or mommy will never be home again. Few civilian occupations put children under such strain.
Funding or helping these children's future education is a small price to pay for the service of their parent or parents to their country. As a nation we owe not only the military member but their families a debt of gratitude! If nothing else allow the military member to give his or her education benefits to their children. Its really a small price to pay for their sacrifices.
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