As an educated retired Gunnery Sergeant, U. S. Marine Corps that has had post military career success as a result of that education, the statement and position that Senator McCain makes is preposterous and shows a total disconnect within the ranks of our folks who are losing lives, limbs, families, etc. The fact is that most enjoy their respective careers, regardless of rank and yes, if they choose to go down the officer route as a result of additional education, there are other criteria and limits to ensure only the best are selected. Additionally, it is those NCO’s that he refers to that also have the least amount of income within the armed services (view the stats and determine how many fighting the war are eligible for food stamps, let alone paying for education). Something is terribly wrong with that. It figures that as a retired Navy Captain (O-6), son and grandson of Admirals that he would think that way. Not only do I support it, but so does Senator Jim Webb (the Bill’s sponsor), also a retired Marine with a son or two serving in Iraq right now.

Senator, get some other advisors, because the advisors that you have now are missing the mark and providing you with bad advice. Take a walk through Naval National Medical Center, Bethesda, Walter Read Army Medical Center and many others (not for a photo op), but to really ask these folks whose lives have been totally changed forever while defending this nation what they think.

I’d be interested to know what his feeling related to this matter would be if the circumstances were different when he was a POW (e.g., was enlisted with a high school diploma versus a Naval Academy grad) and had to figure out how to survive in today’s world without an education even though you made hero status. There are many others that were POWs and causalities of war that had to completely start from scratch.

Albuquerque, not Albequerque