| If there is any group of men and women who have | | | | Covenant aimed, in part, to address the education |
| deserved bonuses over the last seven years, it has | | | | obstacles that Army spouses faced. In that vein, |
| been the Soldiers who have served during the wars | | | | efforts have been made to help military spouse have |
| in Iraq and Afghanistan. And during that time, | | | | more access to education and career opportunities. |
| particularly in specialties that the Army puts a high | | | | Soldiers who stay in the Army also retain their |
| value on, reenlistments bonuses have been generous, | | | | eligibility for Army Tuition Assistance, which provides |
| yet as the year draws to a close, the Army has | | | | Soldiers with $4,500 a year in education funds that |
| announced that there will be cuts starting on Dec. 31. | | | | they can use to study at the school of their choice. |
| 2008. | | | | Soldiers are free to enroll in accredited online |
| The Army reduced the number jobs qualifying for a | | | | educational programs in addition to traditional school |
| bonus from 88 to about 63, according to Master Sgt. | | | | programs. |
| Patrick Johnson, in an interview with Stars and | | | | And whenever we are speaking of Soldiers and |
| Stripes newspaper. The decision also means that the | | | | benefits, it's important to stress that Soldiers do not |
| total amount of bonuses that all Soldiers receive will | | | | make decisions about leaving or staying in the service |
| be reduced as well. | | | | based solely on money. Soldiers and their families |
| Army officials say there is no connection between | | | | believe deeply in the value of service to one's |
| the move to slash bonuses and the global recession. | | | | country; and though financial matters play a part, |
| "We're trying to ramp down from the highs that we | | | | they are never the sole factor. |
| had in '05 and '06," Lt. Col. Thomas Erickson told Stars | | | | Bonus money and health care benefits can never |
| and Stripes. "It's an unpleasant subject when you're | | | | explain why a Soldier chooses to spend two, three |
| talking about what you've taken off, and really, at | | | | or sometimes four combat tours in the Middle East, |
| the end of the day, what really is driving the train is | | | | often at the expense of seeing their children grow |
| we have to live within our budget." | | | | up. This is why more efforts like the Army Family |
| While this is certainly not welcome news for the | | | | Covenant and the expanded GI Bill benefits are so |
| Soldiers, there are still numerous benefits that | | | | important - they in some small way express a |
| Soldiers can look forward to when they stay in the | | | | country's gratitude for the sacrifices of these |
| Army. And one of the biggest bonuses for Soldiers is | | | | Soldiers. |
| increased support and education opportunities for | | | | During this Christmas season (and beyond) Americans |
| both Soldiers and Army spouses. | | | | can show their support for the Soldiers by sending |
| Last year Army leaders signed the Army Family | | | | cards, gifts and snacks to those stationed abroad. |
| Covenant as part of an effort to help support Army | | | | And they should remember that even with reduced |
| families and Army spouses as the Army dealt with | | | | bonuses, America's Soldiers will always step up and |
| the strain of long and frequent deployments. The | | | | serve their nation. |