News broke over the weekend that National Guardsmen in California have been ordered to repay the bonuses they received for re-enlistment.
Here’s the glaring problem: It started 2 years ago!
That’s right. Two years ago the Pentagon performed an audit and realized that California was ‘overpaying’ re-enlistment bonuses to National Guardsmen.
Over these two years, they have collected back roughly $22 million.
These orders have put an undue financial burden on those affected. So much so, that some have had to leave the state because they can’t afford to live there. Another had to refinance their home in order to repay their bonus and student loan repayments. Some soldiers are having their National Guard pay garnished in upwards of $600-$700.
Rep. Darrell Issa had this to say: