Tuition assistance takes from mission

James M. McCue II
Guest Contributor

The Department of Defense, under Congress’s orders, decreased its spending because of automatic budget cuts in March. With previous cutbacks and the conflict in Afghanistan, they chose to cut tuition assistance, an action that affected student veterans at VCU as well as 300,000 other troops nationwide.

In the face of protest by thousands of service members and politicians, however, Congress has overruled the DoD’s decision and reinstated tuition assistance. The decision to overturn tuition assistance cuts may be popular, but could have dire consequences for American troops domestic and abroad, as well the nation.

The Army, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard ordered the suspension of tuition assistance in order to meet the demands set by Congress to cut spending of the DoD in early March.

Like all budget cuts, these suspensions, however temporary, threatened the operation of the organizations. Since my own deployment to Iraq in 2006 until today, my fellow troops and I have been more concerned with issues like proper equipment and training to sustain ourselves on the battlefield; essentials that keep us alive in combat have greater importance.

Despite the DoD’s intention to reduce the current level of military personnel, troops are still being forced out because of a lack of funding for occupational schools such as infantry or mechanics.

Prior to the suspension of tuition assistance, troops already felt the funding issues. Schools training soldiers in life-saving techniques in combat, leadership courses and many other skills faced delays and cancellations. Vehicles are currently being taken away from units who require them for training and daily operations. Equipment, like body armor, helmets and uniforms are taking longer to acquire, if troops receive them at all.

Some argue that these cutbacks will call for an early withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, troops deployed or preparing to deploy into the region will be the ones who suffer. Without proper equipment and training, the chances of becoming a casualty of combat increases. Do we want to send our troops into danger poorly equipped?

The general public can also suffer from these budget cuts.

Over the years, Virginia has endured natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and snowstorms. While in the National Guard, we responded to all of these events to help evacuate civilians trapped by snow, ice and storm surges.

With a decreased budget, however, many units are forced to give up equipment and vehicles. How will the National Guard help the general public if they are underfunded?

The suspension of tuition assistance gave our military a fighting chance. Tuition assistance costs the DoD nearly $600 million a year. With this amount freed up, the military could continue focusing on providing the best equipment and training to its troops.

Troops can still use educational benefits offered by the Department of Veteran Affairs, such as the Montgomery G.I. Bill and the post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

Though the tuition assistance will continue to exist, the military suspension still stands. The DoD now has to determine where to cut back.