Q: How is Military Counseling Network funded?
Q: If the U.S has a volunteer military, why should anyone be let out before their ETS (expiration of time of service)?
Q: Am I eligible for Montgomery GI Bill (education) benefits? How about "GI Bill for the 21st Century"?
Q: Based on the characterization of service for my discharge, Honorable, General, Other than Honorable, Bad Conduct, or Dishonorable, what benefits am I eligible for?
Q: How can I get a copy of my discharge papers (DD-214)?
Q: You say I can get out of the DEP but my recruiter says that you don't know what you're talking about or you're lying. Why should I believe you?
Q:What does Military Counseling Network do?
Q: In what kind of situation do servicemembers get out early?
Q: How is Military Counseling Network different from the GI Rights Hotline in the US?
Q: How is MCN funded?
A: The entire operating budget of MCN comes from donations from
individuals, churches, and organizations in the US and Europe. In
2006, donations from the US made up just under 50 percent, with the
rest coming from European sources. The services of MCN are
entirely free, although some servicemembers choose to make a
donation. Information on how to give a tax-deductible
contribution is at "Donations."
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Q: If the US has a volunteer military, why should anyone be let out before their term is up?
A: In the same way that the Pentagon has the right according
to military regulations to extend a servicemember's active-duty term
indefinitely during a time of war via "stop-loss," so too do
servicemembers have the right to get out early under certain
circumstances. These circumstances are laid out in military
regulations. By signing the enlistment contract, servicemembers
are saying they will be subject to military regulations, and it is
these same regulations that allow for an early discharge.
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Q: Am I eligible for Montgomery GI Bill (education) benefits? How about "GI Bill for the 21st Century"?
A: To see the criteria, go to http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/education/a/admgib.htm (regular active) or http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/education/a/reservemgib.htm (reserves). For the new GI Bill, which goes into effect August 1, 2009, see information on the post 9-11 GI Bill.
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Q: Based on the characterization of service for my discharge, Honorable, General, Other than Honorable, Bad Conduct, or Dishonorable, what benefits am I eligible for?
A: Click here to see which benefits you are eligible for and what problems can cause you to lose some of them.
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Q: How can I get a copy of my discharge papers (DD-214)?
A: Go to www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/
Q: You say I can get out of the DEP but my recruiter says that you don't know what you're talking about or you're lying. Why should I believe you?
A: We do know what we're talking about and we're not lying, but you can see for yourself: just click on the DEP box for your branch of service on the regulations page to see the military's own regulations. (Page links to GI Rights Hotline Regs page)
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Q:What does MCN do?
A: MCN is set up to provide information to servicemembers
about their rights that the UCMJ (Universal Code for Military Justice)
and military regulations afford them. Most military personnel
know very little about what their options are when they have some sort
of problem, and it's often very difficult to ask about discharges, for
example, with their chain of command. After the servicemembers
have the information, it is up to them how they want to proceed or if
they want to seek a discharge. MCN is also available throughout
the process of applying for a discharge as questions or problems arise.
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Q: In what kind of situation do servicemembers get out early?
A: The military recognizes that it's not always in its own
best interest to keep a servicemember on active duty. If there is
a serious physical or psychological problem, for example, that keeps a
soldier from doing his or her job, it's better for both parties
involved if that soldier is discharged. Other discharges are
available in situations of hardship, pregnancy, or parenthood, and many
of the discharges are explained in "Discharge Overviews." The rule of thumb is that it may be possible to seek a
discharge if: (1) the problem is severe; (2) it is permanent; (3) it
began after entering the military; (4) other attempts to remedy the
situation have failed; and (5) separation is the only remedy.
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Q: How is MCN different from the GI Rights Hotline in the US?
A: MCN is actually part of the umbrella organization called the GI Rights
Hotline. The Hotline includes over a dozen counseling offices, or
"nodes," throughout the US, and when someone calls the 800 number from
inside the US, they are connected to the closest node. MCN is the
only such organization that is located overseas and takes calls from
servicemembers stationed anywhere outside the US, including Germany,
Italy, England, S. Korea, Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.
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