Friday, October 20, 2006

Have I mentioned…

…how much I hate what they're doing to my Army?
SAN DIEGO - Thousands of U.S. troops are being barred from overseas duty because they are so deep in debt they are considered security risks, according to an Associated Press review of military records…

...Data supplied to the AP by the Navy, Marines and Air Force show that the number of clearances revoked for financial reasons rose every year between 2002 and 2005, climbing ninefold from 284 at the start of the period to 2,654 last year.
Partial numbers from this year suggest the trend continues.

More than 6,300 troops in the three branches lost their clearances during that four-year period. Roughly 900,000 people are serving in the three branches, though not all need clearances.
Actually, that's not counting the Army, the largest branch, but there's no reason to believe a Spec 4 is in any less risk from predatory lenders than a Lance Corporal. Base commanders should put the payday loan places outside their gates on the "Off Limits" list for military personnel, for starters. A hard look at who we're recruiting and what we're telling them to expect is overdue, too.

The problem has been controlled to a degree by state legislation here, but some of these operations simply need to be closed down. And not just because of the military. They prey on broke folks of every occupation.

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