A local active member of the National Guard calls the recent scandal about bonuses a slap in the face.
The soldier didn’t want to reveal his identity out of fear of retaliation. He served three separate deployments in Iraq and says the requests for repayment of re-enlistment bonuses by the pentagon are nothing new
“This has been going on for longer than is being said. This actually started about four years ago,” said the soldier.
He says he knows at least 20 veterans that were asked to give back their bonuses.
“It's like paying for a car, 200-300 payments on something that they should have got for doing their job,” says the man.
The soldier says he’s never received a letter himself but is offended that the government asked for the money back.
Congressman Kevin McCarthy spoke to 23 ABC exclusively about the bonus scandal. On Wednesday the Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter, ordered the pentagon to stop the requests for repayment.
McCarthy says it’s not clear how soldiers will get that money back, but promised to continue working until it happens. He encourages anyone who received a letter to call his office for help.
