Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden left in poverty with no pension, healthcare

[Syrian Lion]

Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden left in poverty with no pension, healthcare or protection
​

The US Navy SEAL who personally shot to death former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden says he has been neglected by the US government. The poverty-stricken ex-commando is now struggling to feed his family and pay for healthcare.

Despite killing America's most wanted man, the US Navy SEAL referred to only as “the Shooter” has transitioned back to a civilian life plagued by poverty. The Shooter, who remains anonymous, retired from the SEALs in September 2012, thirty-six months before the 20-year requirement for retirement benefits.

And the government makes no exceptions when it comes to retirement benefits – not even for one of the Americans responsible for striking the most crushing blow against al-Qaeda.
“What is [hard] to understand is that a man with hundreds of successful war missions, one of the most decorated combat veterans of our age, who capped his career by terminating bin Laden, has no landing pad in civilian life,” writes Phil Bronstein, Executive Chair of the Center for Investigative Reporting, for Esquire.

Aside from remaining anonymous and therefore lacking recognition from the American public, the US government appears to have forgotten the Shooter’s significance in the raid that killed the most wanted terrorist. Without a pension, healthcare, or any sort of government protection, the Shooter has been left in the dark by the agency he dedicated his life to.

Unsympathetically, he was told to look for a job driving a truck to make enough money to scrape by.

“[SEAL command] told me they could get me a job driving a beer truck in Milwaukee,” the Shooter said. Such a job would be a substantial downgrade from both his status and estimated $54,000 salary as a Navy SEAL.


Left without retirement benefits, the Shooter is now purchasing a private health insurance plan for $486 per month, which provides minimal coverage and fails to cover his chiropractic care.
“My health care for me and my family stopped,” he said. “I asked if there was some transition from my Tricare to Blue Cross Blue Shield. They said no. You’re out of service, your coverage is over. Thanks for your sixteen years. Go f*ck yourself.”

The US government provides 18- days of transitional healthcare benefits, but only those who agree to remain on active duty or become a “reservist”. And it will take at least eight months before he can make requests for disability payments. Although the US government put a $25 million bounty on bin Laden, no one has ever collected the money and the Shooter now lives in poverty.

Finding another job is not so easy for the retired SEAL: due to his anonymity, he cannot disclose his work experience to other employers. Even though friends and family members put in recommendations for him with employers they know, they cannot tell anyone that the Shooter was part of SEAL Team 6.

The SEALs struggles contradict the statement US President Barack Obama made on Veteran’s Day about those who serve the country.

“No one who fights for this country overseas should ever have to fight for a job,” Obama said. “Or a roof over their head, or the care that they have earned when they come home.”

But the Shooter is fighting – financially, physically and emotionally. With a body full of scars, arthritis, tendonitis, eye damage and blown disks, the SEAL is in desperate need of medical care.
“Is this how America treats its heroes?” Bronstein writes. “The ones President Obama called ‘the best of the best’? The ones Vice-President Biden called ‘the finest warriors in the history of the world?”

And the Shooter is just one of about 1.3 million veterans – about one in 10 – and 0.9 million family members who are currently uninsured, despite their years of service.

“[Bin Laden] crumpled onto the floor in front of his bed. He was dead. I watched him take his last breaths,” the Shooter recalls. “And I remember as I watched him breathe out the last part of air, I thought: Is this the best thing I’ve ever done, or the worst thing I’ve ever done?”

The administration considers bin Laden’s death one of its greatest achievements. But for the Shooter, life has become a struggle.


Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden left in poverty with no pension, healthcare or protection — RT

 

[Star Wars]

This is extremely sad... A person who fought for his country risking his own life is being treated in this manner....

 

[A.Rafay]

About his health care what about Obama care program?

 

[PITA]

That is pretty sad indeed. Hope he finds something soon but considering his medical problems, his options will be limited.

I always thought they paid more than 54k/year. Not to be insulting or anything but I made just slightly under that after university. Those guys that risk so much deserve a lot more.

 

[jhungary]

About his health care what about Obama care program?

Well, he did, but that's crap, cause he's VA

he would have Veteran Benefit and Health Care plan if only he have served the whole 20 years. Since he only done 16 or 18 years in the service, he is not "Retired" as per Mil Reg. He is a "Seperationist"

Problem with this happen to every soldier in US, if you cannot hang on for 20 years, you got nothing. And even worse, some reservist come home without an arm or a leg, he would have got fraction of what other full time soldier paying.

 

[Ayush]

This is sad.an American hero being treated like this in his own country.

 

[jhungary]

That is pretty sad indeed. Hope he finds something soon but considering his medical problems, his options will be limited.

I always thought they paid more than 54k/year. Not to be insulting or anything but I made just slightly under that after university. Those guys that risk so much deserve a lot more.

A entry enlisted soldier earn about 21k a year, you got combat pay if you are deployed in a warzone. Bt with combat pay, you get no more than 38k a year.
A entry officer earn about 35k a year, depend on you r rank and nature of the of deployment. You may not get Combat pay at all.

Yes, this is crap compare to civvie job.

 

[longyi]

He should get a good lawyer and suits for the $30 million bounty on Bin Ladin - dead or alive.

 

[A.Rafay]

Well, he did, but that's crap, cause he's VA

he would have Veteran Benefit and Health Care plan if only he have served the whole 20 years. Since he only done 16 or 18 years in the service, he is not "Retired" as per Mil Reg. He is a "Seperation"

Problem with this happen to every soldier in US, if you cannot hang on for 20 years, you got nothing. And even worse, some reservist come home without an arm or a leg, he would have got fraction of what other full time soldier paying.

What about his pension?

 

[jhungary]

What about his pension?

He don't have pension, he is not "retired" he just seperated from the navy...........

He should get a good lawyer and suits for the $30 million bounty on Bin Ladin - dead or alive.

You can, but the bounty does not apply to US military Personnel. So he will lose and he will be in a world of debt as well............

 

[PITA]

A entry enlisted soldier earn about 21k a year, you got combat pay if you are deployed in a warzone. Bt with combat pay, you get no more than 38k a year.
A entry officer earn about 35k a year, depend on you r rank and nature of the of deployment. You may not get Combat pay at all.

Yes, this is crap compare to civvie job.

I guess if you're living, food, health and other miscellaneous is covered, then it wouldn't be too bad. If you have a family with a mortgage (which I'm sure a lot are), that would not be that great.

Anyone have any figures for other countries?

No snide remarks about 50 cents.

 

[bdslph]

s o sad to read it
this guy is a american hero i dont care of the service or military says
he did a awesome job for the usa he is a hero

 

[d14gtc]

This Aint Possible simply

This Aint Possible simply

 

[gambit]

What about his pension?

He don't have pension, he is not "retired" he just seperated from the navy...........

Yes, he does not receive a pension.

In order to earn a pension, I must serve an agreed upon term of service. It does not matter if I am paper pusher or a bullet pusher. During my term of service, I may receive additional pay for being a bullet pusher, but for both career fields, the term of service to earn a pension is still the same.

Now...Does that mean we cannot change the laws to create something with more justice to those who did more than what was asked? Yes, but that is a different issue and one that is common to all militaries worldwide. This SEAL voluntarily separated from the Navy prior to completion of the agreed upon term of service to earn a pension. No one forced him into the Navy. No one forced him to be a SEAL. And no one forced him out of the Navy.

Could the US Navy offer him a desk job for him to complete his term of service so he could earn a much deserved pension? Yes. But would he accept after being a SEAL and done what he did -- shot Osama bin Laden?

 

[Syrian Lion]

Yes, he does not receive a pension.

In order to earn a pension, I must serve an agreed upon term of service. It does not matter if I am paper pusher or a bullet pusher. During my term of service, I may receive additional pay for being a bullet pusher, but for both career fields, the term of service to earn a pension is still the same.

Now...Does that mean we cannot change the laws to create something with more justice to those who did more than what was asked? Yes, but that is a different issue and one that is common to all militaries worldwide. This SEAL voluntarily separated from the Navy prior to completion of the agreed upon term of service to earn a pension. No one forced him into the Navy. No one forced him to be a SEAL. And no one forced him out of the Navy.

Could the US Navy offer him a desk job for him to complete his term of service so he could earn a much deserved pension? Yes. But would he accept after being a SEAL and done what he did -- shot Osama bin Laden?

The U.S "should" have made him quit his military job for what he has done... (that's my opinion) , I mean he killed OBL... and the U.S was willing to give millions of dollars to whoever killed OBL.. I know it was his job since he was a SEAL, but still the U.S should have not left him alone, at least offer him healthcare?