Draft GPUS Platform Amendment Veterans Rights

Section title: GI and Veteran's Rights

Section subtitle: Fairness for our veterans

Our position: Veterans have made great sacrifices for our nation, and so deserve our respect, kindness and generosity.

Soldiers who are required to carry out our nation's imperialistic policies, often with great hardship to themselves and their families, deserve our respect and our commitment to adequate compensation and benefits.

Green Solutions

a. Increase the current pay levels, monthly imminent danger pay, and family separation allowances for those risking their lives in combat zones.

b. Ensure that all pre-deployment physicals are completed and carried out within the standard allotted time period, and that medical follow-ups are routinely given to all soldiers.

c. Establish a panel of independent medical doctors to examine and oversee the policies of the military regarding forced vaccinations and shots, especially with experimental drugs.

d. Honor all laws concerning time limits on deployments.

e. Provide better care for the wounded, sick, and injured soldiers returning home. The Pentagon must take all steps necessary to fully diagnose and treat both physical and mental health conditions resulting from service in all combat zones.

f. Ensure a smooth transition from active military service to civilian life by providing counseling, housing, emergency management, job protection, and other support systems.

g. Restore full funding for veterans’ health programs.

h. Enact a new GI Bill, similar to the one that began after World War II and ended in 1981, to provide the following benefits:

• Tuition grants for four years of college or other educational opportunities.

• Low interest loans for housing or business start-ups.

• Free medical care for military personnel and their families for ten years following separation from the armed forces – until universal health care becomes a reality.

i. Support and respect Conscientious Objector status during all phases of the process. We fully support the right of individuals in the military service to modify or completely separate from military involvement because of conscientious objection. We call upon all military entities and officers to support a transparent and democratic conscientious objection process free of harassment, imprisonment, or deployment to war zones for those pursuing the conscientious objection process.

j. Provide recognized, independent veteran organizations with access to military personnel to ensure they are being informed of their rights. This is especially true for those who are hospitalized due to service related injuries or illnesses.

More ideas:

Our government violates our right when it recruits us before the legal age of 18. Our government violates our rights when it deploys us to illegal war. The military violates our rights when it involuntarily extends our service contracts or denies us conscientious objector status. Our government violates our right when it dishonorably discharges us for our sexuality. Our government violates veterans’ rights when it denies us proper care. Our rights are violated when we are left on the streets broke and jobless.