Because it’s uncommon now for any media elites or even middle-class people to have served in the military, I see stranger and stranger things written about the topic.

To forestall any complaints, I don’t believe the military as a whole or individuals even should be hailed as heroic. It’s just a job, albeit a fairly dangerous one. The military is too large and mismanaged, etc.

With that excursus proffered, referring to parts of your military compensation as “entitlements” is ridiculous. Republicans have never been friends of veterans as is the common belief. They like the military when it blows up brown people, but don’t care of the actual service members.

Most of the lower ranking military members are very aware of this. It is not some unified block of rah-rah conservatism and patriotism as it is portrayed in the media or by Republicans.

In other words, there is no one in the world more cynical about patriotism and how the system works than someone who has just gotten out of basic training and is on his or her first deployment, duty posting or mission. Trust me, I know. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

When you sign up for the military, you sign a contract. In the contract is detailed what your compensation is to be. Some of it is paid immediately. Some of it is delayed. This is normal in all careers. For instance, receiving VA benefits or the GI Bill is considered delayed compensation. It is not some tacked-on entitlement relied on by parasites of the system. It is a compensatory benefit of the job contractually agreed to by both parties well in advance. (If any delusional types don’t believe this, I still have my my military contract and it’s all in there. I can post it if needed.)

I’ve seen veteran retirement benefits referred to as entitlements as well. This from congressmembers who receive far better retirement packages than even the most lavishly-compensated veteran could ever dream of.