Approximately 54,000 combat-injured veterans are subject to a cost-saving offset where their retirement pay is reduced for every dollar of VA disability received. The Major Richard Star Act would remedy this injustice.
Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Waiters, USA (Ret)
Age: 43
Family: Single mother of two children, ages 10 and 8
Time served: 18 years, 7 months, 12 days
Cause of medical retirement: Widespread pain and chronic fatigue caused by hypersomnolence and fibromyalgia
Effect of retirement: “When it came to my emotional well-being, it was wrecked! … I was constantly worried about finances and health care.”
Amount lost each month because of offset: $2,700
How she advocates for the Major Richard Star Act: Regularly writes to and calls her members of Congress to encourage them to become sponsors and shares the information on her social media pages to make her friends and family aware of this injustice and how they can get involved to correct it.
She says: “It is amazing how many people not connected with the military feel this is so wrong but had no knowledge of it. … We need to keep building awareness to make it important enough to everyone.”
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Capt. Philip Sweet, USAF (Ret)
Age: 31
Family: Married to an Army reservist, two children
Time served: 11 years
Cause of medical retirement: Medical conditions sustained in an aircraft incident and other injuries that occurred in a combat zone
Effect of retirement: “My life was upended because of my medical retirement. I expected to finish out my military career, whether on active duty or in the reserves. … Now, financially we miss out on some of the money we should be receiving for my service and sacrifice. We feel as though my service is lessened because of my medical retirement.”
Amount lost each month because of offset: $4,500
How he advocates for the Major Richard Star Act: Writes to his elected officials to raise awareness about why it needs to pass.
He says: “If I received the full benefits I earned, my family's life would be completely changed. It's time for Congress to honor the contract I signed at 18 years old.”
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Staff Sgt. Joseph Turner, ARNG (Ret)
Age: 43
Family: Wife, who is his caregiver, and three children
Time served: 17 years
Cause of medical retirement: PTSD and neck and back injuries
Effect of retirement: “My wife is unable to work because she is my full-time caregiver. … I am the sole provider for my family. The passage of the Richard Star Act would be life-changing for us.”
Amount lost each month because of offset: $1,600
How he advocates for the Major Richard Star Act: Sharing his story and speaking out against the injustice. “I decided to sort of step into it less for myself but for others. Joining the efforts to speak out isn't about me, it's about fulfilling my creed as an NCO to help my soldiers and veterans.”
He says: “I, like many others, are no longer fit for service. We did not have a choice. … If it were up to me, I would have 25 years’ time in service, to date, not the 17 years where my career ended. It's absurd and insulting to be a cyclical campaign issue with no action.”
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