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In 1970 I received a letter from the President, Richard M. Nixon. In that letter I was invited to participate in the military. I grew up in an Army town so I was not inclined to go into the Army. I chose the Navy's AEF program. The program was a four year enlistement with a manditory 2 year extension for the Electronics Training I would receive. Tagged on to that requirement was something called a Variable Re-enlistment Bonus (VRB). After I had been my four years I was notified that the VRB had been superceded by the Selective Re-enlistment Bonus (SRB) but it required an additional year of service. This affected many of the people in the Electronics ratings in the Navy. I wrote a letter to the Chief of Naval Personnel, VIA the Chain of Command requesting to be released from my obligation as the Navy had reneged on it's "promise".
The reply form NavPers was one of a shocking nature, basically it told me to shut up and serve my time. (Just for the record, I did not expect to be discharged.) I was counseled by the division Master Chief, the Department Head, the CMC as well as the XO. Later I was informed that due to my letter that I was included in a class action suit against the Navy/Government regarding the VRB/SRB program. Again I was counseled, but was given a clear record as I did not actively initiate adding my name to the list. Eventually all sailors that were affected by the change in policy were added to the class action suit.
Two years after I was honorably discharged from active duty I received a check for almost $5,000. It was my VRB with interest.
If you stay within the system you can do many things. As Marinerhodes said, you have to play by the UCMJ and the U.S. Code when objecting to your situation.
The more I think of it I think these guys need to be packed off to a nice place for a long period of time. Someplace like the USDB at Ft. Leavenworth, or any other Army or Air Force Regional Confinment Center, or any Naval Brig or Marine Corps Brig.
It's not nice to mess with Uncle Sam!
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