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What gives? Have our military leaders forgotten to educate our military members about their rights under the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940? Looks that way to me. I'm only going to rant about one aspect of it but it is a very important piece of legislation that all our military members should be well versed in.
The situation that brought my ire to a head is this: My niece is getting married. Her fiancé is a Marine presently stationed in California. His leave to return home and get married was approved some time ago. Today, 10DEC2009, his command informed him that unless he renewed his car tags TODAY, his leave would be rescinded and he would not be allowed to return home to get married. His tags expire four days before he is scheduled to return from leave.
He is going on leave back to his home state, the same state his vehicle is registered in, not the state he is stationed in. According to the SSRA and my layman’s understanding of it, he doesn't have to renew his car tags until he returns to his home state, even if it is years after the tags expire. Once back in home state he has 30 days to renew them. His command should know this, each and every member of the US Armed forces should know this and they should also know all the other provisions of this very important act.
Don't worry, she got them renewed and the paperwork sent to let them know it was done BUT this situation should never have happened. She should never have had to worry about this minor bit of paperwork that could have been taken care of while he was on leave and he should not have been forced to renew his tags from afar and under threat of confinement to his commands local base.
I have sent a message to my representatives in DC, I hope they take heed and rattle a few cages at the Pentagon. Our troops need all the help they can get and back in 1940, legislation was written to give them some, but if no one knows what it means to them, they don't know to ask.
If you have a better understanding of this act please chime in and correct or support my position.
Photo:
http://www.defense.gov/multimedia/
12/07/2009 - Woody Derby, a Pearl Harbor survivor, escorted by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Kathleen McDowell honors the USS Nevada (BB 36) as they celebrate Pearl Harbor Day at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 2009.