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 Geoff Morrell made the comment in a telephone interview following a conversation that Pentagon chief Robert Gates had with Rep. Tim Walz, a Minnesota Democrat and National Guard veteran. Upon returning from Iraq this year, nearly half the soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division
-- one of the longest serving units -- discovered they were ineligible for full education benefits under the GI Bill.
For some members, just one day of service prevented them from being eligible; all did qualify for some money.
The Army sent the case to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records. The board has declined to take up the soldiers as a group. Minnesota lawmakers have expressed concern that could make it harder to resolve the issue in time for next spring semester.
Following his conversation with Gates, Walz sent The Associated Press a statement saying the Defense Department has committed to resolving all cases within 10 days of receiving each soldier's paperwork.
Morrell said he did not know if Gates had committed to that timeline.
"As I understand it, the secretary's commitment is to have all this paperwork done in ample time so that these guardsmen can register for classes in time for the next semester beginning in January," he said. "The Army's prepared to deploy additional resources if necessary to make sure they get this done."
[Associated Press; by Frederic J.
Frommer]
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