MY NAME IS MELISSA, AND I WAS ADAMS FAMILY READINESS OFFICER AT HIS BATTALION.
MY SON CAME HOME FROM COLLEGE TODAY AND TOLD ME ABOUT THIS VIDEO THEY SHOWED ABOUT A VA COURT IN OC IN HIS VETERANS CLASS. I COULDN'T BELIEVE ADAM WAS IN IT.
I WANTED ALL OF YOU TO KNOW THAT I DID EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO HELP ADAM. I AM SO VERY GLAD THAT THIS COURT IS OUT THERE AND JUDGE LINDLEY IS HELPING TO PROTECT THESE SERVICE MEMBERS.

AFTER WATCHING MY FOURTH OTH AND BCD FOR DRUGS AND ALCOHOL I BECAME VERY FRUSTERATED. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FACE ALL FIVE OF THE SENIOR ENLISTED MEN AT A FAMILY RESILEANCE CONFERENCE IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR.

I BROUGHT UP THE NUMBER OF OTH'S THAT I HAVE SEEN IN MY 3.5 YEARS AS A FAMILY READINESS OFFICER. MY POINTS ON THE SUBJECT THAT I TRIED TO BRING UP TO SGTMAJ KENT ARE LISTED BELOW. I WAS FIRED THREE DAYS LATER. THIS CONFERENCE WAS BEING LIVE STEAMED ALL OVER THE WORLD. I GUESS THEY DIDN'T LIKE THIER DIRTY LAUNDRY BEING AIRED. I WASN'T GOING TO LET THAT OPPORTUNITY GO BY WITHOUT SPEAKING UP, EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THEY WOULD FIRE ME.

POINTS I BROUGHT UP:

1. IF YOU WERE A 23 YEAR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT YOU MAY LOOSE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY, MY GET SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL OR TICKETED BY POLICE, BUT YOU CAN STILL GRADUATE AND BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE USA. SGTMAJ: THEY AREN'T COLLEGE STUDENTS THEY ARE US MARINES THEY KNOW THE RULES. ME: YES BUT THE MARINES VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY.
2. OTH MEMBERS CAN NEVER WORK ANYWHERE WHERE A BACKGROUND IS REQUIRED; POST OFFICE, POLICE, FIRE, TECH FIELDS, SOME SECURITY JOBS, ETC... DID I MENTION NEVER! ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE OF THEIR DISCHARGES (IN CA ANYWAY) THEY DO NOT QUALIFY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.
3. IF THE OTH OR BCD IS THE RESULT OF DRUGS THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID. WE RECRUIT FROM THE LOWEST SOCIAL ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED SECTION OF OUR SOCIETY. IF WE RETURN THESE SERVICE MEMBERS IN WORSE MENTAL CONDITION THAN WHEN WE GOT THEM THEN ADD; TAKE AWAY THEIR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS THAT THEY MAY HAVE EARNED IN SERVICE BUT GOT STRIPPED DUE TO THEIR DISCHARGE, DIFFICULTY FINDING EMPLOYMENT FOR THE FIELD THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED (INFANTRY), AND DENIAL OF FEDERAL AID FOR CONTINUED EDUCATION, WHAT CHANCE DO THESE SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE?

I HAVE NOT HEARD HOW THINGS TURNED OUT FOR ADAM. I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO WITH SSGT LINDER THAT DAY TO DELIVER HIS PAPERWORK TO HIM AND HIS CASE WORKER BUT HAD ANOTHER FAMILY THAT NEEDED MY HELP. I HOPE THAT YOUR PROGRAM WAS WHAT ADAM NEEDED AND HIS LIFE IS FILLED WITH HAPPINESS.

BEST TO YOU ALL!
FORMER MARINE, AND FAMILY READINESS OFFICER