NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Army has long lured recruits with the slogan "Be All You Can Be," but now soldiers and their families can receive plastic surgery, including breast enlargements, on the taxpayers' dime.
The New Yorker magazine reports in its July 26th edition that members of all four branches of the U.S. military can get face-lifts, breast enlargements, liposuction and nose jobs for free -- something the military says helps surgeons practice their skills.
"Anyone wearing a uniform is eligible," Dr. Bob Lyons, chief of plastic surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio told the magazine, which said soldiers needed the approval of their commanding officers to get the time off.
Between 2000 and 2003, military doctors performed 496 breast enlargements and 1,361 liposuction surgeries on soldiers and their dependents, the magazine said.
The magazine quoted an Army spokeswoman as saying, "the surgeons have to have someone to practice on."
posted on July 22, 2004 01:04:37 PM new
What a crock. Also a crock is that men (and women, I suppose) who can prove that it's medically and psychologically necessary, can have sex change operations paid for through Medicare. I know of at least one man right now who is feverously working to make that happen. As a liberal and as a human being, I have no objection to someone wanting to change their sex and doing it. I do, however, have a problem with it when my tax dollars pay for it and I cannot even afford the cost of regular health exams.
Cheryl
God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: This is my country. - Benjamin Franklin
posted on July 22, 2004 02:30:38 PM new
When I was in the Army no one offered me boobs! (and I was so flat I caved in!)
Boy do I feel cheated!.....lol!
Cheryl- I agree with you. If someone wants to change their appearance, and I don't mean burn patients, it should be on their own dime. Not my dime or your dime.
posted on July 22, 2004 02:34:00 PM new
I'd rather they not pay for/provide these "elective" type surgeries....when the money could be put to much better use.
Same goes with gender reassignments. All these 'elective' surgeries should be paid for personally - or though the purchase of private insurance.
But I also understand that there are many who have made serving in the Armed Forces their life's career and believe they should have the same choices/benefits others employed in the 'outside world' do via their jobs.
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"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
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"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
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posted on July 22, 2004 04:27:47 PM newAnyone wearing a uniform is eligible," Dr. Bob Lyons, chief of plastic surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio told the magazine, which said soldiers needed the approval of their commanding officers to get the time off.
I feel sorry for Twelve and Bear. They can not re-enlist nor get that boob job they wanted. I guess they will have to find another way to occupy their time.
"the surgeons have to have someone to practice on
Just like the military to use men and women as lab rats.
Let's have a BBQ, Texas style, ROAST BUSH
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All Things Just Keep Getting Better
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We the people, in order to form a more perfect Union....
.....one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for ALL.
[ edited by logansdad on Jul 22, 2004 04:58 PM ]
posted on July 22, 2004 05:04:52 PM newBut I also understand that there are many who have made serving in the Armed Forces their life's career and believe they should have the same choices/benefits others employed in the 'outside world' do via their jobs.
Linda
I know of no employer who carries insurance that would cover elective surgery. Most insurance companies don't even offer it. I imagine the premiums would be outrageously high.
Cheryl
God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: This is my country. - Benjamin Franklin
posted on July 22, 2004 05:17:24 PM new
Cheryl - There are private policies that cover varying medical procedures. What some policies consider 'cosmetic'/elective', others cover and don't consider them in that same light.
My kid sister has one such. She had to research for one that met her needs/desires...and she found it. And, yes, you pay through the nose for it.
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"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
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posted on July 22, 2004 05:22:26 PM new
"the surgeons have to have someone to practice on"
well, this could be yet another side effect of so many emergency rooms closing across the country. I remember reading something once that said quite a few military doctors were sent to intern at big-city emergency rooms. As one of them who was placed at a Los Angeles emergency room said, he got a lot of experience dealing with the same sorts of injuries he'd see in combat situations.
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We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. -- John F. Kennedy
posted on July 22, 2004 05:30:11 PM new
One of the changes that has taken place is that, in an emergency, a vet doesn't have to make it all the way to a VA hospital - which may be quiet far away. But rather can go to their local emergency room/local hospital and get treatment. That treatment is then paid for by the government.
Same reasoning for building more 'clinics' for vets...vs hospitals....closer proxcimity to where they live.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
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