What Would Major General John A. Lejeune Think?

Taking care of Marines and their families has been a part of the Marine Corps leaders ethos since the Marine Corps began. The recognition of this responsibility by officers is vital to the well-being and continued success of the Marine Corps, especially because most of the men and women enlisting are under 21 years of age. These young men and women are in the formative period of their lives. Officers owe it to them, to their parents, and to the Nation, that when discharged from the service they are far better men and women physically, mentally, and morally than they were when they enlisted...and to make every effort by means of historical, educational, and patriotic addresses to cultivate in their hearts a deep abiding love of the Corps and Country. This paraphrased excerpt by Major General John A. Lejeune in Marine Corps Order No. 29, Relations Between Officers and Men, was his vision about the responsibility officers had regarding the care of Marines in their charge. This paper asks the following question are the young Marines of today and their families being taken care of by their government The answer is a resounding no. The U.S. Government and the Department of Defense DoD have improved military benefits since the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom OIF, but these benefits still remain inadequate. The DoD needs to revamp the current programs supporting casualties and their families during their recovery and follow-on care. This paper will detail travel benefits for wounded Marines families, how they need to be changed, and how these changes will benefit both Marines and the government. The specific program that will be discussed is encompassed in a document called Joint Federal Travel Regulations, Article U5246. The article is titled, Transportation and Per Diem of Family Members of a Seriously Ill or Injured Member.