Why do you think Bush was liked by the Military?
Addressing the first thing I'm sure people will say, the last poll conducted of Military personnel showed about 70% with a favorable rating of George Bush. Yes there were many who did not like him, but on the whole he was liked.

So why do you think the Military liked him, even though most of the Nation did not look at him favorably, and very high disapproval of his war on terror policies.
Trying to find a link, the reference is from a Military Times (they make the Army, Navy, ect.. Times papers) poll from late last year, around election time. I read the article at work. But the jist is he was still popular with the Military.
My mistake, the poll I was thinking off was a McCain vs. Obama poll, not a Bush poll. Here is the link. http://www.militarytimes.com/static/projects/pages/081003_ep_2pp.pdf

But I would argue a good portion of those who supported McCain would have had a favorable veiwing of Bush, perhaps not as high, but still by a much larger percentage than the Nation as a whole.

Best answer:
Lots of reasons:

1. Pay raises, the military pay raises were larger under Bush than Clinton, they also gave more senior people additional pay raises, besides the basic pay raise.

2. VA funding, Bush increased VA funding almost 96% in just 8 years, compared to 28% by Clinton.

3. Veterans pay and benefit issues.

a. CSRC for combat related injuries,

b. Concurrent receipt

For the first time ever, disabled veterans were allowed to collect Both their military retirement pay and VA Disability. Before their retirement pay was reduced by the amount of their VA Disability pay.

c. Widow benefits were increase to 55% minimum from 35%


Then basic things like, the military did not issue bullet proof vest to service members before Bush.,. service members were still using Vietnam Era flaq vest before Bush took office.

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