Nick,
It is odd how a guy drawing a W-4 or W-5 retired pay check with Tri-care Medical benefits sees things as compared to a guy in his mid-30's with no pension and medical benefits when he is working and then must pay for them out of pocket.
Some of our "retired Army" comrades-in-arms who are so used to being treated like second class citizens for 20 plus years just fail to see the need for them to be out walking the line. That has been the short coming of the PHI and GOM union movement all along.
Most "Ex-Army" guys fully understand the situation and are leaders in that movement.