Oklahoma Soldier Says He Was Told Serve More Time Or Lose Benefits

By Adrianna Iwasinski, NEWS 9

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- An Oklahoma soldier has served his country for the past six years, but now he said he's being told he has to serve more time or risk losing his benefits.

Twenty-six-year-old Shawn Drewke is an Army veteran as well as an Oklahoma State University student. Drewke comes from a military family, and said he wanted to go into the Army to do military intelligence.

"The Army provided me the best chance to get the background necessary to go into military intelligence," Drewke said. "When I was in Afghanistan, that's exactly what I did."

Drewke served in operation enduring freedom in Afghanistan for 16 months.

"I was about 20 km from the Pakistani border. It was one of the more heated areas while we were there," he said.

Once he came back from serving his country overseas, he wanted to go back to school to finish his degree, and the GI Bill could help him do that. Drewke said he signed a contract to serve for eight years, four years active duty and four years inactive ready reserve.

"I've got about a year left on the inactive. I've done what they asked me, that I am able to serve if they recall me up," Drewke said.

Drewke said the Army Reserve center in Stillwater showed he's signed up for more time, but Drewke said he's served his time and has no desire to re-enlist and doesn't think he should be punished for that.

"I've done everything they've asked me to do. I'm not really interested in going back in the army once I finish my degree here. Planning on going to Washington, DC, to work for an intelligence agency," Drewke said.

Drewke has contacted the Army, the FBI, and even the JAG corp. to try to clear his name. He said he's also contacted local lawmakers to see what, if anything, they can do to help.

"It's pretty frustrating. I've worked with them for the past few months. Up until a month or so, it seemed we were working it out, and then they took this turn where now they are going to go after my benefits," Drewke said.

The local Army Reserve center as well as the Pentagon have not yet commented on the matter.

So far Drewke's veterans benefits have not been taken away.

State Senator Jim Halligan of Stillwater said he has reviewed Shawn's case, but since it is a federal matter, he has sent it on to U.S. Congressmen Frank Lucas, and Senators Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn. A representative for Lucas confirmed they have received the request and are investigating.