A controversial military benefit has been exposed by two undercover recruits who visited a military recruitment center.  According to the Department of Defense, plastic surgery is in fact included in the benefits provided by the government for members of the United States military. 

The recruits learned in their visit that anyone who is in active duty is considered eligible for cosmetic surgery as well as their family members for a small fee.  The benefit includes all forms of plastic surgery, entirely free of cost with the exception of the cost of the breast implant.  However, this topic while seemingly not a significant issue is causing some controversy among military families and taxpayers.

In 2003 alone, military surgeons performed 288 tummy tucks, 261 breast augmentations, 135 facelifts, 69 nose jobs, and 384 liposuctions, costing American taxpayers an estimated $2 million dollars. 

An angered mother of a son who died in the line of fire complains that had her son had the funding for extra ammunition, he might have had a chance at survival.  “It’s the small bucks if you think about it,” comments the man’s mother Alma Heart. 

Opposing opinions however argue that plastic surgery procedures are not only acceptable in military hospitals but necessary.  “It’s the education and training of soldiers, and you can’t do plastic surgery on a dummy,” comments an army wife who is considering breast augmentation for herself.  She, like other military family members, will be required to pay a fee for this procedure, however the amount is negligible in comparison to the actual cost. 

The Department of Defense has comment that plastic surgery is only performed in military hospitals when time and resources permit.  Officials allege that the procedures are necessary for the surgeons to maintain their skills and certification.