An IT company called Strong Castle, headed by CEO
Braulio Castillo, got preference in government contract awards because Mr.
Castillo claimed to be a disabled veteran.
His disability was based on an injury he incurred
at the West Point Military Academy Preparatory School – an injury he got during
orientation in 1984. Did Mr. Castillo
ever serve in the military? No. Never.
No way, no how. He didn’t even
attend West Point Academy. He attended a
prep school. A high school. And he hurt his little foot. He didn’t file for disability status until 27
years later.
Amazingly, the U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform said in a staff report
entitled ‘Questionable Acquisitions – Problematic IT Contracting at the IRS’:
“Normally, a cadet is not considered a veteran
until he or she graduates from West Point, enters active duty, and subsequently
leaves active duty. Time spent at USMAPS
and West Point is considered training, not active duty. However, if a person is inured at either
school, he or she becomes a veteran due to the service-connected disability.”
Service connected?
Please. Wow. But wait, there’s more! Mr. Castillo wrote the following staggering
heap of steaming shit in a letter to the Small Business Administration:
“My family and I have made considerable sacrifices
to our country. My service connected
disability status should serve as a testimony to that end. I can’t play with my kids because I can’t
walk without pain. I take twice daily
pain medication so I can work a normal day’s work. These are crosses that I bear due to my
service to our great country, and I would do it again to protect this great
country.”
Holy shit.
Really? Wow. I feel like punching ol’ Mr. Castillo right
in the teeth.
And if that’s not enough - his company web site
says that he was “honorably discharged from the United States Army and received
a service connected disability rating…”
Prick.
