INACTIVE READY RESERVE (IRR) IS PART OF THEIR MILITARY CONTRACT

I am truely surprised no one has commented on this article.

It is disturbing.

"INACTIVE READY RESERVE (IRR) IS PART OF THEIR MILITARY CONTRACT"

That contract can, and ought to be, challenged in court on the basis of no war existing. I mean, Judas Priest, let's get back to constitutional principles. Congress declared no war. Bush decided he'd like one ...

"I am truely surprised no one has commented on this article. It is disturbing."

The mainstream press surely is letting us down on covering the winter soldier hearings. Pacifica and Democracy Now mention them, Money, but they put too human a face on Bush's war. Even one kid attempting suicide over having to kill Iraqi children or torture prisoners makes for a more vivid image than all the flag-covered caskets that the Pentagon won't let you see. herm

"INACTIVE READY RESERVE (IRR) IS PART OF THEIR MILITARY CONTRACT"

That contract can, and ought to be, challenged in court on the basis of no war existing. I mean, Judas Priest, let's get back to constitutional principles. Congress declared no war. Bush decided he'd like one ...

"I am truely surprised no one has commented on this article. It is disturbing."

The mainstream press surely is letting us down on covering the winter soldier hearings. Pacifica and Democracy Now mention them, Money, but they put too human a face on Bush's war. Even one kid attempting suicide over having to kill Iraqi children or torture prisoners makes for a more vivid image than all the flag-covered caskets that the Pentagon won't let you see. herm

HERM...this has nothing to do with your political stance or feelings on the war

U
Signed
Motherfucking
Contract

HEY...DO NOT JOIN THE MILITARY IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KILL....SEE YOUR FRIENDS DIE....OR BE DEPLOYED UNTIL THE MILITARY SAYS ITS OK FOR YOU TO GO HOME

these guys are lucky that they even get a break from fighting on the front...to go home and be with their families for a short time

Judas, you need to spend the rest of your days telling uniform-loving, gun-loving, battle-loving 17-year-olds inside recruiting centers exactly that. At least SOMEbody ought to ... herm

Congress declared no war?

Did it and the press forgot to tell us? (It did pass some mealymouthed resolution letting Bush Do Stuff, but we're NOT at war.) herm

HERM.... IM SURE THEY ALREADY KNOW....THEY ARE NOT STUPID

Hey moron Judas, stop shouting.

As usual, judas show the ass that he is.

The contract that was signed by all these soldiers is being slanted by far in the most disengenuous way and it is shocking that you trudge on such lying with suggestions of valid contract.

You are truely a sad man.

The contract that was signed by all these soldiers is being slanted by far in the most disengenuous way and it is shocking that you trudge on such lying with suggestions of valid contract.


MONEY...NO its not... the reason of IRR is because we no longer have the draft....IRR gives our military the opprotunity of time to replace the man power lost during discharge

IRR is explained to you when you are signing the contract...ITS NOT HIDDEN

for example my brother contract said he had to complete 4 years active reserve and 6 years IRR

my first contract had 4 years active and 4 years IRR ....my second contract had 4 years active and 0 years IRR


call me all the names you want....that what i kind of expect from people like you

but it does not change the fact that its in a legal contract

I KNOW THE ONLY YOU ANTIWAR CROWD WANT TO DO... is tie our militarys arms behind its back while fighting....its a classic anti-military thing to do... you only hurt our military by doing this...because the job will still remain the same...even if you take away the man power or increase the work load

the ANTI-WAR CROWD MISSION IS TO BREAK OUR MILITARY BACK....no matter what the cost

Anti-war crowd?

One can only come to a conclusion about you Judas, only a sick son of a B would be Pro-war and you clearly have shown this.

I wonder what it takes to convolute a mind so bad to be PRO-WAR. There is goin to be killin, and you like that.

"the ANTI-WAR CROWD MISSION IS TO BREAK OUR MILITARY BACK....no matter what the cost"

Bush is "antiwar"?

MONEY...deflect...accuse....bu
t the fact remains...IRR is in the contract ....no matter how you feel about the war

INACTIVE READY RESERVE (IRR) IS PART OF THEIR MILITARY CONTRACT

A part that military recruiters either downplayed or avoided entirely when many of these soldiers signed up. We're fighting a war with teen-agers tricked into thinking they were making a finite, short-term commitment to military service, when in reality they can be kept in combat indefinitely fighting an undeclared war.

Do you think that's just or wise? How many of those soldiers who come back home -- assuming the war ever ends -- will teach their kids to serve in the military? Bush is condemning the military to low recruitment rates and insufficient force levels for decades. Parents would have to be crazy to encourage their kids to sign up.

I worked in a recruiting office for several years. I can attest that IRR is a standard part of every (non-prior service) contract. It's not a secret and it's gone over with the recruit multiple times by his recruiter, at MEPS, and during in-processing at reception for basic.

I have no doubts that there are unscrupulous recruiters out there but the length of an enlistment isn't something that's hidden in the contract.

Stop-Loss is a different story and something that I had to deal with. As much as I personally disliked getting stop lossed the last month of my contract, the military can not function without it. If a typical deployment is 15 mos and a typical enlistment is 3 years, that means potentially more than half a unit may ETS either before or during a deployment. If ten or twenty percent of any given unit are un-deployable anyways (this has been my experience), this would leave a typical company at less than 40% strength w/out Stop Loss.

The military would be stuck either fielding grossly understrength units or consolidating units and breaking up any sense of cohesion.

Because the war in Iraq could not have been sold to the American people with the necessary draft to supply the troops the administration uses these other unfair methods to force unwilling troops to go back to Iraq over and over. The folks out there who still support this war or who used to support this war should be ashamed that you would participate in such an unfair and destructive practice by reelecting Bush and his crony administration. No war should ever be fought without a universal draft with zero deferments such as the ones Cheney enjoyed. To pretend that America supports the troops is laughable, we don't support them we turn them into virtual slave labor.

"the ANTI-WAR CROWD MISSION IS TO BREAK OUR MILITARY BACK....no matter what the cost"

You can make up lies all you want but in reality it is the pro-Iraq War folks who are helping to destroy the American military.

we wouldn't have to field grossly understrength units if we weren't involved in an illegal and unconstitutional war.

we are agruing about which knife is best for killing grandma without considering that maybe we shouldn't be killing grandma in the first place.

As if we have a god-given right to invade whoever we want. This is the kind of stupid American thinking that is making us the most hated country in the world as well as wrecking our own economy. But hey, maybe grandma enjoys being killed.

Katie, Judas,
You're both barely skirting the truth. IRR has NEVER BEEN something recruiters disclose voluntarily. Oh sure, if you ask, they will tell you. Now, people are learning, in some cases the hard way.
But let's not forget, they are signing up 17 and 18 year old kids. Did you thoroughly read everything you signed at that age? Most kids didn't and don't. I was in from 76-80, one of the first post draft recruitments, and I can guarantee you it was never disclosed to me. From what I learned while I was in, most others didn't know about it either.

BTW, in case you didn't figure it out, I am one of the anti-war crowd and I have voted republican or liberatarian in every election since i was 18 and my son is an MP in Iraq, so please spare me the politics.

Hundreds of thousands of American tragedies. Millions of Iraqi tragedies (but Arabs don't count).

All in service to BIG OIL PROFITS and SHRUB'S EGO.

Ask yourself, where has it gotten us? Have terror threats subsided? Are you more prosperous?

"these guys are lucky that they even get a break from fighting on the front...to go home and be with their families for a short time"

support our troops!

wait they signed a contract, fuck them!

"the ANTI-WAR CROWD MISSION IS TO BREAK OUR MILITARY BACK....no matter what the cost"


sounds to me like the anti-war crowd is the only ones really supporting the troops

the pro war crowd isn't supporting the troops, just supporting the establishment that pays the troops (when they feel they need to)

At least America is realizing the wonderful benefits of our soldiers' sacrifices.

Deaths
Dismemberments
Brain Injuries
Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
Deficits
Division
Bankruptcies
Loss of allies
Loss of respect around the world
Etc.

How the memebers of the Bush administration live with themselves is beyond me. If they actually did love America they would resign from office immediately.

Meanwhile the "other" Drudge page trumpets (I lacked the stomach to click on it) that the army is warning Your Prez that it is being stretched too thin.

I've posted before that the most ignored cost of Bush's pointless five-year ego war is that if we're ever REALLY attacked (who'd attack us and why?) we no longer have any will to fight. herm

Herm,

That is exactly what the Islamic extremeists said we would do (lose the will to fight). I suppose they know a thing or two about rogue governments and policies not to mention killing to support illegal and unethical business and religious policies.

I am wondering how this administration can not be classified as terrorists.

INACTIVE READY RESERVE (IRR) IS PART OF THEIR MILITARY CONTRACT

Actually it's called the individual ready reserve, and the IRR has nothing to do with stop loss programs. How about knowing what you're talking about before you open your mouth.

Actually it's called the individual ready reserve

QCP...THATS WHAT THE ARMY CALLS IT....but by your retort....you seem to know every little about the military these days

All in service to BIG OIL PROFITS and SHRUB'S EGO.

Posted by nutcase at 2008-03-27 11:09 AM | Reply

Nut:

When you stop using energy, plastic and pharmaceuticals, then you can bitch. Until then, any war for oil is waged to support your lifestyle.

This is your war. Enjoy that when you next drive to Wal-Mart

I just love how those Bushites love to shift the blame for this war for Oil. There are other ways to get Oil besides warring for it. You know like BUYING It instead of stealing it.

Larry Mohr

In a videoconference, Bush heard from U.S. military and civilian personnel about the challenges ranging from fighting local government and police corruption to persuading farmers to abandon a lucrative poppy drug trade for other crops.
Bush heard tales of all-night tea drinking sessions to coax local residents into cooperating, and of tribesmen crossing mountains to attend government meetings seen as building blocks for the country's democracy-in-the-making.
"I must say, I'm a little envious," Bush said. "If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed."
"It must be exciting for you ... in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks," Bush said.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS STOP LOSS?????

IRR has NEVER BEEN something recruiters disclose voluntarily.

Posted by evilpolock at 2008-03-27 11:03 AM | Reply

When I enlisted in the Air Force my recruiter went over every aspect of the contract, including the details of IRR. He answered every question.

When I was in basic training we talked about it with our drill sergeant and among each other.

I attended advanced training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, with people from all five military branches. EVERYONE was fully aware and fully infrmed about IRR.

So, Polock, you are full of shit.

But that does not keep you from ranting on and on.

Carry on, fool.

I just love how those Bushites love to shift the blame for this war for Oil.

Posted by LarryMohr at 2008-03-27 02:19 PM | Reply

Larry,

It was your buddy Nutcase who said it was about oil. Are you calling Nutcase a Bushite?

Seems that you are just uncomfortable when the facts of your own oil consumption are brought up. I acknowledge and understand my consumption. But for you it's an Inconvenient Truth.

ME thinks Vermin is nothing but lies!!! When where you in the airforce, between getting your 3 PHD's to teach???

SIDEBAR .............

1. I have lived on my own since I was 14

3. I am married

4. I have 2 businesses, plus 2 part-time jobs

4a. I have a business that recruits and places Filipina nurses in high-demand places.

4b. I foster small business development (and job creation) in several countries in Southeast Asia.

4c. I am a university-level teacher in history, political science and health care administration

Posted by vernon at 2008-03-25 11:06 PM | Reply


EU Considers Olympic Boycott

FUCKING LIAR!!!!!

Now Vernon deflects. It was YOU who stated that it was Nutcases war NOT Nutcase.

Larry Mohr

Now Vernon deflects. It was YOU who stated that it was Nutcases war NOT Nutcase.

Larry Mohr

Posted by LarryMohr at 2008-03-27 02:32 PM | Reply


Read it and weep retard .....



All in service to BIG OIL PROFITS and SHRUB'S EGO.

Posted by nutcase at 2008-03-27 11:09 AM | Rep

FUCKING LIAR!!!!!

Posted by Silence at 2008-03-27 02:30 PM | Reply

While I'm flattered that you spend so much time thinking about me, and archiving some of my comments, I'm also amazed at the time that must involve. But, when you are 43 and still living with your mom, I guess you have plenty of free time.

Will she make meatloaf tonight? Does she bring it down to the basement for you?

Does mom put ketchup on top, or do you demand it on the side but not touching your instant mashed potatoes?

EP,
I've gotta say that everyone I served with knew about the stop loss and IRR. I know I was aware of both before basic.
Now whether the guys I hung out with learned of it before basic or after getting in, I wouldn't know. I do know that nobody bitched as if they were swindled, just avergae "Joe" griping.

We had guys that got the short end of the stick due to a Peace Keeping mission in the Sinai Penninsula.

Bush is condemning the military to low recruitment rates and insufficient force levels for decades. Parents would have to be crazy to encourage their kids to sign up.

Posted by rcade at 2008-03-27 09:18 AM

I am a former US Marine.

My children will enter the Military under current conditions over my dead body and I have made that clear to them.(I have three sons one is months away from "cannon fodder" age)

BTW- this is NOT new News... everyone in the Military is aware of this (loophole) as some are now on their third and even fourth tour. There was a sad story on NPR today about a teenage girl who was wondering if her Dad might actually make it to her graduation this year after being gone for 3 tours in Iraq.

You figger the odds.

Just another wonderful side effect of the Forever War on Terror.

the next president, whoever it is, should do the right thing. If, as John McCain say, we are to stay in Iraq then bring back the draft and get enough troops to be able to allow those who have already served in Iraq repeatedly to come home. If the political will is not there for a draft then really we have no business in any war. In peace time we don't need a draft but when we have a war we should always institute one because, as Iraq has proven, we have no way of knowing how long we will be fighting, how many casualties will be taken, whether other crises may develope which require American troops. But this won't happen even if McCain is elected because those who support the wars (except for a few) only support them for other people's kids to fight.

WELL THE CHOICE IS SIMPLE REALLY

IRR or DRAFT

i choose DRAFT for the simple fact... most anti-war will run off to canada

which will make america a nice place to live again

The Greatest Generation in WWII was drafted or enlisted for the duration of the war plus 6 months. In Korea and afterwards for the draft to include the Vietnam era, there was no draft for the duration - only that fixed 2 year period plus any inactive reserve committment (sp).

The IRR was there in 1971, when I enlisted during Vietnam. I knew that if I got out, I could be recalled under circumstances. When I retired in 92, I could be recalled until 2001, when the 30 year point of my original enlistment was met. All this was explained to me at each step and fully when I retired. If I had been an Arabic linguist instead of a Russian one, I might have been recalled as several were that I served with.

We as a nation decided we didn't want a large standing military. This is the price that we pay for this. But there are still enough people who want to join for reasons of their own to keep this country free. Some may say altruistic, some may say foolish or call them uneducated or have no other opportunities, but nonetheless, if we don't support our country, it won't make a difference because there may not be one to support. That is just my opinion.

You can give enough away and it won't be here anymore. I am not saying that it will happen, but it really could if you keep telling people that they are stupid for being in the military.

This is nothing. Once McCain is elected, he'll ensure that the war continues to be fought for another 100 years. That means Sgt. Goldsmith's great-great-great-great-
grandchild will still be fighting this war, unless somewhere along the way his family tree is broken.

"After all, this is the guy who tried to kill my dad."

George W. Bush
September 26, 2002

i choose DRAFT for the simple fact... most of the war supporters will change their tune when it is themselves or their kids who have to go.
Bush/Cheney knew that when the sent the troops to Iraq. If there had been a draft the opposition would have been too great. The draft would insure that we don't fight any more unnecessary wars. If there was a draft, we would not be in Iraq now and George Bush would not be president.

"The IRR was there in 1971"

I don't think most vets would object to that IRR if it were only used in a true national emergency. However, to use if for an occupation of a country that never posed a threat to the United States is not keeping good faith with the troops. They have a right to believe that the CinC is not out fighting unnecessary wars and that is probably why many of the troops now think it is unfair. This is not what that was intended for and both Bush and the troops know it.

You're both barely skirting the truth. IRR has NEVER BEEN something recruiters disclose voluntarily. Oh sure, if you ask, they will tell you. Now, people are learning, in some cases the hard way.

I call your BS!

Have you ever seen a military contract? The IRR end date is the primary date on it. For example, in the Guard a typical enlistment is 8 years and typically referred to 8x0, 6x2, 4x4 (depending on the contract and MOS). The length of IRR service isn't a secret. It's not buried anywhere in it. It's mentioned at several points and is the primary end date of the contract. A potential recruit will hear this date numerous times by his recruiter, MEPS, basic training reception, etc...

By the way, recruiters may fill out paperwork but the actual enlistment happens at MEPS.

I will admit, when I joined I never discussed Stop-Loss with my recruiter (please note that Stop-Loss is different than IRR). Just like today, everyone (civilian and military) back then knew what Stop-Loss was because it was major news during the Gulf War.

Personally, I thought the Iraq war was a mistake from the get-go. I'm just not going to make up stuff to further an argument. The military is stuck with the task of dealing with this war. Blame the civilian leadership. Trust me, no battalion commander wants to enact Stop Loss or pull anyone out of IRR. There really is no other option. Sending understrength units would only increase our own casualties.

The only way to stop Stop Loss or IRR deployments is to pull out of Iraq. Again, blame the civilian leadership for not doing this...

Also-with a Draft-the Military's OWN logistics systems could come in to play.
No more no-bids for helliburton.......say good-bye to a LOT of outside contracting.
THAT'S why the war is run the way it is-on the backs of our Reserves-so they can hand out pallets of cash to their butt-buddies.

Stop-loss is just a way for this administration to say that they fought a war with an all-volunteer force and didn't need to resort to the draft. It's indentured servitude. These troops are slave labor for Bush and his cronies. Get rid of stop loss and re-institute the draft so EVERYONE in this country will see what it's like. No fucking deferments either.

...do what I suggest above, and we'll be out of Iraq within ONE year.

DRAFT = Vietnam, ONE mandatory ONE year tour of duty.

STOP-LOSS = Iraq, MULTIPLE 15 month tours with NO END IN SIGHT.

Re-institute the draft, make every able bodied citizen (of age) eligible...and you'll see the same kinds of protests you saw in 1970 - 1972!! The citizenry will demand withdrawal and crawl out of their apathetic holes!!

Without Stop Loss the shiatheads at BushCo woulda never been able to mount their so-called "Surge" which, in reality, is merely a series of overlapping, over-extended tours of duty w/o sufficient down time back stateside to ensure a reasonable chance of not aquiring PTSD.

Coleman is essentially correct in his assertions here.

One of the essential ironies of this War is the fact that Dumbya used his mosly AWOL service in the ANG in order to avoid going to 'Nam and now NG weekend warriors who thought they were just doing their patriotic duty stateside are locked into this uneneding and unwinnable conflict in the middle of a Middle Eastern shithole.

Fuck this War and fuck Cheney and his pet Chimp.

Fuck both them bitches with pungi stickZ.

Bring the troops home.

Throw BushCo in jail, freeze their assets and transfer them all back into the US Treasury as a goodwill gesture towards paying back fer some of their War Crimes and War Profiteering and other Traitorous actions.

Be Well.

Fuck this War and fuck Cheney and his pet Chimp.

with pungi stick(Z)? OUCH tatorman! Bet most of this crowd don't even know what dat is! They are not too useful in the desert. Too hard to dig a pit. Though I saw they used some in the movie Hidalgo...The IED is the trap du jour.


Also, as our Governator Ahhhnold has so rightly pointed out Bush has put a stop-loss on all our National Guard Equipment, too, and so any National Guard at we managed to keep at home is left with no equipment to train on. God forbid we have a State emergency where we might need it.

So Bush is a Thief as well as a Liar.

Just more wonderful side-effects of the Forever War on Terror.

No more no-bids for helliburton.......say good-bye to a LOT of outside contracting.

Ya know I never have understood why we are paying someone to do the cooking and cleaning for the Military...Who's fucking brilliant idea was that? A republican I suppose.

When I was in the Marines we did it all ourselves. Umm it was called KP.

It was part of the deal. Everyone got a turn doing KP duty or some other kind of duty (if you were lucky). We relied on no one.

Ahh yes the memories of many steamy days in the Pot Shack.

No Spud, not THAT kind of Pot.

AGAIN, YOU ARE A FUCKING WHORE!!!!!!

Posted by Silence at 2008-03-27 02:49 PM | Reply

Nurses from the Philippines must pass the same state boards as you. Plus language tests.

For you to lump all of them together makes you a 'fucking racist'

But wait. Let me guess. You are in the nurses union? bringing in foreign nurses (because there is a serious shortage, especially in rural areas) means you have to compete.

You went to nursing school because it was supposed to be an easy way to a fat paycheck. And when patients die, you get to blame it on the nurse shortage. It is never your fault.

I place foreign nurses where they are needed. My clients are very grateful. My nurses are very grateful. The fact that I make your life slightly harder is now a bonus.

Thank you.

I'm looking for a visiting nurse Vern. Hands on kinda gal. You know, just to make sure I'm not dead.

"most anti-war will run off to canada - which will make america a nice place to live again."

If so, it will make Canada a paradise. I can see why they call you Judas. herm

Start drafting college Young Republicans. See how long it takes the war to end.

Tout suite.

If so, it will make Canada a paradise.

If you like a liberal, socialist shithole, then yea, it would be a paradise.

BTW,

Every person who enlists KNOWS about stop loss, what it is and they also know about the IRR. It is briefed several times. As a company commander, I personally briefed my company at least twice a year on it. Everytime I re-enlisted a troop, I briefed it, as well as my 1SG. You think you liberal idiots dont know what ACTIVE and INACTIVE reserve means? When you are ACTIVE duty, you are on duty ALL the time. Everyone who signs the contract knows you are enlisting for a total of 8 years. You will serve out that time. In the liberal world of "I wanted to do this, but I changed my mind", that doesnt cut it. You cant be wishy washy with the military or national service. Why do you think the military is so well respected? We do jobs most americans DONT WANT TO DO.

"If you like a liberal, socialist shithole, then yea, it would be a paradise."


What a moron. Canada has one of the highest living standards in the world.

My son was a jovial 18 year old when he left for the military just three days after graduation. Now he locks himself away from the world and all it represents. I am lost because I don't know how to help him. He has been home for three years from Iraq. He doesn't seem to be able to readjust. He is completely isolated. These young men and women need mental health care at least 90 days prior to their release date. I have not been able to convince him that he needs to seek professional help. I am not alone in this scenario and neither is he. Let's reach out to each other for support. Please feel free to reply if your son or daughter is struggling to adjust.

"Please feel free to reply if your son or daughter is struggling to adjust."

Posted by feegurl

Actually it was my father.
He was a gunnery instructor at Ft Bliss in the 30's.

I have his field glasses from Kasserine II and the Punch Bowl; He was very cynical after Korea.

He woke up handcuffed to a gurney and spent a week in a mental ward. His commanding officer tried to rip off his stripes and threatened to prosecute him for malingering, a court martial offense: He had tried to kill a U.S. Army soldier.



Well, you ARE govt property when you serve. They don't really push that angle in the recruiting office, but you soon find out.

A guy on my ship got a bad sunburn, couldn't work due to all the pain and they wrote his ass up for 'Damaging govt Property'.

When Gunnery Sgt Hartman (Full Metal Jacket) says "You can give your heart to Jesus, but you're ASS belongs to the Corps"....he ain't kiddin'.

Sgt.Goldsmith by deflection you're saying that you and your military supporters know who the real enemy is? So put that into the context of your vocation!

So what you're saying is that there are no "liberal" bogeymen in the Military, Boazo?

The Military is nothing but "conservative Kick Ass" Bush, Hannity, O'Reilly types?

What a tool you are.

This is nothing but a BACK DOOR DRAFT. The Military with the backing of the fucking BUSH Administration is abusing the enlisted men an women all the while using them for there political gain.

This hiding behind the Flag if a fucking joke, is there anywhere in this Country that either Bush or Cheney can give a speech, where the crowd is not Military or Conservatives on the FAR RIGHT???

God can January 20, 2009 get here soon enough, what a fucking disgrace!!!! Our Military leadership for the most part are Right Wing Assholes themselves. They are using the inlisted
men an women as pawns is a fucking deadly gave....

Hundreds of thousands of American tragedies. Millions of Iraqi tragedies (but Arabs don't count).

All in service to BIG OIL PROFITS and SHRUB'S EGO.

Ask yourself, where has it gotten us? Have terror threats subsided? Are you more prosperous?

Posted by nutcase at 2008-03



and here we go again......I still dont know why we dont have military personnel all over the oil fields and take all the oil we need to sell and use in this war on terror with the front line in iraq. to the victor belongs the spoils. and the FIRST thing done with that woulld be the rebuilding of iraq so it would go directly back to them...isnt this what we say about our taxes?
and I have some news for you, nutcase....arabs certianly dont count when measured side by side with american lives. I know that is the liberal way but its the way I see it. sorry if thats too american for any of you.

and we all know why this thread is here. its here in advance of yet another hollywood attempt at seeing that the dems bring about the defeat of the american military. but just like all of the others, they will be lucky to make the price of the movie back in the us and they hope to make a profit overseas where europeans just love to see things that make us look bad.

There certainly are those in the officer corps that favor war because the can get their ticket punched and some extra ribbons. Promotions come slower in a Peacetime Army. Guys get restless for some action. Same with the enlisted. We always wanted to go sink something.

I once thought that we could rope off a section of Antarctica and have real war games. At least if a guy got shot he wouldn't draw flies. In fact the cold might slow down the bleeding. They could build forts and everything. Make it annual event. Grudge match.

I mean is that any dumber than what we're doing?

I left for military training 3 months after High School. I have been in the national guard for 4 years, done 9 months of active duty and will be going to an undisclosed location in 2 months. I can easily say, without a doubt, that the military has been the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I was a lazy selfish teenager before I learned hard work. I have technical experience with my job (ground radio) and with GI BILL, tuition, drill pay, TSP, free KLEP and DANTES tests, and the greatest job reference ever (as opposed to friends who still can simply site Wendy's for work experience).

You will notice I have not mentioned the Iraq war at all in this post, the military does not chose what wars to fight. I joined after the Iraq war started, which I am sure makes me idiot to some of the more liberal readers here, but without the military I couldn't picture where I would be at this point in my life. In fact, this miserable housing market will enable me to purchase a home (using a FIXED VA Loan) for a hell of a deal!

This is a long winded post but the point is, the military is not right for some people, but I look forward to putting in 20 years in the guard and collecting the benefits in my 60's from it. And, by the way, I was made well aware of IRR and stop loss. Personally, I find claims of massive recruiter fraud spurious at best and insulting at worst. I know what contract I'm signing and I don't need someone to sweep in and save me from the commitments I have made with the evil, evil government.

Also "Murdering" innocent men,women and children is not right for most people but its A-OK for brainless US Military "Robots"!!!

& with lots of bad karma, too, taking lifetimes to work sometimes...

Also "Murdering" innocent men,women and children is not right for most people but its A-OK for brainless US Military "Robots"!!!

Fuck you newbie...

Let's see...Out of all of the vets that have posted here, I believe only one claims the stop-loss/IRR issue is or was an unknown.
The rest of us were aware of both, and knew those were the rules going in.

The rest of the chatter is from retards that have no idea what they are talking about, and don't hve to worry about it anyway because they never did, or never will serve.

What kept him going was the end that was in sight. He just had to hang on till his contract was up, and then he could go home, go back to school, and finally be a 20-year-old kid. Then days before he was scheduled to get out, his unit was locked down, stop-lossed as part of the surge. He was looking at another 18-month deployment.

This discrepancy may have been mentioned up thread, but if not: Unless the guy enlisted when he was 12, his contract is not up. Every enlistee obligates himself for 8 years. It's in their contract.

Out of all of the vets that have posted here, I believe only one claims the stop-loss/IRR issue is or was an unknown. The rest of us were aware of both, and knew those were the rules going in.

Be honest, Chair. You served. You know that the military attracts all kinds of people, many of whom are completely wet behind the ears in their life experience.

Given that, how many of these soldiers would have signed up knowing they could be stop-lossed for two, three or even four extra tours of duty in war? The U.S. has never used stop-loss as much as it's being used today. The way we're doing this and keeping reservists in active duty for so long is a back-door draft. If the Republicans want the country in a state of permanent war they should reinstate the draft. They won't do that, though, because like everything else we've done under Bush, they push the real costs into the future to minimize political risk to themselves.

Stop Loss is bullshit. If we need people that badly, implement the draft.

Cheers,
Walt

these guys are lucky that they even get a break from fighting on the front...to go home and be with their families for a short time


Posted by judas


Gov Richardson, please stop posting on this site!!

Be honest, Chair. You served. You know that the military attracts all kinds of people, many of whom are completely wet behind the ears in their life experience.

Given that, how many of these soldiers would have signed up knowing they could be stop-lossed for two, three or even four extra tours of duty in war? The U.S. has never used stop-loss as much as it's being used today. The way we're doing this and keeping reservists in active duty for so long is a back-door draft. If the Republicans want the country in a state of permanent war they should reinstate the draft. They won't do that, though, because like everything else we've done under Bush, they push the real costs into the future to minimize political risk to themselves.

Posted by rcade at 2008-03-28 09:19 AM | Reply


Sure there are a ton of wet behind the ears people that sign up. Some people didn't even know who the VP was (hell, they may not have known the President, but I don't recall that question being asked of them).
That has nothing to do with the contract though. As somebody above mentioned, you may sign up for 2, 3, or 4 years, but your contract states in MULTIPLE places (and you have to sign or intial in those places) an "end" date of 8 years from the time you sign up.
Say for example you were a wet behind the ears kid. If you signed up for 2 years, and the contracted date is 8 years away, wouldn't you still ask about it? Of course you would, and so do the naive kids.

Stop-loss was seldomly used prior to 2003, but it doesn't change the fact it is in the contract and that people are aware of it.

Hell, the vast majority of stop losses are for people that aren't on their first hitch. That means they were well aware of "Stop=Loss" yet still chose to sign up for another 2, 3, or 4 year hitch (if not more).

It's a fallacy that enlistees KNOW about stop-loss when they enlist. Recruiters, especially those in the Army and Marines, will tell these young troops anything to get them to enlist. Sure, it might be mentioned on the REAMS of paperwork that an enlistee must go through and sign...but (as others have mentioned) these young people are very naive and actually TRUST their recruiters to steer them in the right direction.

I was in the AF for 22 years and never heard of stop-loss until they started hitting people with it. It may be more widely known now, but I assure you recruiters are not always upfront with the enlistees. As if this comes as any surprise.

It's a fallacy that enlistees KNOW about stop-loss when they enlist. Recruiters, especially those in the Army and Marines

There you go, leave it to some fly boy to think it is a bunch of dumb ass Soldiers and Marines who do not know how to read a contract. Thanks for your stunning insight.

Cheers,
Walt

There you go, leave it to some fly boy to think it is a bunch of dumb ass Soldiers and Marines who do not know how to read a contract. Thanks for your stunning insight.

Cheers,
Walt

//////////

I said especially Army and Marines...AF recruiters pull the same shit and a YOUNG person is a YOUNG person regardless of what service they go into. They don't all read their contracts front to back. I know I didn't read every word of mine. However, I did know about IRR.

...and nowhere did I call anyone of these enlistees dumb, just naive.