Veterans Being Recalled to Duty

[Trek234]

Army Capt. Richard Hinman says he's a "draftee" serving in a volunteer army.

Think about it, says Hinman. The West Point graduate, who left the military in 1999, didn't want to go to Iraq and Kuwait. But he got his orders on Feb. 8 and was sent overseas in May.

"I wanted to get out of this kicking-in-doors-with-guns kind of thing," said Hinman, who was looking forward to more time with his two children but is now serving at Camp Doha, Kuwait. "It was a real surprise."

More: http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NDEwMDI3

[cherryperry]

1. This is not good, but

thank you for posting it!

[whatelseisnew]

2. How many has this happened to, who is eligible?

?

[skudros]

3. Happened to my cousin in Britain

He joined me in the Gulf in March

[demsrule4life]

4. I'am not sure for officers

For enlisted if you join the military you first signup for a eight year commitment then you sign how many years active. If you join for four active when you are finished you still have four years reserve before you get your discharge. If you retire you can be recalled up to thirty years. So if you do twenty years you are still elgible to be recalled for ten years, though that barley happens or if it does normally replace troops that have been sent overseas.

[demsrule4life]

5. I don't know what the capt is complaining about though

The taxpayers paid $250,000 for his education, and I know he has an obligation for so many years but now sure how many. He does not need to be complaining since he was aware how long his commitment was for his free education.

[nuxvomica]

6. "They lost their wager"

That's what another DUer wrote about National Guardsmen and reservists. They get the extra pay and assume they just need to show up on weekends and two weeks a year, assuming they'll never see combat. It's still a wager and they knew it going into it.
It's like the arguments about things that happen during war: mistakes are made, innocents are killed, etc. It's war and you have to expect these things. But the argument must go back to the fact that this is an unjust war. When people make their "wager" they assume that if they go to war there's a damn good reason for it. So I think they have every right to complain on that principle.

[qb]

9. And they also got screwed

Nobody's getting rich off of military "benefits". Sure you may get some student loans paid off, but you only get 2/3 of what you think you're getting, because they take back 1/3 in taxes. The pay is lousy, too. It's a bad deal even if you don't get activated.

I got out after 8 years in the Army Reserve. I sure as hell hope I'm not eligible for recall.

[Walt Starr]

10. How long has it been since you got out and what was your MOS?

You could be eligible for callup as Reservists and National Guardsmen are still a part of the IRR when they get out, just like the Regular Army.

MOS is also a determining factor. Had GW1 cone badly and they needed additional people, I knew I could have been called up as my IRR stint still had almost a year to go.

[demsrule4life]

11. Hi Walt

I spent four years in the army as 11BH, anti tank infantry, and 16 years in the airforce as a security policeman. I've been retired for six years now, so four more years untill I'am safe.

[Walt Starr]

12. The security policeman specialty could be problematic

They need cops in Iraq more than anything else.

Officers will be the first to be called up, then enlisted.

[Eloriel]

7. OMG

Defnitely needs a

:kick:

Eloriel

[Walt Starr]

8. This is the final sign before the draft is reinstated

Folks, calling up the IRR is scraping the bottom of the barrel before a draft.

Based upon this, I'm not too sure that the draft won't have to be reinstated prior to the '04 election.