Backdoor draft update (my 50 year-old uncle)

[angrycarpenter]

My uncle was called back to active duty as a sergeant after being out for 17 years. I wrote my senator Bill nelson of florida who happens to be on the armed services committee. I get an e-mail back from him telling me that out of senate courtesy he cannot help me. He then wrote that I should contact My uncles senator about this.

His senator is Jeff Sessions(R) of Ala.

My Uncle was suddenly snatched out of his life by a heartless need for more troops. I contact Bill Nelson with this and all I get is "Send your problem to a racist, corrupt, warhawk of a senator". I never even considered writing to an Alabama republican over this, what would be the use.

My uncle will be in Afghanistan in a matter of weeks. Are there any suggestions from anyone on contacting someone who gives a damn about this and could maybe help.

Original thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2973862
My 50 year-old uncle has been backdoor drafted. - Democratic Underground

[DesertFlower]

1. i'm so sorry. nt

[Bobbieo]

2. Re-Instate the Draft!!!!That will really get people's attention -

Maybe even stop this ridiculous war!!!!

[Ioo]

15. Agreed, All these freepers would have to put up or shutup

Would make you wake up and smell the war.

[pnwmom]

25. Democrats have children of draft age, too.

It took years of protests and more than 50,000 deaths before the Vietnam war ended. All a draft does is feed more bodies into the killing machines. That's why many of us worked to end decades ago.

[pnwmom]

24. And start with people like you.

Don't you dare think about using one of MY children to make your point.

[Breeze54]

26. Army Stop-Loss Program FORCES 50,000 into Extended Duty- 2006

There is a DRAFT! -- It's called STOP-LOSS!!! :grr:

Army Stop-Loss Program Forces 50,000 into Extended Duty

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/01/army_stop-loss_program_forces_50000_into_extended_duty_/

James Joyner | Monday, January 30, 2006

The AP has discovered the Army’s Stop-Loss policy, which is hardly news to those who have
been paying attention. The sheer scope of the program might be somewhat surprising, however.

The U.S. Army has forced about 50,000 soldiers to continue serving after their voluntary stints ended under a policy called “stop-loss,” but while some dispute its fairness, court challenges have fallen flat. The policy applies to soldiers in units due to deploy for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The Army said stop-loss is vital to maintain units that are cohesive and ready to fight. But some experts said it shows how badly the Army is stretched and could further complicate efforts to attract new recruits.

“As the war in Iraq drags on, the Army is accumulating a collection of problems that cumulatively could call into question the viability of an all-volunteer force,” said defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute think tank. “When a service has to repeatedly resort to compelling the retention of people who want to leave, you’re edging away from the whole notion of volunteerism.”

When soldiers enlist, they sign a contract to serve for a certain number of years, and know precisely when their service obligation ends so they can return to civilian life. But stop-loss allows the Army, mindful of having fully manned units, to keep soldiers on the verge of leaving the military. Under the policy, soldiers who normally would leave when their commitments expire must remain in the Army, starting 90 days before their unit is scheduled to depart, through the end of their deployment and up to another 90 days after returning to their home base.

snip-->

The Army has, however, tried to stop-loss people in beyond their eight years. That is unconscionable in an all-volunteer force.

... presidential nominee John Kerry called it “a back-door draft.”

Elsewhere: “Backdoor Draft?” TCS, 11 January 2005.

MORE ------>

[Lint Head]

3. He should refuse to go and agree to interviews on the every

national media outlet that exists. He would then be a true hero that would stand against this criminal element that has taken over our precious USA. :dem:

[gratuitous]

18. Yep, non-violent non-cooperation

Refuse to obey an unlawful order. Wars of aggression are never in line with international law, and Iraq was no threat to the United States and hadn't attacked this country.

[Jed Dilligan]

4. I don't know why his age makes this worse

If he's still competent to serve, I don't see his being backdoor-drafted as being worse than if it happened to a 25 year old reservist.

That being said, you can also write his two congressmen, and be sure to mention what you see as special circumstances in his case. From your other OP and this one I don't see it yet. It doesn't make sense to me that he is "ready to retire" yet at the same time "exposed to financial ruin" if he stops working. Maybe you should try to express in more detail why this is an especially unjust application of an unjust policy.

I'm not trying to be harsh, just trying to help you make the case you need to make.

[angrycarpenter]

9. nutshell

He just bought a wooded lot that he was about to build a more modest house for him and his wife to live in. His youngest child has moved out so they no longer need a large house.

He was going to build it himself and pay off the land with the sale of his current home. Catching him in the middle of this process and being stuck with two mortgages on what they pay a sergeant, plus the loss of his small business is like an atom bomb going off in his life.

[MadMaddie]

5. Republican Senators don't care about their constituents

Our military men and women mean nothing to the war mongering bastards.

I say it's time to bring the draft back 50 year old retired men should not be backdoor drafted back into the military after completing their service.

I hope someone can help your uncle.

[tsuki]

7. Bill Nelson is a Democrat...kinda. nt

[MadMaddie]

13. And we need to get rid of the Bill Nelsons in the Democratic

party....they have had a free ride for much too long.

[tsuki]

23. Amen. nt

[tsuki]

6. First mistake, writing Bill Nelson. You would have gotten a better

response from Sessions.

Bill Nelson is too busy counting his "screw Dean" pins.

[sailor65]

8. Is he still taking the money,

or does he no longer take the stipend?

[angrycarpenter]

11. The maddening thing is

That I have no info like that on him. I live 400 miles away and only see him two or three times a year. Plus I get all of my information through my mom over the telephone.

I am walking a fine line here to not give away his identity, there are those who lurk here who would screw with him just for fun.

[Bobbieo]

12. Check out to see where our newest military recruits are coming from! Also check out to see where the

latest batch of new citizens are coming from - There is a correlation
that might surprise you!!!

[Squatch]

10. So, he's still getting a paycheck from the military?

"He has remained in the ready reserve all these years in return for a couple of thousand dollars a year."

Hey, my military pay sucks, too....so I'll be sure to say hi to your uncle when I show up to Afghanistan in 3 months. It's a tough gig, but I'm sure your Ranger uncle can handle it.

[leftyclimber]

14. WTF? Are they only doing this for NCOs?

I have an uncle who is a retired Marine Lt. Col. He got what he describes as "an engraved invitation" to come back to the Corps in order to spend some vacation time in Iraq. He RSVP'd his regrets and hasn't heard word boo since.

Does your uncle have some desirable MOS, is he in a different branch of the service, or are they going after the noncoms because they need something in particular from them?

This is so wrong. I'm so sorry.

[angrycarpenter]

17. Thank-you

They told him when and where to report and if he didn't show up they would send some MPs around to collect him.

They told him in no uncertain terms that he is coming back.

[Breeze54]

28. Stop-Loss has been going on since Jan. '04. NCO's are not alone in this at all.

:grr:

Army Stop-Loss Program Forces 50,000 into Extended Duty

Monday, January 30, 2006

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/01/army_stop-loss_program_forces_50000_into_extended_duty_/

The AP has discovered the http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060129/pl_nm/iraq_usa_stoploss_dc">Army’s Stop-Loss policy, which is hardly news to those who have been paying attention.

The sheer scope of the program might be somewhat surprising, however.

The U.S. Army has forced about 50,000 soldiers to continue serving after their voluntary stints ended

under a policy called “stop-loss,” ...

More....

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

29. Yes he has a special MOS.

They just don't ask people to stay IRR for 17 years if they aren't quite valuable. Based on his reluctance to discuss any specifics of his military service, I would guess he is in a extremely specialized MOS. There are quite a few of them I'll leave other people to guess which one.

David

[cynatnite]

16. What about his representative?

You could also find a lawyer, too.

A lot of these have gone to court.

They were trying to stop-loss my uncle and he got a lawyer. Was able to get out and still got his full benefits.

[angrycarpenter]

19. My family has already sent letters.

I was just trying to do what I could here in Florida. It seemed like a good idea to write to Nelson since he sits on the armed services committee.

[cynatnite]

20. Maybe letters to everyone who sits on the armed forces committee...

I would write letters to everyone on that committee, the VA and anyone else I could think of.

Also, what about getting some publicity, too. That might help get some attention and rally more folks around him. Seventeen years...that's a long time and very unreasonable to expect him to be fit for active duty, IMO. Surely, someone in the media might be willing to do a story and to get something done to keep him home. It might also help get a lawyer willing to take the case for free.

[angrycarpenter]

21. He is not the only one I wrote to

But he is the only one I heard back from. The one I sent to Corrine Brown Fl 3rd got bounced back because I did not live in her district.

[kevinbgoode]

22. I would suggest that he meet me in Massachusetts and we get married. . .

but lately they've been keeping a lot of the "open" gays until their overseas tour of duty is finished. Sorry...:-(

This is the kind of story which, in my opinion, warrants media attention. Now your uncle might be shy of doing something like that, but you certainly could drop enough of a tip to some other media outlets to ask them why you haven't seen many stories of people who have been on reserve so many years being called back into service?

At the same time, maybe you could create a web site for him - and talk to him about making one for himself. I think it would be a great idea to look around and find people who are experiencing the same disruption and get a network going - with a group, you have more influence over politicians and can get more attention to this appalling situation.

Your uncle has served this nation - I highly doubt that any American expects him to sacrifice again, especially for these wars. Is he a Democrat?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

27. What about the help that people on the board offered?

At least one lawyer offered assistance.

David