5,000+ Ex-GIs Face Call Up

[Questioninggeller]

WASHINGTON — As many as 7,500 retired and discharged soldiers who are not members of the National Guard or Reserve will be involuntarily recalled to active duty for possible service in Iraq or Afghanistan, Army sources told FOX News Tuesday.

In a new sign of the strain the insurgency in Iraq has put on the U.S. military, Army officials said the call-ups will begin in July and run through December.

It will be the first time the Army has relied on the Individual Ready Reserve (search), as this category of reservists is known, in substantial numbers since the 1991 Gulf War.

The Pentagon (search) had hoped to reduce its troop levels in Iraq to about 105,000 this spring, but because of increasingly effective and deadly resistance the level has risen to about 140,000.

Military officials have said they may need to stay at that level for at least another year or two, a commitment of troops that could not be maintained by the active force alone.

The projected number called upon may be whittled down after the physical abilities and other factors and capabilities are considered.

"This was inevitable when it became clear that we would have to maintain significant combat forces in Iraq for a period of years," said Dan Goure, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute (search), a think tank.

From: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,124176,00.html

More: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml

 

[Phrost]

Interesting. I served my full commitment, but if I were single and holding down a so-so job I might join back up.

 

[scribble]

"This was inevitable when it became clear that we would have to maintain significant combat forces in Iraq for a period of years," said Dan Goure, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute (search), a think tank.

ONE MAN made a decision for this country that will affect us for DECADES to come.

This country's way of electing presidents might have worked when presidents actually gave a ◊◊◊◊ about their countries. Now, it's all about how much money and power you can grab personally.

We were supposed to have a set up that protected us against that. Apathy has destroyed everything we ever believed in.

 

[Bjorn]

Interesting. I served my full commitment, but if I were single and holding down a so-so job I might join back up.

I'm not sure if I understad the concept of Individual Ready Reserve, but it looks to me like they have to go even if they don't want to?

Those in the Individual Ready Reserve are former enlisted soldiers and officers who have some nonactive-duty military service obligation remaining

And yet:

will be involuntarily recalled to active duty for possible service in Iraq or Afghanistan

How does this work?

 

[Questioninggeller]

"Karzai: Send NATO troops now"

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called on NATO to rush extra troops to his country as soon as possible to boost security ahead of September elections.

"I welcome very much your decision yesterday to send us security forces to help us with the elections," Karzai told leaders Tuesday at a NATO summit in Istanbul.

"But ... we need security forces today in Afghanistan to provide a secure environment for elections for the Afghan people and beyond.

"Please hurry," Karzai urged NATO.

"Come sooner than September and provide the Afghan men and women with a chance to vote freely without fear, without coercion."

NATO currently has a force of 6,500 troops in Afghanistan.

NATO envoys decided Monday to deploy roughly 1,500 extra military personnel in Kabul and the relatively stable north of the country during the elections, and a further 700 to take command of four "reconstruction teams" in the north.

The Afghan government has pressed the 26-nation NATO alliance to field forces in other, more violence-prone areas during the poll.

NATO agreed last October to expand its force in Afghanistan, but it has been unable to persuade many governments to provided the necessary troops and equipment.

Asked at a news conference in Istanbul Tuesday how disappointed he was with NATO's limited expansion, Karzai said the plan had never been for a countrywide presence and he was "happy" with what had been decided in Istanbul.

But in his speech to leaders of the alliance and 20 partner nations later, he said the Afghan people were looking for more.

"The Afghan people keep coming to me from all parts of the country and are asking for increased participation of the international assistance security forces," he said.

The plan for extra troops was one of three key decisions announced at the NATO summit Monday.

A second was and agreement to transfer NATO's Bosnia peacekeeping mission to the European Union at the end of the year.

The third decision, which dominated proceedings, was to agree that NATO would train security forces in Iraq -- but the details remain unclear after France and Germany objected to their forces being deployed on Iraqi soil. (Full story)

British Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters Monday that the disagreements with France and Germany over whether the war was justified have not disappeared.

"On the other hand, what is important is you've got a United Nations resolution that has blessed the new government in Iraq.

"And you've got a situation in which we have accepted today that there is a good and sound NATO role, which is actually the only role we ever sought for NATO, of training and helping to train the Iraqis so that they can do their own security work, which is the request that they have made to us.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/06/29/turkey.bush/index.html

 

[Troll]

Interesting. I served my full commitment, but if I were single and holding down a so-so job I might join back up.

Same boat. Did my time and then some. But I am unemployed at the moment and am seriously considering security work over there for some of the business men.

What many don't understand is the military contract. You have an obligatory period of 8 years. Seve four and you can still get called back in the next four. Many people are somewhat idiotic to that fact and freak and think the draft is coming or some odd crap when they hear about the military actually being the miltary and using all the cards in their hand. It is rather sad to see them get all riled up about this

 

[Bjorn]

Same boat. Did my time and then some. But I am unemployed at the moment and am seriously considering security work over there for some of the business men.

What many don't understand is the military contract. You have an obligatory period of 8 years. Seve four and you can still get called back in the next four. Many people are somewhat idiotic to that fact and freak and think the draft is coming or some odd crap when they hear about the military actually being the miltary and using all the cards in their hand. It is rather sad to see them get all riled up about this

So is this why some who have nonactive-duty military service obligation remaining can be called to active duty?

 

[Phrost]

Troll is right.

The IRR is something everyone who served less than 8 years is a part of. It basically means you can be called back to service up to 8 years after your first enlistment date, after all the other reservists have been called.

You don't get a choice in the matter, but you did when you signed up (if you read the fine print).

As I did almost 8 years active myself, my time in the IRR was only 6 months or so.

 

[Phrost]

So is this why some who have nonactive-duty military service obligation remaining can be called to active duty?

Yes.

 

[kittynh]

Well, and I think the reserves has to stop (and has pretty much stopped I've heard) pushing the reserves as a "good way to save for college". And the old, "2 weeks a year and one weekend a month!". Too many people joined up with the old assurance, "you'll never serve" I have one friend who was told the most that could happen was that there would be a civil emergency like a flood or something that he would have to help out with. Reading the fine print is very important. Should be noted my husband is in the reserves, yet he can be called up anytime for the rest of his life. No problem with that for us. But I know a lot of reservists that are having a really hard time. The VFW has lots of fundraisers to help out the families here in NH. When your reserve pay isn't equal to your civilian pay, or you own your own business, this serving can be a hardship. The reserve unit closest to us just had their time in Iraq extended. But I think how the people of NH are responding has been wonderful.

 

[Bjorn]

Yes.

Where I come from (Norway) the draft has been on since WWII - if you don't serve 24 (?) months you can be called anytime until you're 43 years old. I served 4 years, and found out I could still be called back if circumstances were bad enough. That however, as I said, was in draft country.

I still don't see how someone with nonactive-duty military service obligation could be called to active duty, but I guess it's in the small print.

 

[a_unique_person]

Well, and I think the reserves has to stop (and has pretty much stopped I've heard) pushing the reserves as a "good way to save for college". And the old, "2 weeks a year and one weekend a month!". Too many people joined up with the old assurance, "you'll never serve" I have one friend who was told the most that could happen was that there would be a civil emergency like a flood or something that he would have to help out with. Reading the fine print is very important. Should be noted my husband is in the reserves, yet he can be called up anytime for the rest of his life. No problem with that for us. But I know a lot of reservists that are having a really hard time. The VFW has lots of fundraisers to help out the families here in NH. When your reserve pay isn't equal to your civilian pay, or you own your own business, this serving can be a hardship. The reserve unit closest to us just had their time in Iraq extended. But I think how the people of NH are responding has been wonderful.

Crikey, Kitty. You can't say that. All us US bashers might find out.

I do get the impression, however, that a lot of people are going to be unhappy with this war at election time.

 

[Troll]

So is this why some who have nonactive-duty military service obligation remaining can be called to active duty?

It is indeed. The Inactive Reserves are compromised of the millions that serve less than eight and get out. Serve four owe four serve six owe two, etc.. We have Active, Active Reserve and Inactive Reserve. Two, the active ones are serving and obligated to train during their contracts. The Inactive Reserves are those that have not fulfilled the obligatory service and need not train but may be called upon to serve more active time until their period of obligation is up. It is, as I've stated, placed into all contracts, it is just those that figurewd they could do four and slide that seem to feign shock. I say feign because what idiot doesn't read a contract before signing, and if they do, screw them and their whining about it when it comes time to fulfill the obligation.

 

[Troll]

Well, and I think the reserves has to stop (and has pretty much stopped I've heard) pushing the reserves as a "good way to save for college". And the old, "2 weeks a year and one weekend a month!". Too many people joined up with the old assurance, "you'll never serve" I have one friend who was told the most that could happen was that there would be a civil emergency like a flood or something that he would have to help out with. Reading the fine print is very important. Should be noted my husband is in the reserves, yet he can be called up anytime for the rest of his life. No problem with that for us. But I know a lot of reservists that are having a really hard time. The VFW has lots of fundraisers to help out the families here in NH. When your reserve pay isn't equal to your civilian pay, or you own your own business, this serving can be a hardship. The reserve unit closest to us just had their time in Iraq extended. But I think how the people of NH are responding has been wonderful.

Not sop much that as idiots thinking "I can wear a uniform and play with military equipment and "never" have to fight. In short, people need to be smarter than the idiot reservists we get in that turn around and do things like, oh, I don't know, mistreat prisoners? Notice the lack of active duty personel facing charges?

 

[Troll]

Crikey, Kitty. You can't say that. All us US bashers might find out.

I do get the impression, however, that a lot of people are going to be unhappy with this war at election time.

Yeah, the stupid ones and your kind. Sorry for the redunancy

 

[Chad Noles]

http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42566

 

[a_unique_person]

It is indeed. The Inactive Reserves are compromised of the millions that serve less than eight and get out. Serve four owe four serve six owe two, etc.. We have Active, Active Reserve and Inactive Reserve. Two, the active ones are serving and obligated to train during their contracts. The Inactive Reserves are those that have not fulfilled the obligatory service and need not train but may be called upon to serve more active time until their period of obligation is up. It is, as I've stated, placed into all contracts, it is just those that figurewd they could do four and slide that seem to feign shock. I say feign because what idiot doesn't read a contract before signing, and if they do, screw them and their whining about it when it comes time to fulfill the obligation.

Except you may be pissed off if the war is a war of aggression or one that was started for fraudulent reasons that you did not want.

You sign up for defense, not offense.

 

[Troll]

Except you may be pissed off if the war is a war of aggression or one that was started for fraudulent reasons that you did not want.

You sign up for defense, not offense.

If you're a total idiot. Otherwise you sign up to "serve" as may be directed by the CIC. Try your propoganda where squishier minds prevail and may actually buy your crap. You join, you fight the wars of the choosing of others, plain and simple.

 

[a_unique_person]

If you're a total idiot. Otherwise you sign up to "serve" as may be directed by the CIC. Try your propoganda where squishier minds prevail and may actually buy your crap. You join, you fight the wars of the choosing of others, plain and simple.

That's a total cop out of your basic moral responsibilities. Fortunately, in Abu Graid, there were some people with a conscience.

 

[Troll]

That's a total cop out of your basic moral responsibilities. Fortunately, in Abu Graid, there were some people with a conscience.

And that is a total cop out about your claims of serving in an "illegal" war. Doesn't matter what the reason for the war is, who sent you or their reasons for it. However, your moral responsibilities do state that you do not mistreat others and if you witness it, rat the bastards out.

Must suck being you, arguing with me, when I agree that we have rules to follow and obey and responsibilities as military personel and human. Again, save your rhetoric for the squishy minded. It doesn't work on me and I will offer logical counters from now until the day of your death. Find someone that freaks and replies with inanane comments if you're looking for some self-justification.