Soldier Loses Claim That Army Tricked Him (with a "try one" year program)

A federal judge ruled yesterday that the military can ship an Arkansas soldier back to the front lines in Iraq this weekend, despite the serviceman's objection that the military forced him to extend his tour after tricking him into believing he was enlisting for just one year.
...
Qualls's attorneys had sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the Army from forcing him to return to Iraq, accusing recruiters of "bait-and-switch" tactics to enlist Qualls and others for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"The whole point is that it was only supposed to be for one year," said Qualls's lawyer, Jules Lobel. "They better tell people this clearly and not put it in the fine print."

Lamberth disagreed. "This wasn't in the fine print," he said. "It's only a two-page contract."

In July 2003, Qualls enlisted in the Army National Guard's "Try One" program, which is designed for veterans who wanted to try another year of service or earn a chance for a promotion. Though his tour of duty was to expire in July 2004, the Army notified him in October 2003 that it would be extended for at least two more years, and he was shipped out with his Guard unit to Taji, Iraq, in March 2004.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49445-2004Dec8.html

This teflon don attitude will backfire. When this admin. sinks, it will go down like the Titanic.

This kind of shit happened during all previous wars. Don't people learn?




http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

There is no one there to tell them the things that happened during the previous wars.

They're supposed to be honest and trustworthy. Everybody tells them "support the troops!"

You knew damn well that it would be longer than that when you saw the ad though.

that might address why so much trust is given to these recruiters.

Recruiting Tactics 101

Year-round Recruiting Effort:

July: Many faculty members are prior service or are current members of the United States Army Reserve. Try to identify these individuals and develop them as COIs . Your goal is to develop as many COIs as possible in the schools... Also, have something to give them (pen, calendar, cup, donuts, etc.) and always remember Secretaries' Week with a card and flowers.

August: The football team usually starts practicing in August. Contact the coach and volunteer to assist in leading calisthenics or calling cadence during team runs.

September: HS registration may be hectic. Go to the HS, offer your assistance in registration and any other administrative help you can give. Remember: You need all the blueprint information on your HS you can get... Deliver donuts and coffee for the faculty once a month. This will help in scheduling classroom presentations and advise teachers of the many Army opportunities... Hispanic Heritage Month. Participate in events as available.

October: Many schools publish the first issue of their newspaper in October. Coordinate with the... staff to place an advertisement... Get involved with local Boy Scout troops. Scoutmasters are typically happy to get any assistance you can offer. Many scouts are HS students and potential enlistees or student influencers... Order personal presentation items (pens, bags, mouse pads, mugs) as needed monthly for special events.

November: Distribute new schedules for the basketball season. Assemble and offer a color guard for the opening home game. Prior to Thanksgiving, many student organizations gather food baskets for needy citizens. Offer your assistance and get involved. Offer your RS as a collection point and volunteer to distribute the food baskets.

December: By December our future soldier population is substantial in several schools. Inform the principal, in writing, about the educational benefits earned by his or her students.

January: Obtain a list of midterm graduates and contact them as soon as possible. Turn up the tempo on contacting your juniors... Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday is in January. Wear your dress blues and participate in school events commemorating this holiday.

February: Contact the HS athletic director and arrange for an exhibition basketball game between the faculty and Army recruiters. This is an excellent way to build rapport in the HS... Black History Month. Participate in events as available.

March: Prepare certificates for those faculty and staff members who have aided you in your HS recruiting efforts... Continue to advertise in school newspapers and conduct class presentations. Award certificates of appreciation to key influencers.

April: Arrange now for next school year's Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery testing dates with the school administrator. Track and field meets begin. Offer to be a timekeeper or a coach's assistant. Baseball season starts. Offer assistance to the coach.

May: Since Memorial Day occurs in May, there are normally many patriotic events in the community and in the schools during this month. Contact the HS to find out what events they are involved with and offer any assistance possible.

June: Coordinate with school officials so you can present certificates to future soldiers who have enlisted during the school year. Assist in arranging a color guard for the graduation ceremony. Coordinate with school officials to determine whether they can use your assistance during summer school. The faculty is normally shorthanded during the summer and they will probably welcome your help.

SOURCE: USAREC PAMPHLET 350-13
http://www.usarec.army.mil/im/formpub/REC_PUBS/p350_13....


POSTSECONDARY SCHOOLS RECRUITING PROGRAM
http://www.usarec.army.mil/im/formpub/REC_PUBS/R601_104...

I've been involved with sales... that is all power-selling technique.

Been going on for decades. Kinda repugnant isnt it?

signed up in 1915 for the guard. Got called up in 1916 to chase Pancho Villa on the border then then got sent over to Europe for WWI. Then the war is over and he thinks finally he will go home they tap him for service in the American Expeditionary Force to Russia. He didn't get discharged till December of 1920.

Sorry to sound elitist here, but a lot of the kids who head down to the recruiters' office have little or no education beyond high school. Many were poor students. Most of them don't have experience with contracts, and they usually sign on the dotted line not knowing what they are getting into. They rarely consult a lawyer or someone from outside of the military with expertise on armed forces recruiting.

We'll pass that right after we pass the Truth in Government law..

Not that I disagree, but c'mon - this is the only way we get cannon fodder without a draft. Ain't no one going to support a bill like this - that would be tantamount to calling the Army Recruiters liars, and that would mean... you hate America and our freedoms and our Army.

Sad, it's the illiterate and the trusting that get screwed.

Just like always.

Everything associated with our government has become so precarious and dishonest and deceptive.

"Elitist leaders" believe the people "CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH"!!!

They are wrong! They are wrong for making that assumption (which is totally ANTI-AMERICAN) and they are treasonous for lying to those whom they are supposed to represent.

I mean he was already in the guard he should have known they could pull that on him.

I'd love to do the following:

Put an ad on major TV networks just telling kids to READ THE DAMN ENLISTMENT CONTRACT--not a pro or con military ad--just an ad saying READ IT, FOOL. Every word. Every line.

Set up a web site that deconstructs the 1066 form and affiliated documents, line by line, word by word. It is a long document, and there is a TON of stuff in there, hidden in the titles, the fine print, the little "side quotes" and whatnot.

I have no problem with people who KNOWINGLY sign up, but it saddens me to see so many who just scrawl their signature on the forms and do not realize what they are getting into.

I came from a military family; I KNEW THE DEAL when I went down and raised the ole right hand and repeated. Still, I painfully read every goddamn word (though I was pretty well aware of what I was getting for my scrawl). I even asked for a ruler, to better define the small lines of print. Spent twenty minutes. Could have done it in ten, or even less, but I have to confess I enjoyed the power of holding the irritation about the angst of "getting the contract" over the heads of the recruiters and classifiers. I knew they were sweating it; I'm ashamed to admit. Power, even petty power, does corrupt. Shame on me.

It was quite a while, and many promotions, before I could make a fellah of that paygrade hyperventilate out of angst, fear or frustration. But it was never so good as the first time...truth to tell, I never got into those bullshit games, unless someone REALLY deserved it. I'd probably be Chairman of the JCS if I just coulda been MEANER!! (Ha!).

It saddens me that in this day and age, kids do not READ. They do not COMPREHEND. They just sign and are not aware of the consequences. Lifestyles have changed, contracts haven't. Would that there only were a class entitled "ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES" to be taught to every eighth grader in America. It might help the situation. Your signature means something...tell those you love that!

That guy is eligible to be called back until he is 60, it's like a 25 year prison sentience. Except you never know when it's going to happen, it would keep me on the edge of my seat for the rest of my life.

This is serious shit, if I knew someone who was signing up I would do everything in my power to convince them not to do it.