Military to probe reversal on leaves (Soldiers bought nonrefundable ticket

By Michael S. Rosenwald, Globe Staff, 10/3/2003

Military officials said yesterday they will launch an investigation into why an officer canceled vacation for hundreds of New England soldiers stationed in Kuwait after many of them had spent thousands of dollars buying nonrefundable tickets to come home.

Major Pete Mitchell, a spokesman for US Central Command in Tampa, Fla., said an officer may have erred when he apparently informed the 600 members of the Army's 368th Engineer Combat Battalian that they could pay for commercial flights home because there weren't seats on military flights. The trip was canceled a few days later.

"Somebody in the chain of command that these reservists work for who told them to go ahead and get their own tickets may not have had authority to do so," Mitchell said. "This is certainly a matter that needs to be looked into."

/snip/

But after being told they could sign up for leave, soldiers in the battalion were apparently told there were no seats on a litary flight, so their option would be to pay their own way on a commercial airline flight.


http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/10/03/military_to_probe_reversal_on_leaves/

This is beyond maddening!

Is the offending officer close to getting out and in need of employment in the 'private sector' or is he just a jerk?

more lost votes.

Rummy was asked about this and gave one of his shrugs and "shit happens" answers.

I thought it (Rummy) would make the evening news last night - but it didn't (the soldiers plight was on a few outlets).

has ANYBODY been accountable for ANYTHING at ANYTIME!?

:mad:

but that may be the only thing.

a soldier has to pick up the tab to get home.

What if he can't afford it ?
Does he stay until he can work to raise the money ?

I support the allocation of $87 billion dollars for Iraq.
BUT
the money must be used to bring every last soldier home. Then the remaider is given to what ever resembles an Iraq government.

Cheers
Drifter