Families: Reservists Pressured by Scare Tactics to Re-Enlist

CHICAGO (AP) - Army and National Guard officials are using inaccurate scare tactics, some families say, telling inactive reservists they could face being sent back to Iraq unless they re-enlist in the active reserves or join their local Guard units.

MariAnn Curta told the Chicago Tribune in a story published Sunday that a recruiter called her last weekend, saying her 22-year-old son Bill - who recently completed a nine-month tour of duty in Iraq - could be headed back unless he enlisted in the Illinois National Guard.

"It's devious, it's deceptive, it's dishonest," she said. "I can't believe they'd pull this kind of fast trick on kids who have already served."

Army Reserve spokesman Steven Stromvall told the newspaper there has been a problem with misleading, inaccurate and intimidating retention efforts throughout the country and said the Army Reserve was moving quickly to fix the problem.

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