Army does about-face on call-up readiness

http://oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1084967798100830.xml

Army does about-face on call-up readiness

An erroneous order for veterans to pick a Reserve or National Guard unit by Monday produces a flurry of enlistments

Wednesday, May 19, 2004

RON SOBLE

*snip*
SALEM -- Thousands of recent U.S. Army veterans nationwide were told to choose by Monday a new assignment in the Army Reserve or National Guard -- meaning a potential return to active duty -- or the military would decide for them. The Army now says the order was a mistake.

The consequence of the error appears to be a sharp increase in enlistments in Oregon and elsewhere by reservists who feared being assigned a unit without their consent. They face possible deployment to the Middle East.

Army Reserve officials said the order issued in early May prompted a flood of calls from confused veterans, who are among the estimated 118,000 reservists on inactive status. The Pentagon is not yet forcing re-enlistments but is "screening" inactive reservists for possible call-up, a spokeswoman said.

Nonetheless, e-mails and phone calls from military recruiters went out this month warning veterans that they could be involuntarily placed in active Army Reserve units. That shocked some Oregon reservists.

*snip*



The article goes on to say that it is unclear whether soldiers who signed up under the mistaken deadline would be released from their obligation.

That's exactly what it was too! :mad:

Don't believe anything the US govt tells you.

My son is in the guard here in Ohio and just got word on Friday his unit was being called up.... no official public announcment but all were told they will be sent to Iraq by the end of the year....

and welcome to DU. Did you know that Kerry has an office open in Akron? I have the info if you want.

I've checked various military message boards recently and it looks as if the order is true. However, these people were told that they "have to pick a unit or be assigned one." Nobody mentioned a "screening process" to them.