The Army Wants You...Again! (Yes, Really.)

The Army Wants You...Again! (Yes, Really.)
By Colby Buzzell

Imagine that you graduated from college, and a couple years afterward your alma mater contacts you and says, Sorry, you didn't graduate from college. In fact, you have five weeks to drop everything that you're doing--quit your job, get out of your lease, put all your stuff in storage, cancel your Netflix, etc.--and report back to campus so that you can redo all the schooling that you've already done. And not only that, here's a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver with only one round in the chamber--spin the chamber, point it at your head, and pull the trigger. If you live, you live. If you don't, you don't.

The only shooting that I care to do from now on is with my camera, and I had just got done with the long and arduous process of getting my GI Bill activated and signed up for photography classes down at the city college when I received the large manila envelope in the mail with the words IMPORTANT DOCUMENT printed in all caps in the center of it.

Inside was a letter that said that I had five weeks (just enough time for all the illegal drugs in my system to get flushed out) to report to Fort Benning, Georgia--"Home of the Infantry"--for in-processing, and after that I'd be assigned to a National Guard Infantry unit. Purpose: Operation Iraqi Freedom. I love all-expenses-paid business trips, but I don't recall enlisting in the National Guard--I enlisted in the regular Army. What I do recall is my recruiter telling me that I wouldn't be called back up to active duty unless "World War III broke out."

When I joined up six years ago, I was under the strong impression that I'd be able to do my time, get out, and move on. Which is what I did, or at least tried to do.

I had no idea that the Army was going to turn into this psychotic ex-girlfriend that you'd need to file a restraining order against because the crazy bitch doesn't get the hint that there's no way we're getting back together again--ever!


Rest of article at: http://www.esquire.com/features/army-recall-0908

When I was drafted in 1969 I went into the Ready Reserves after I did my 2 years. They called me up once for a week of training but that was nothing like what this guy faces.

... should have read what you signed. Zero sympathy...

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I sure hope he doesn't get shafted like the guy in the OP article. I wonder if that guy was in the Ready Reserves or the Standby Reserves when he got his notice.

Son is completely OUT of the military... he did his NINE years.... that he didn't sign up for!! :grr:
They can't touch him anymore at all. I don't know about the guy in the OP. He was regular Army
and then they told him he's with the NG? :wtf: Usually, it's the NG being told.. now you're in
the Army!! I have no idea what baloney those pentagon asshats are making up at a whim!

Doug D.
Former Army Brat..

He's in the Ready Reserve after having pulled 6 years active duty. And they have activated him back into the regular Army, to form up with the National Guard unit for processing and I guess training. When I went through basic training in 1969 we had four categories: People who had voluntarily signed up for active duty, draftees like me, National Guard, and Reserves.

I am glad young men TODAY are not subject to the draft like I was. But this thing about taking soldiers who have already paid their dues, particularly when they have been in a combat zone, is even worse.

See, that's involuntary. Duh.

with a recruiter breathing down your neck.

and that's why he makes ridiculous and absurd and ignorant comments? :shrug:

Is Cid_B (35 posts) your kid? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3990331#3990342

I'm talking about cyd, or whatever his name is with the 35 posts. He accuses Lasher of not reading the fine print when he signed up, when Lasher clearly said his service was not voluntary, he was drafted. Or did you respond to the wrong post?

Keep up the Good Fight!

I thought that was who you were speaking to. I just didn't think that you were really talking to me. :hi:

:silly:

Or just unclear on the difference between defending one's country and occupying another?

Have you thought about joining the military? Taking a walk in another person's shoes might do you some good.
Oh, and um, with all this talk about a Repuke's stance on Russia, I do believe it is getting a bit *drafty* around here.

Signed,

WakeMeUp,
Wife of Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran

:patriot:

They own you for 8 years when you join. Whether you signed up for two, three or four years active you are contractually obliged to remain in the inactive ready reserve for the next 6, 5 or 4 years and return to active duty at any time if ordered. It sucks but I recall this fact being made very clear from the start when I volunteered in 89.

I feel bad for this guy but, even if it the fact was downplayed by his recruiter, he says himself that he was informed before he signed.

I enlisted in the Army Guard in 1992, and it was explained to me that ALL enlistments are 8 years, and any done while not on active duty or active reserve (ie, normal part-time) would be served out in the IRR, or inactive regular reserve. The recruiter was pretty matter-of-fact about it.

Now instead of an enlistment contract, I've got a 10 year commitment for training I received...doesn't bother me, I'll have about 5 years left after that till I get a full-time retirement. And even in retirement, they can legally recall you (although that's even rarer than getting called back for the IRR). Basically, if any prolonged conflict breaks out, you are at risk of being recalled from the IRR. It doesn't take WWIII for that to happen.

After 4 years of doing absolutely nothing of benefit to anyone, and finally getting out, I sweated those last 2 years daily. Canada beckoned if ever I had got that letter.

He should have just returned it unopened.

Oh well, you could always tell them you are gay, and
if you are not in a critical field, they might let you out.