Reenlist or else

[Qanisqineq]

I just had to get this off my chest, it is really bothering me. My husband has been in the military for 9 years. He went to Iraq last June and returned to the U.S. just this last spring. The unit he is in now is scheduled to go back to Iraq in summer or fall 2005. He gets out of the military in 2006.

Ok, that's the background. He is now being told that if he does NOT reenlist very soon (to push when he gets out back to 2008), the army will transfer him to another unit and he will return to Iraq THIS FALL.

What kind of crap is that? I know many people hate recruiters, but he is thinking of becoming one because it would mean not going to Iraq, period. (The army is also desperate for recruiters) What is there to do? Go back to Iraq now (when it is just getting worse) or reenlist and hope that when you do go back next year it is quieter plus possibly be deployed more than once?

BTW, Bush's current massacre of US soldiers in Iraq alone is 1,014.

[MsUnderstood]

1. Don't let him go back

War is war is war. Don't go back to the war zone.

I'd rather be a recruiter in America then an understaffed, under-equiped, under-appreciated, under-honested (new word alert) in the military.

A friend of mine pointed out that they are paying paramedics and nurses big dollars to go to Iraq. . .then more quietly mentioned that 1 in 20 are getting killed over there. I don't know if either fact is true but it scared me that some might think of doing that.

[Sugarbleus]

2. Good God, what a horrible dilemma!

Can't he just quit? What will happen to him if he tried? Geeeeeeeeez, this is so, so, soooo fouled up!

I don't have a clue what to tell you. In the evening on DU there are a few military types and family members with people serving that may have more info.

Have you tried looking up any of the veteran's groups..the ones opposed to this Iraq war? "bringthemhomenow.org"
militaryfamiliesspeakout=mfso.org
"veteransforpeace" etc etc...

I have a 16 yr old g.son who I worry about now. GeezusHChrist, what a mess this sociopath in the WhiteHouse has caused.

Try looking into some of these groups for answers. Very Best Wishes.
SB

[Hello_Kitty]

3. Typical military ploy

They use it in peace and wartimes. And like you say, they'll just send him again later. He can initiate a greivance against his supervisors for it, though I don't know how much good it would do. You could also try taking it to the media because this is basically a backdoor draft. I've seen others do it with good results. The army doesn't want bad publicity right now.

[Qanisqineq]

4. he would never go for that

"try taking it to the media" He gets in trouble enough for voicing his opinion and he is supposed to be promoted next month. That will probably be the next ploy... reenlist or you are not getting promoted.

[Commendatori]

5. How much time does he have left?

When does his enlistment end? If, for instance, it's a choice between 18 months left with an Iraq trip or 24-30 as a recruiter, the choice might be easier than you think...I hope so for your sake, anyway.

Also, how long does he have in? They don't hand recruting jobs to two-stripers...just curious.

Whatever the case, I wish you the best of luck.

[Qanisqineq]

6. he's been in for nine years

gets out in 2006. He was being pressured to become a recruiter this summer but he said no because he likes his current job and he was foolishly hoping he wouldn't have to go back to Iraq. I am kind of hoping he decides on the recruiting for a number of reasons.

[VLC98]

7. Not sure I understand the dilemma fully.

Do you mean he wants to leave the Army when his enlistment is up in 2006, but is thinking of re-enlisting, and extending that date to 2008, in order to avoid deploying this fall? If he doesn't want to do 20 years, I think it would be terrible to have to do the extra two years and I think the ME is going to be a problem for many years anyway, even if Kerry wins.

I'm responding to give you my take on recruiting, as my husband was an AF recruiter for a short time, until he was re-assigned due to stress related health problems. I was under the impression that Army recruiters were non-volunteer, so I don't know why they would be desperate for them. Anyway, where we were (FL), the Army, Navy & Air Force recruiting offices were in a row, in a strip mall, and my husband witnessed the other services efforts. He was quite friendly with the Navy recruiters and even "forwarded" some of the kids that didn't qualify for the AF, usually due to weight. Most of the Army guys were unfriendly, even hostile and were very aggressive in their recruiting. He got the impression that the demands placed on him, which were enough to give him a heart attack at 36, were nothing compared to what was expected of the Army recruiters.

My husband stopped recruiting in 2001, thank goodness because I couldn't deal with him pressuring kids to die for bush and his cronies.

I hope things work out for you.... keep us posted.

[Qanisqineq]

8. he doesn't want to reenlist

but he was told, that once back from Iraq he would have 1.5 years before he was deployed again... and then for only 6 months in Iraq. Now he is being told he has to reenlist or he is leaving for Iraq next month and will be there for at least a year. Of course, they are also offering him money to reenlist, but we don't really care about that.

As for recruiting, he was a recruiter before for a short time. I know a lot of recruiters and some were non-volunteer, some did volunteer.

[VLC98]

10. Difficult decision but..

seeing as he's had experience of Iraq and recruiting, I'm sure he'd say the latter would be easier. If the Army has lied to him though, I wonder what lies they'll expect him to tell the kids. I don't envy you being in that situation. My husband retires in about 10 months, something I thought we'd dread, but bush is making it easy for us.

[Hello_Kitty]

9. Yeah, he should try not to do the 2 extra years

Going over the magical "10 year mark" in the military greatly increases the chance that you will stay in for the long haul. What's the point of quitting now when you're over 1/2 finished? That's what people start to think. I got out after 10 years and the Navy tried various shenanigans to entice me to stay in. When I didn't go for any of them they started treating me like crap, giving me bad assignments and lousy performance reviews. Whatever. I still got out. But what they're doing to your husband really sucks.

[faithnotgreed]

11. this needs a kick. companion to draft thread currently in gd

[okieinpain]

12. my daughter is in the reserves, got a call from a higher up

asking her to go full time. told her it was in her best interest because she would be able to go to ft. sill in oklahoma, instead of being called up to iraq.

I believe that there is going to be a big call up right after the election if bush is re-selected.

[LisaL]

13. They will just go for the draft

if Bush is re-selected, IMO.
So many wars, so little time.

[faithnotgreed]

14. yes. there likely will be. have you seen the draft thread currently in gd

under the foia, someone has released the prospective draft information. likely to take place by june but of course be in the works immediately after election

[Qanisqineq]

15. yep, now they are saying no promotion

you don't reenlist, no promotion. He was supposed to get promoted next month but if he doesn't reenlist, they will send him to another unit and he won't get promoted and he will go to Iraq.

[LTRS]

16. This happened to a friend of mine as well

It's basically blackmail and it's happening all over. I think some folks went public with it a few months ago, and they backed off (but apparently didn't stop the process of blackmailing people.)

[0rganism]

17. If he re-enlists, he will also be sent back to Iraq eventually

So it comes down to promotion or no promotion. Maybe he can buck for a "green zone" job if he gets promoted?

Dunno. Seems like he's between Iraq and a hard place. Has he considered homosexuality?

[auburngrad82]

18. Re-enlisting is no guarantee that he won't be sent back anyway.

I'd say screw you guys, I'm going home.

Seriously, why not call your local news station and let them know the story? He did his service, which is much more than most of the radical conservative leadership of this country have done. Maybe they will run a story and embarass the strong arm tactics that the Army is taking.

[krkaufman]

19. Yes, it's time for Jenna and Barbara to enlist. n/t

[faithnotgreed]

20. kick to get out the message