Running out of Troops...

[chaser29]

Individual Ready Reserves going to Iraq, Afghanistan
From Mike Mount
CNN Washington Bureau
Tuesday, June 29, 2004 Posted: 10:23 PM EDT (0223 GMT


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Army plans to call up as many as 5,600 reservists rarely tapped for duty, the Pentagon told members of Congress Tuesday.

Pentagon officials said the troops, part of the Individual Ready Reserve, will fill holes in units deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the ongoing rotation of troops in and out of those combat zones.

The troops would be chosen because they have critical specialties such as military police, infantry or engineers, Pentagon officials said. (Full story)

The Army is expected to announce the call-up Wednesday, according to Pentagon officials.

Pentagon officials admit that the military is reaching deep into its resources but say that war planners have long had contingency plans for such a call-up when troops are needed.

The Pentagon has about 118,000 such troops, former enlisted soldiers who served less than eight years on active duty or officers who did not resign their commissions.

The Individual Ready Reserve category is distinct from regular Army Reserve because the troops do not perform any military service during the year yet are still eligible to be called to active duty.

About 2,000 IRR troops already serve in some capacity in Iraq, although many of them volunteered for service, according to Pentagon officials.

The last time a significant number of IRR troops were called to duty was for the Persian Gulf War in 1991, according to Pentagon officials. Some 20,000 IRR troops filled vacancies or performed specialized duties during that war.

The planned new call-up reflects the limited number of troops available to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to fight the war on terrorism and the conflict in Iraq.

As Lt. Gen. Frank Hagenbeck, deputy chief of staff for personnel, put it earlier this month, "We are stretched, but we have what we need."



So, Whats Next?

[91300zxtt]

all i can say is if they reinstate the draft america will be fighting 2 wars, one in iraq and one from within. personally i would leave the U.S. and go to 1 of four places. 1. canada 2. mexico 3. ireland 4. australia over 3/4 of australia is still peaceful anarchist, so thats where id wanna be

[YogsVR4]

Nobody is reinstating the draft

I almost wish they did so the people who say they'll leave the country would go. But, I shouldn't hold my breath. Streisand and Baldwin didn't head out of town but that the kind of dupliciousness I expect from the left.

[driftu]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3852209.stm

i feel really bad for some of these guys. :

[YogsVR4]

I don't feel sorry for them at all. They left the service but kept their commision. They're getting paid to be part of service still and knew that they could be recalled.

[91300zxtt]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

I don't feel sorry for them at all. They left the service but kept their commision. They're getting paid to be part of service still and knew that they could be recalled.

your a great guy yogs. so are you gonna fight instead of me if the reinstate anything? didnt think so, youll not be wanting to go as well.that was an incredibly ignorant comment you made about just leave. we all have our own views, everyone out there isnt pro "go to war and kill for some cause you dont believe in". if anything is reinstated, keyord is, watch for buildings and other objects to be blown up by activists. like i said two wars are not good. maybe bush should think about sucking up his pride for 2 seconds, or what left he has, and ask for some damn help over there. we are running out quick

[Pick]

Originally Posted by 91300zxtt

your a great guy yogs. so are you gonna fight instead of me if the reinstate anything? didnt think so, youll not be wanting to go as well.that was an incredibly ignorant comment you made about just leave. we all have our own views, everyone out there isnt pro "go to war and kill for some cause you dont believe in". if anything is reinstated, keyord is, watch for buildings and other objects to be blown up by activists. like i said two wars are not good. maybe bush should think about sucking up his pride for 2 seconds, or what left he has, and ask for some damn help over there. we are running out quick

HELLLPPP???? From who? A lot of UN and NATO countries dicked us over from the word go.

[TexasF355F1]

Originally Posted by 91300zxtt

your a great guy yogs. so are you gonna fight instead of me if the reinstate anything? didnt think so, youll not be wanting to go as well.that was an incredibly ignorant comment you made about just leave. we all have our own views, everyone out there isnt pro "go to war and kill for some cause you dont believe in". if anything is reinstated, keyord is, watch for buildings and other objects to be blown up by activists. like i said two wars are not good. maybe bush should think about sucking up his pride for 2 seconds, or what left he has, and ask for some damn help over there. we are running out quick

He's past the age they would draft. So that argument is just ridiculous.

They are still sending troops a very good friend of mine is training in the desert right now, and he leaves for a Iraq in November. Although I see him getting shipped out earlier. He is by the way looking very forward to going over there.

[91300zxtt]

ya we got dicked over because bush is a dumbass. he decided to act, not think. had he waited and talked stuff through more thuroughly we would have more people in there helping us. and my arguement to yogs was simple had he been in my situation he would not want to fight, its easy for him to say leave if you dont fight, because he doesnt have to.

[Bowtie Bandit]

When I came back from my OIF deployment back in October I was eligible to go into the IRR. I decided not to because I would be more likely to be re-activated. My 8 year enlistment is finished in March 2005. Now I hear about the stop lose program. If my unit deployes again I'll be included, even if I'm within 90 days of my ETS. All the rules change in war.

[driftu]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

I don't feel sorry for them at all. They left the service but kept their commision. They're getting paid to be part of service still and knew that they could be recalled.

how about these guys.

"The development, along with other recent Pentagon moves to stop many current soldiers from retiring,"

from the article i posted. guess you didn't read it.

[werwolf-23]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

I don't feel sorry for them at all. They left the service but kept their commision. They're getting paid to be part of service still and knew that they could be recalled.

How about 'stop-loss' orders? Which, they just widened the other week?

Sign up for a tour, once it's over you are automatically re-enlisted, against your will, and kept in Iraq for the "duration of your deployment," which, looks like it can hover around 10 YEARS.

What grabs me is that they don't even ASK the troops over there. They don't even get a choice! And meanwhile, the administration is slashing veteran's benefits and active-duty troops' pay and health coverage... It's just not right to do this to the people who are protecting our lives, if you ask me.

[RACER D12]

I think for now we are ok. Its if another issues pops up that we may be in trouble. Like N. korea for example, werent they making "WOMD"? Seeing as we pulled troops from the 38th parallel whats to stop them from doing something stupid. Then what do we do, pull troops from iraq and send then back to korea to break that up. Honestly I think it would be for the best if Bush is not relected. Not that I hate bush its just I think with a new pres the UN might be more willing to help us out in Iraq.

[DevilDog228]

What do you mean they don't have a choice. They made the choice when they signed the enlistment papers. It is harsh to put this way, but they are now government property. I am not the only person who feels this way. Read further down. Read what Misty Benson, from Washington DC says.

They are not forced back into the military after retirment. For example...my father retired from the Marine Corps after 20 years, but full retirment isn't until 30 years. Until 2006 he is on the "Inactive Reserve" list. Once 2006 rolls around he is the officially on the "Retired" list. He was the most senior Marine in his MOS when he retired and would be a good candadite to be re-activated. I know darn well he would go back in a heartbeat.

It seems to me more civilians are complaining about the war than soldiers. Instead of spending all of our time whinning about our soldiers being overseas fighting why don't we come up with ideas on how to get the job done so all of our service men and women who have died wouldn't have died for nothing. The bigger devestation would be for us to leave the job unfinished and let all of them die for nothing.

[91300zxtt]

Originally Posted by DevilDog228

What do you mean they don't have a choice. They made the choice when they signed the enlistment papers. It is harsh to put this way, but they are now government property. I am not the only person who feels this way. Read further down. Read what Misty Benson, from Washington DC says.

They are not forced back into the military after retirment. For example...my father retired from the Marine Corps after 20 years, but full retirment isn't until 30 years. Until 2006 he is on the "Inactive Reserve" list. Once 2006 rolls around he is the officially on the "Retired" list. He was the most senior Marine in his MOS when he retired and would be a good candadite to be re-activated. I know darn well he would go back in a heartbeat.

It seems to me more civilians are complaining about the war than soldiers. Instead of spending all of our time whinning about our soldiers being overseas fighting why don't we come up with ideas on how to get the job done so all of our service men and women who have died wouldn't have died for nothing. The bigger devestation would be for us to leave the job unfinished and let all of them die for nothing.

we arent against the soldiers at all we are against bush and his stupidity. we all thank the soldiers for what they are doing and hope a safe trip back. however with Bush in rite now it seems this may not happen, and our people may die in vein if kerry is elected. if Kerry is elected he will more than likely pull out having all our soldiers die in vein. if bush stays in more soldiers will be lost for, in my opinion, and injust reason to be over there in the first place. we need to get back on good terms with the UN and like yesterday. w.o more support fro the UN we are royally fucked and we all know it whether we admit it or not.