As some of you know, DH is at Ft. Benning, sleeping in a crappy barrack room with a big ol' guy who snores above him in a bunk bed. I feel SO sorry for him. He goes from having an AWESOME corporate job to a place that he feels bored and unchallenged to say the least.

The reason why I bring this up is because some alcohol has been poured on his wounds...

Hundreds of Inactive Ready Reserve guys are not showing up for duty. Yes, they will be dishonorably discharged, I'm sure, but not formally charged and sent to jail.

What makes these men (and women) think that they are any more important? If they don't go, that means that others will take their place.
One of Scott's old collegues is trying to appeal his orders to go in February...he doesn't have any kids or a wife (or even a girlfriend).
I'm not saying he's any *less* important, but I am saying that if these men don't go, others will have to go in their stead!!
It's just mighty selfish and I feel so bad for my hubby because 16 out of 87 who were called to duty at Ft. Benning haven't shown up.
He's given up so much...I just wish others could make that sacrifice for our country that gave them the freedom to even make that decision!

Here's an article on it:
Inactive Ready Reserve

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 12:40 am:

I read that a few days ago, and thought of you. All I can say is it shows your DH has honor and commitment. Remember the Army values, Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, HONOR, INTEGRITY, and Personal Courage. Scott is living up to the commitments he swore himself to, even though it sucks. The others may not go to jail, but a dishonorable or other than honorable discharge is a crippling thing to have when trying to get a civilian job. They are deserters, whether they are charged as such or not. I pity them for being so weak, and lacking conviction. I'm not happy with our administration for the *need* to call up the IRR, and I'm sorry your DH is one of the ones, please tell him "hooah" from us. ((((Heidi))))

BTW, he'll still have his corporate job when he returns, right? It should be protected under the SCRA.

By Juli4 on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 09:44 am:

The reserves is voluntary. No one is forced to go, but if you sign up I think you had better be there. It is inconvienent, terrible difficult and dangerous. But they signed up on their own free will. They should be there.

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 02:56 pm:

Juli, IRR isn't normal reserves. When you sign up for the Army, you owe them 8 years, no matter what. Many people do a 4 year enlistment, and then 4 years on "Inactive Ready Reserves". This means that they do not have drill like normal reservists, and are not required to train, but *IF* the Department of Defense calls them back to duty, they are required to go. Kind of like the Selective Service, except they are prior service soldiers. It used to be one of those things that people figured would never happen, like a draft, but in this Iraq conflict we have severe shortages in our active duty and reserves, and have started dipping into the IRR.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 07:56 pm:

I really, really, really hate to say it, having been so strongly against our getting into this war, but I have come to think more and more that maybe we need to reinstate the draft. I find it deeply disturbing that so many of the young people going into the military are doing so because they can't find decent paying jobs in the civilian world. I think that with the all-volunteer military we are having some of the same situation we had with the draft during the Vietnam War - the rich and well connected and well educated don't go into the military, and those who don't have many other options do.

I think our "active duty" full-time military force, and the members of the reserve units, are being over-stressed with being recycled back into Iraq so frequently and with only a few months back state-side, and we - our nation, the troops, and their families - are paying and going to be paying a really great price for this. No matter what the political people in Washington say, I think we need to drastically increase the number of people in the military who must serve a minimum of 2-3 years, and I don't think this will happen without reinstating the draft.

I know most of my lefty friends will strongly disagree with me, but I've been giving this a lot of thought for the past year or more, and this is where I have come out.

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 08:10 pm:

Ginny, I agree completely. Although we are opposed to this war, my DH re-enlisted into the Army because he wasn't able to make a decent living after getting out. Many of his comrades, well trained soldiers who thought they would be "lifers" are now getting out because of the stress of miltiple deployments, divorce rates are up, enlistment is down, and morale SUCKS. People are actually counting down the days until they get out, and throwing parties when they do. As all of the well trained leaders get out, unexperienced privates who would probably not get promoted normally are being pushed through the ranks to fill slots. I'm not sure the draft is the answer, but something needs to give. Our poor get poorer, and for many the military is their only chance at making a living wage. People forget that we still have soldiers serving in locations other than the Middle East, and doing an unaccompanied tour like Korea, then coming home only to go to Iraq, coming home for a couple months of training, and back to the desert again is ruining our forces.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 08:17 pm:

My husband's deepest regret is that he has not served his country in the military. He wanted to enlist during Desert Storm - but was told not to. Then, after 9/11 he tried again - even as a JAG to write wills or other legal docs, but he was over the age limit.

I've said it before - I have so much awe and respect for the men and women serving our country - and the families who are missing them as they are far from home for so long.

I have the same contempt for those who make a committment and then go back on their word.

I am sorry your family is experiencing this and sorry that so many are shirking thier responsibilties.

Ame

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 09:15 pm:

Ame... how old is he now? They upped the age limit to 39 last year.

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 11:25 pm:

I just really think that they need to lower the time away from family. He's going to be gone for a year and a half...why not just 7 months or so?
We would have more volunteers and the morale would definitely be higher. I guess the army is too cheap to fly them back and forth. I think the Air Force has 5 month deployments...I wouldn't be so unhappy if that were the case.
Nonetheless, I am proud. And, Ame, I think it's awesome that he wants to serve.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 08:28 am:

A family friend who is in the Reserves was there for a year and a half, while my active duty Army Ranger BIL was there for 6mth. stretches, max. It's ridiculous IMO. I was under the impression that Reservists were to protect stateside. Ohhhh... I won't go on because I've been against this war since day one, but I just sit and curse everytime I hear of one more deployment, the unnecessary deaths, and especially people like your DH having to leave at all, let alone for the ridiculous amounts of time.

I think it's disgraceful that people are not showing up. Just know that you guys are doing the right thing, although often the "right thing" is not the easiest or most fun. I'm sure you are very proud.

By Vicki on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 09:14 am:

I think that part of the real shame here is the they are not going after the ones that are not showing up with the full force of the law. Anyone know who made that choice??

By Kym on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 08:17 pm:

Heidi, you said you felt these other guys thought they were more important than your dh, I think it's exactly the opposite, they are weak and cowardly, with no respect for the obligation the SIGNED up for. I wish your dh could find a way and maybe he has, to go from being bored and unchallenged, to proud! If you can't be challenged going to war, when would you be

By Amecmom on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 09:16 am:

Crystal,
He's 45 - so no dice.
And when we get into one of those discussions where we talk about our mistakes and our regrets, his is always that he did not join the military.
Ame

By Reds9298 on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 03:16 pm:

Ame - My DH, too, when we have that discussion. It's not something my DH wanted or felt 'called' to do (for lack of a better word) but he always felt it was an obligation that he didn't commit to. I have my own personal feelings about the military so I'm soooo glad that he never chose that route, but I do hate it that he has regrets.