U.S. general warns Army Reserve is being 'broken'

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N05504230.htm

WASHINGTON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army Reserve, tapped heavily to provide soldiers for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is "degenerating into a 'broken' force" due to dysfunctional military policies, the Army Reserve's chief said in a memo made public on Wednesday.

"I do not wish to sound alarmist. I do wish to send a clear, distinctive signal of deepening concern," Lt. Gen. James Helmly said in a Dec. 20 memo to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker. snip

Helmly referred to "potential 'sociological' damage" to the all-volunteer military by paying inducements of $1,000 extra per month to reservists who volunteer to remobilize.

"We must consider the point at which we confuse 'volunteer to become an American Soldier' with 'mercenary,'" Helmly said.

[more

[LynnTheDem]

1. GEE what was his FIRST fucking CLUE!

Was it the THREE YEAR WAR TOURS perhaps?????!!

And my what a coinky dink the SSS just happened to be in the area and dropped in on the Brethern Church to see about that alternative service program.

[StephanieMarie]

2. Why is this the first time I've heard

that we're bribing them with an extra $1K a month?

[LynnTheDem]

3. Hmmm.

Do you normally follow troop pay info? If not you've just missed the various infrequent reports on it.

They're offering big lump sum brib..bonuses to active duty to stay in the service, as well.

They're 50% down in recruitment goals. Ie DESPERATE.

What IS that wind?

[Az_lefty]

4. When did this start????

paying inducements of $1,000 extra per month to reservists who volunteer to remobilize.

I'm in the Army Guard and I haven't heard of this.

[Supersedeas]

5. ooooooooh, no he didn't, he didn't just say the "M" word

[RamboLiberal]

6. Link to more extensive Baltimore Sun Story and General's actual

memo from locked thread.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/iraq/bal-te.reserves05jan05,1,551065.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/acrobat/2005-01/15715020.pdf

And I hope some DU military vets will comment on the memo.

[jimshoes]

7. I'm not a vet but those memos

from Leuitenant General James R. Helmley tells me that they are not only scraping the bottom of the barrel, but sandblasting it looking for warm bodies for deployment and retention.

[Massachusetts]

8. FUBAR

= DRAFT, TO RIGHT THE SHIP AGAIN.

[struggle4progress]

9. kick