The "Back Door Draft" we all talked about

[D_Master]

and all the Conservatives lashed out at the notion that such a thing would ever take place in our military, that these fine young men were there on their own accord. Well now I can honestly say I have now seen it first-hand. A little explanation:

I work with a girl who I've gotten to know pretty well and become friends with who has a younger brother (22 yrs. old i think) that has been fighting in Iraq with the Army's 1st Batallion Striker force in Mosul. I think that's the name of his unit, all I know is it's similar to the Seals (Army special forces). Anyways, I saw him a week or so ago after he came back from Iraq after being injured in a roadside bomb in Mosul. He just has some bad cuts on his side and face and is deaf now in one ear. But he was talking about how little he wants to be there and he can't wait til Feb. when he can fully exit the military. He also mentioned how he killed 2 people and nearly gotten shot with sniper fire a couple of times, he's very lucky I told him and he agreed. When I asked how many had been killed from there unit he said only 1, but 5 or six have been sent home seriously wounded and he's not sure what happened to them once they came back.
That being said my friend tells me that when he goes back to his base in Washington (forget the name) there's a good chance that he will have to go back to Iraq for another tour and won't be allowed to leave the Army. Obviously he and the family have been upset as I know he specifically told me he and a couple other guys he's close to did not want to reenlist in Feb. even though they were offered like $15,000, now they don't get the money and have to go back. This is the kind of crap that is going on today people, and morale can only get worse when things like this occur.

[catmother]

1. i saw something on the news a few weeks ago regarding

re-enlisting. if you have not been out of the military for more than 48 months you can come back with the standing that you had. also they were offering $19,000. i don't remember what they said about re-training.

welcome to DU.

[AllegroRondo]

3. You can come back up to 5 years later

after leaving the Army, and still get your old rank back. No need to go to basic training again either.

[catmother]

5. i thought it was 4 years. as far as the basic training i would think

that after years of being away from the military one would need some training.

[AllegroRondo]

8. It may have changed since I got out.

but when I left (2000), as long as you could pass a PT test and meet the weight standards you could skip basic.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. This is how the repukes support the troops.

They treat them like old used tissue paper, and have about as much regard for them (look how they shut down VA hospitals, deny vets care for PTSD, etc, etc.)

Welcome to DU. This is a good place to share-and obtain-information. Let us know what happens to this young fellow.

[BrainRants]

4. At the risk of being labled as "blaming the victim"

it's my understanding a great many in the military (I'm a vet, so spare me the lecture) supported *, and continue to support him.

I have a repuke friend whose kid is in the Army, both have been all oo-rah about * and Iraq. Just got word last month son is heading back for third tour, leaving wife and two kids to stay with grandparents. I grew up with son, and pray for his safety, but can't help but not feel sorry for them.

[AndyTiedye]

6. For The Duration

I am afraid that whoever is in now is in "for the duration". Since they don't ever intend to end this war, that means the duration of their lives, or until they are too badly injured to be of any use to the Army. When they start up the draft, the same will apply to draftees. They're going to need everybody who can hold a gun (and isn't holding some senior management position) to fight the Iraq war, the Afganistan war, the soon-to-be-Iran war, and all the wars PNAC wants to start. It sure is getting drafty.

[Left_Winger]

7. About two months ago...

I am a teacher and I regularly encounter recruiters at school.

To make a long story short, I was "running interference" with the recruiters so that they would have less time to approach the students during the lunch break. While I was doing this, I mentioned that I had almost fourteen years experience in the military as an infantryman and tank crewman (USMC and National Guard). The recruiter did his utmost to convince me to return even after I told him that I left because of medical reasons which still persist. I was offered $15,000 as an re-enlistment bonus and I could start at the rank of SSG (Staff Sergeant, E-6).

Here is what worries me: I am almost 50 years old and I know that I could not pass the introductory physical exam, much less the physical fitness tests one must complete annually. So, why would these guys be so interested in me? Are they that desperate?

I was wearing my Veterans for Peace membership pin during this entire conversation.

www.veteransforpeace.org

[oasis]

9. Back to the meat grinder for $15,000. Lose a hand or an eye, tough luck.

The corporatists who pushed this war on us should step up to the plate and do all they can to compensate our disabled vets.

[Skarbrowe]

10. When I got out many years ago, I wanted to go right back in...but

they had dropped the weight requirement down to a level that I hadn't been in years. I was extremely healthy and not what anyone would call fat. Being a fit, rather athletic female I know that 8 or 9 pounds that kept me from going back in was solid muscle.

Now they want you if you're not an exactly healthy or skinny 50 year old? I'm as Democrat as you can be, but I have always felt that we needed a strong and well trained military. Boy, am I glad they wouldn't take me back in. I had all kinds of awards, Army Commendation Medal, every evaluation report had the maximum numbers allowed, but, less than 10 pounds kept me from being an "acceptable re-enlistee".

This is all so sickeningly bizarre.

I hope your friend's brother doesn't get sent back to Iraq.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi D_Master!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: