I just found out my employee is being deployed to Afghanistan

[Pale Blue Dot]

He is 17 years old, and they will be sending him mere months after he graduates from high school and turns 18. He signed up for the military, like so many do, as a way to help pay for college, and while he was not blind to the possibility of being deployed, he, like so many other kids his age, didn't really think it was going to happen to him. He is a good kid from a poor background, square-jawed, tough, but nice, even sweet. He has been dating the same girl for 3 years. He is his mother's only son, and the oldest in his family.

My heart is breaking. When I mentioned to him that I had heard that Afghanistan was actually worse than Iraq, he confirmed that that's what he's been hearing too through the military grapevine. I have no idea what to say to him, accept to tell him to keep himself safe. I know, with 100% certainty, that when he returns he will not be the same person as when he left. That's if he comes back at all.

What a waste. What a fucking waste. He's 17. He's just a kid.

[TheDebbieDee]

1. Seventeen? Has he even been to Basic, yet?

They can't deploy him anywhere until he finishes Basic and AIT. It could be several months before he can sent over, depending on the MOS he chose.

[Pale Blue Dot]

3. Yes, he has.

Apparently you can go through Basic before 18.

He's going to Afghanistan in September.

[recoveringrepublican]

19. delayed entry, I was going to do that

I would have head to basic the summer before my Senior year. I was trying to join the reserves (ARMY). Would have been trained as a nurse.....cried when I failed my physical, but now I have never been happier that I have a hearing loss.

[knowbody0]

2. just a puppy

worse than a waste! so sorry.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pale Blue Dot]

5. Wow.

Just wow. He's 17. I hope for your sake you didn't make any misguided decisions when you were 17. Otherwise, by your logic, you would deserve to die too.

Wow.

[Village Idiot]

8. made many a mistake, i did...

some of them wonderful, many of them not so wonderful. never had the stupidity to volunteer for duty during a time of illegal, immoral, aggressive and UNNECESSARY imperialist war, however...

but there's always the first time.

[Pale Blue Dot]

9. Self-deleted.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Beware the Beast Man]

24. Wow, ass.

[zbdent]

6. Okay, now that's living up to your

screen name . . .

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lerkfish]

11. good grief, are you completely lacking humanity?

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[Lerkfish]

17. welcome to my ignore list.

[novalib]

18. Excuse Me.....

Please excuse me for saying this, but I think there is a "minister" in Topeka, Kansas who agrees perfectly with what you are saying.

He even shows up at the funerals of some of the soldiers.

[RandomKoolzip]

23. Wow. How repulsive.

:thumbsdown:

[LaurenG]

12. That is such a shame

I wish him well. I'm really sorry to hear that Finnfan.

[tatertop]

13. Is there any way he can break that contract?

[Pale Blue Dot]

14. I know nothing about the military, but I doubt it. nt

[Village Idiot]

16. OK I get it.

4. Content: Do not post messages that are inflammatory, extreme, divisive, incoherent, or otherwise inappropriate. Do not engage in anti-social, disruptive, or trolling behavior. Do not post broad-brush, bigoted statements. The moderators and administrators work very hard to enforce some minimal standards regarding what content is appropriate. But please remember that this is a large and diverse community that includes a broad range of opinion. People who are easily offended, or who are not accustomed to having their opinions (including deeply personal convictions) challenged may not feel entirely comfortable here. A thick skin is necessary to participate on this or any other discussion forum.

[zbdent]

20. For your info, it wasn't me that blasted your posts off the face of

the Earth . . .

I did feel that the one I remarked on was very inconsiderate of the person and it would serve quite well to the RWers who constantly claim that we "lefties" endorse the behavior you stated . . .

[Roland99]

21. Question re: how this affects your busines....

Obviously, you're going to have to replace him with someone else. Now, when he comes back from the deploymnet, what would be your plans?

I wonder how much of the new jobs being "created" are merely from people filling the shoes of others who've been deployed overseas.

[Pale Blue Dot]

22. I am a retail manager

He's a part-time employee, working between 10-15 hours a week. Unfortunately, he'll be easily replaced.

[Roland99]

28. But aren't you required to provide him with his (or a) job upon return?

[soldier101]

29. No that's just for reservists called up.

Since he enlisted and is leaving his present employment of his own free will, the employer is not required to give him that job back upon fulfilling his obligation. :patriot:

[Roland99]

30. Ah...gotcha.

Guess I'll have to do a bit of research into the # of reservists called up.

[soldier101]

32. The Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act

Defines reemployment rights: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/a/userra.htm

Also of interest can be the Soldiers & Sailors Civil Relief Act (SSCRA): http://usmilitary.about.com/od/sscra/l/blsscra.htm

I may have been a little off on just for reservists, as this act is broadly written. However, I would expect this young man to tender his resignation because it was his choice to join. However, a new can a worms would be opened if the draft came back.
:patriot:

[Pale Blue Dot]

33. I will be happy to give him his job back when he comes back.

Hopefully, he'll be in college then.

[noamnety]

25. It's still his choice

Meaning he can decide to go, or like some people do, decide not to go, and accept those consequences. Might be interesting for him to talk to some of the war resisters.

How does he feel about going?

[GreenPartyVoter]

26. I am so sorry. I hope he will be ok.

[soldier101]

27. The military can be better because of him

I had 27+ years of military service, and was in Afghanistan in 2002, it is a much safer place than 4 years ago. I landed in Kandahar just after the camp was attacked, and left as mortars were firing; this isn't what's happening there today.

Being in the military is not a death sentence, and the military can provide great skills to use after you get out. Should the military be made up of just right wingers? Today's recruit, can be tomorrow's leader and shape the service for the better.:patriot:

[proud patriot]

31. Big Hug

:hug: