[Brenda]

That was not post-9/11 tho...

[ASLplease]

enlisting has commitments just as binding as a contract, even more binding once you are in, lots of ways to wind up in jail, and for the most i agree with the jail sentences.

[EyeBrock]

Jail him, boot him out. End ex.

The military isn't for everybody and sometimes it takes a while for some people to suss that out.

[SprCForr]

Can't jail him. He hasn't refused to deploy, because his unit hasn't done so, they're merely in the rotation. The story doesn't mention his willingness to finish his engagement. I can't see there being much longer left (What's a first time standard length of service in the US?). He hasn't refused to carry out his assigned duties, and he can't be dishonourably discharged for requesting a change in his status. Bottomline is he's playing by the rules.

Like I said, I think he was a damn fool for joining in the first place.

[rickc]

SprCForr SprCForr:

rickc rickc:

Why should this guy get sent to some cushy assignment like Hawaii,while other brave kids are coming home in bodybags or crippled for life?

You said cushy, not me. Don't put words in my mouth.

$1:

Screw him!I have a friend that has been deployed to that shithole four times now.

This has nothing to do with the number of times your friend has deployed. The number of times your friend has deployed is not dependant on or affected by the actions of one man in the 101st.

$1:

I would approve his CO status.You don't want to kill people? Fine,retrain his ass into the bomb squad or medic.Then ship his ass to Afganistan.He won't have to kill anyone,but let him spend some time living in foxholes dodging incoming rounds just like everyone else.

This is is the crux of the issue. If he has CO status granted, the US Army would be further ahead to discharge him than retain him. If it's not granted, then no field unit will want him and no one will want to serve beside him.

Regardless of the decision his days as an Infantryman are done. Retraining him will be throwing good money after bad and doesn't make sense for the couple years he'd have left until his hitch is done. Even sending his ass to A'stan as a blanket passer is just asking for trouble. Post him out of the area and let him cut grass, shovel snow and pick up brass for the rest of his engagement.

I certainly did not mean to put words in your mouth.These days any post not in Iraq or Astan is considered cushy.So the use of the word was totally my decision,and not based on anything you posted.You bring up the cost of retraining this soldier.I would like to state that people in the military get retrained all the time.Cutbacks,new tech,injury,changing missions all contribute to retraining.I knew a guy that lost his security clearance because of multiple DUI's.He wanted out,they made him a cook.They didn't spend a penny retraining him.They sent him to the chow hall and put a spatula in his hand.That was in peacetime.

Some people say this man should go to jail.I think that would be a real waste of money.He is young and healthy.He is not a real criminal.Spending tax dollars to feed him and warehouse him for several years is a waste of money.I do not like the precedent that this would set if by claiming to be a CO,you do not have to serve in a combat area.I agree that his career as an infantryman is over.You may also be correct that this man would be a distraction in a combat area.That may very well be the case.

My problem with this story is that there seems to a major problem with people fulfilling thier obligations in the U.S. these days.House worth less than you paid for it? Walk away!Screw the bank! Credit card bill to high? Bankruptcy baby! The army wants to send you to a combat area? CO status! Less people want to honer thier commitments each day in the U.S. And there doesn't seem to be any repercussions.Everyone is a victem.Oh well,I'll get off of my soapbox.

Mabey BeaverFever is on to something.Mabey we could try to recoup our financial losses on this soldier.But I would not settle for breaking even.Perhaps a ten times cost penalty should be incurred.And throw in the DD as he suggested.I could live with that.

[rickc]

SprCForr SprCForr:

Can't jail him. He hasn't refused to deploy, because his unit hasn't done so, they're merely in the rotation. The story doesn't mention his willingness to finish his engagement. I can't see there being much longer left (What's a first time standard length of service in the US?). He hasn't refused to carry out his assigned duties, and he can't be dishonourably discharged for requesting a change in his status. Bottomline is he's playing by the rules.

Like I said, I think he was a damn fool for joining in the first place.

When you enlist in any branch of U.S. service the term is for 8 years.How many of that is active,and how many is inactive depends on career choices you make and the schooling you qualify for.Since 9/11 a lot of people have seen thier active enlistments last close to the full eight years due to stop loss and manpower shortages.Its totally up to the needs of the military how much time you serve.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

martin14 martin14:

This is better than desertion, at least.

Fuck the REMF, thats for pussies; and I hope the 101st doesnt
have much rear area anyway, they arent supposed to.


Many of the COs in WW2 became front line medics, so...........


slap a red cross ( or red crescent if he continues to cry )
on his ass and send him over.

The medics have a tougher job anyway, now that takes balls..

Many a story from veterans I've spoken to about medics start off " The bravest guy/thing I ever seen..."

As for making this guy an REMF, that term can be subjective. During the Battle of the Bulge, someone askd one front line trooper in the 101st what an REMF was. His reply, "Any son of a bitch who's foxhole is 50 ft behind my foxhole."

[andyt]

Thanos Thanos:

Maybe an America run by the military for a decade or so wouldn't be such a bad thing to have happen for a while. Beats what the civilian leadership's been up to, say, since Eisenhower.

Probably the scariest idea put forth on this forum yet.

[BartSimpson]

SprCForr SprCForr:

Good point. I'm sure there are plenty of duty stations that the US Army could send him to if his application for CO status is denied.

Hell, if I'd known that would've worked I would sworn I was a Muslim.

[gonavy47]

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

andyt andyt:

What, he wasn't a Muslim when he enlisted? Deploy him to prison, since I wouldn't trust him in Astan not to turn against his fellow soldiers.

Transfer him to the Canadian army. He him start in the Arctic holding a Canadian flag to support their sovereignty. That is about all he is good for.

Sorry, we don't want him. He can hold your flag just as well in Alaska.

[Nuggie77]

Being in the military doesn't seem to bother other Muslims, what makes him so special. If he doesn't want to fight, send him to some shite hole to finish his contract, but don't reward him. The purpose of the military is to go in harms way to defend your country, maybe he should've thought about that before signing the dotted line. Too many yahoos seem to think that the mililtary is there to act as a police force or a humanitarian mission.

[EyeBrock]

Don't mention that you think peace-keeping is bollocks.

You'll upset the partisan Libs still stuck in the 1990's. Flaccid (soft) power and all that.

[BartSimpson]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Don't mention that you think peace-keeping is bollocks.

Peace keeping is fine and dandy, just send the police to do it.

[SprCForr]

rickc rickc:

You bring up the cost of retraining this soldier.I would like to state that people in the military get retrained all the time.Cutbacks,new tech,injury,changing missions all contribute to retraining.I knew a guy that lost his security clearance because of multiple DUI's.He wanted out,they made him a cook.They didn't spend a penny retraining him.They sent him to the chow hall and put a spatula in his hand.That was in peacetime.

I have no problem with the retraining so long as zero resources were spent doing it. FWIW, making him a cook is too good in my book. Cutting grass and shovelling snow is about right...

$1:

Some people say this man should go to jail.I think that would be a real waste of money.He is young and healthy.He is not a real criminal.Spending tax dollars to feed him and warehouse him for several years is a waste of money.I do not like the precedent that this would set if by claiming to be a CO,you do not have to serve in a combat area.I agree that his career as an infantryman is over.You may also be correct that this man would be a distraction in a combat area.That may very well be the case.

You're spot on when you say he isn't a criminal. I'm sure that if he was granted CO status he'd still be liable to deploy with his unit (whatever that would end up being) if ordered. I'm pretty sure that there are some firm commitments along with that CO status.

$1:

My problem with this story is that there seems to a major problem with people fulfilling thier obligations in the U.S. these days.House worth less than you paid for it? Walk away!Screw the bank! Credit card bill to high? Bankruptcy baby! The army wants to send you to a combat area? CO status! Less people want to honer thier commitments each day in the U.S. And there doesn't seem to be any repercussions.Everyone is a victem.Oh well,I'll get off of my soapbox.

I agree that there are some concerns in this area. It's not just in the US as well.

[SprCForr]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

SprCForr SprCForr:

Good point. I'm sure there are plenty of duty stations that the US Army could send him to if his application for CO status is denied.

Hell, if I'd known that would've worked I would sworn I was a Muslim.

Gotta get that CO status thingy too, bro.