Can Someone Explain These, Please

Questions for some of our commenters:

All services are basically meeting their recruitment goals, which are seasonally adjusted. [At least, this is what the Pentagon's DefenseLink.mil says every month.]

Supposedly, all services are also basically meeting their enlisted retention goals.

If, in fact, this is indeed the case, why is it necessary to call up, involuntarily, the Individual Ready Reserve [IRR], as described on this blog and elsewhere?

We understand that junior Army officers (Lieutenants and Captains) are getting burned out from frequently deployments; many are leaving the service at historically high rates, just when they are at the point where their substantial combat experience makes them extremely valuable to the Army, and to our nation, for decades to come.

The Army is trying to offer bonuses, etc., but is not really in a position to make a serious commitment to, say, reducing deployment frequency to two years at home for every year away. [We commend Army leadership for refusing to make any commitment they cannot keep; it's more honest that way.]

If, in fact, this is indeed the case, how do those who aspire to national civilian political leadership, and their supporters, plan to deal with this? Don't they see any national leadership responsibility to set a good example for the rest of us?

Reward for Honorable Service: Being Sent Back to Iraq

After being out of the Army for three years, author Colby Buzzell is being called back to active duty as part of the Individual Ready Reserve. Mr. Buzzell offered his thoughts on his situation in the San Francisco Chronicle:

As terrible as this might sound, whenever someone asks me about enlisting, I'm tempted to encourage them. I figure that the more people who enlist, the slimmer the chances that I'll get called back up. But of course this is ridiculous: No one in their right mind would enlist now, whereas I've already signed the papers. I'm now going back to Iraq for a second time because people like me - existing service members - are the only people at the Army's disposal.

Looking back, would I have joined the military if I were doing something that I loved? Or had a job that paid $100,000 a year? Probably not. Those are the men and women I feel that we need to mail these letters to. Let's see what happens when they receive letters telling them to put on a uniform and ship out immediately to the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I know I won't get any sympathy at all from the "you dumb ass you signed the contract!" crowd, which is fine, but I really was looking forward to applying my GI Bill to photography classes so I could learn how to take pictures. But now, thanks to not enough Americans volunteering for military service, I now have to worry about my picture appearing on the second or third page of my hometown paper with the words, "it was his second deployment" in my obituary.

OYE Comment: Please see the posts written on VoteVets.org. Both commentaries by Brandon Friedman and ThisDudesArmy eclipse anything we would say.

Jenna Bush and Henry Hager: We Wish Them Well: Here's Why

As everyone should know, First Daughter Jenna Bush is to wed Mr. Henry Hager, a frequent and long-term subject of this blog, later today in a private family ceremony at the Bush Ranch near Crawford, Texas. We approve of Miss Bush's and her family's decision to hold a family wedding in Texas because it shows respect to the American people when our nation is at war.

Although we have called upon Mr. Henry Hager at least to consider volunteering for military service [assuming he is eligible, which we do], it is clear that we have not been successful in this effort, which we now conclude. He has made his decision, and we must respect it.

On the other hand, Mr. Hager is about to graduate [or already has] from business school and plans to reside with his new bride in the Baltimore area, working in private business. It is therefore also clear that Mr. Hager does not aspire to national leadership. This decision by Mr. Hager also shows respect to the American people and their needs and desires in this area.

All over America, local communities, regions and states depend on solid citizens who care about the future. Although Mr. Hager has rightly decided to forego a role in national leadership, we hope that he and his new bride will be involved in their new community.

We wish them well as they begin their life together.

Stop-loss won't stop anytime soon

From the Army Times:

Last year’s surge of five combat brigades into Iraq helped drive a 43-percent increase in soldiers being barred from leaving the service under stop-loss orders, and Army leaders predict the policy will remain in place at least through next year. However, they expressed optimism that the numbers will ebb as surge forces redeploy.

More than 12,230 soldiers are under stop-loss orders, compared to 8,540 in May 2007, during the surge. But the 30,000 combat troops that were part of the surge are in the process of coming home, and the Army is returning to 12-month deployments Aug. 1. Because soldiers are placed under stop-loss as members of deploying units, reducing the numbers sent to war reduces the numbers involuntarily held.

OYE Comment: With so many College and Young Republicans eligible to serve, it is pathetic that these soldiers have to continue to go beyond their original commitment to Our Country. These soldiers have done their part, it's well past the time for the cheerleaders to get in the game.

Quick! Before he leaves town!

Rob Casapulla believes that the pen really is mightier than the sword. To prove it, the UConn College Republican president, will not soften himself by joining The Military.

Mr. Casapulla on the American troop surge he's not anxious to participate in:

"The military has met 13 out of 18 benchmarks during the course of the war, which is a big deal."

Mr. Casapulla on sacrifice (you know, like having to eat Ramon noodles on a college budget):

"After the fifth anniversary of the war was marked, the number of U.S. dead in Iraq reached 4,000. Each life lost was a brave sacrifice given for all of us who can remain back here at home. The sacrifices of these soldiers illustrate how the War in Iraq is progressing, despite what liberals would have us believe."

Mr. Casapulla telling troops that see combat 'you don't know how good ya got it':

"To put the Iraq war in perspective - in the 17-year span American troops were in Vietnam 58,000 soldiers were killed. If the War in Iraq continues at its current pace and we are in Iraq for another 12 years 14,000 American soldiers will have died in a 17-year war, that is less than a quarter of the troops lost in Vietnam. We lost 4,900 American soldiers in the Normandy invasion of D-Day."

Advil- more dangerous than bullets or IED's

"Each year in America approximately 7,600 people die from "non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs." For those of you not following, this means almost twice as many people die every year in the United States from aspirin or ibuprofen than have died in the five years we have been in Iraq."

Mr. Casapulla: defender of yellow ribbons

"They scoff at Americans that display yellow ribbons to support their family, friends, and neighbors that serve overseas, claiming they really support the troops because they want to bring them home."

OYE Comment: As a senior, Mr. Casapulla will be graduating shortly. Before he leaves we ask that you contact him and offer your encouragement to Be A Man! Enlist!

John Bruhns: Support The Troops - Draft Yourself!

from A National Disgrace, by John Bruhns:

During the Vietnam conflict the American people had personal reasons to care about their country being at war. Now, if Americans don't have their own blood or money in the game, they couldn't care less. [ . . . ]

Now, America's burdens are borne by only a handful of volunteers and their families.

How does a country fight two wars simultaneously without a military draft and tax cuts for those in the highest income brackets? How can a country turn a blind eye while the blood of their service members continues to flow and our lawmakers dump $12 billion dollars per month into the Iraq conflict? The answer is simple: Our country is not at war, our troops are, their families are, and the Iraqi people are. [ . . . ]

I look out my front window and see a plethora of American flags decking out the entire block of my neighbors' homes - a true patriotism contest. Yet, if they didn't know me, they probably wouldn't know anyone who served in Iraq.

I see peace vigils countered by "victory" demonstrations populated by young males who lack the courage to put their own bodies where their rhetoric is. They stand on street corners like cowards chanting . . . Victory, Victory, Victory - all while they stay completely out of harms way.

However, if these same young men were required (by a military draft) to fight the war they so strongly support, they would be on the other side of the street burning their draft cards chanting . . . Bring the troops home, Bring the troops home, Bring the troops home. (That is the difference between my generation and the baby boom generation).

And while these same cowards will accept nothing less than victory, I wonder - What is victory in Iraq? [ . . . ]

For the record, I'm not advocating for a draft. Primarily because I wouldn't want these clueless, cowardly, street corner mouthpieces sharing a foxhole with our patriotic men and women who exemplify the best of all that is American. (The "victory" cheerleaders who refuse to serve exemplify all that is un-American).

Plus, my concern is that the "Dick Cheneys" of the world would always find an out, while the poor kids of small towns & urban ghettos would be the ones selected to have their blood spilled for rich elitists who feel entitled to live lavishly and protected during a time of war & recession - a true national disgrace.

At the same time, I fully acknowledge there are veterans groups out there who wholeheartedly agree with our mission in Iraq. Most of them have served in the "war on terror." I may disagree with them, but I respect them for their service. They fought the war they believe in.

My gripe is with this despicable element in American society who thump their chests, wave the flag, support the war, but just stay home - all under their perverted perception that they are doing their part by fighting the cultural war here at home -- oh how convenient for them. [ . . . ]

But if you feel that you know what victory is and you advocate for the troops to be kept in harm's way -- go join them.

My final message to all the young, able-bodied, male cheerleaders advocating for victory in Iraq with no intention of ever wearing the uniform is this: SUPPORT THE TROOPS - DRAFT YOURSELF.

OYE Comment: None needed. That says it all.

Waivers for Recruits Increase

The Washington Post had the basic story. The New York Times added more. Money quote:

“With the Iraq war being as controversial as it is and absent any higher level call to service, it’s a very difficult challenge to all the services, particularly the Army,” said Michele Flournoy, the president and co-founder of the Center for a New American Security, a centrist research organization that focuses on national security and military policies. “The fact that the use of waivers has increased dramatically is something that should be of concern and should be watched over time.”

Meanwhile, Stop-Loss continues, according to USA Today, United Press International and the Associated Press.

OYE Comment:

We repeat our call to those eligible-to-serve civilians, who support what our troops are trying to accomplish, to support them even more by becoming one of them.