Troops Recalled

[gunnydi]

Dave, as this involves your son and many others in, NOT ONLY THE USMC, but as I have recently learned, ALL BRANCHES OF THE ARMED FORCES.

One thing that this tells me is that someone is lieing within the Department of Defense enmass. HOW COULD ALL THE MILITARY BRANCHES BE REPORTING THAT THEIR RECRUITING FIGURES ARE MET AND EXCEEDED YET THEY ARE NEEDING TO RECALL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NOW RESERVISTS BACK TO ACTIVE DUTY AND DEPLOYMENT?

Secondly, As well as yet another lie out of the Department of Defense, the News Services and the White House, apparently things are much worse and much more volatile than is being reported in Iraq and Afghanistan or there wouldn't be such a NEED.

Thirdly, rumors of a DRAFT are once again surfacing.

It is FACT that marines presently in Iraq are so BUSY they don't have time to write home, except to write a one line email stating they are too busy to write and don't know if they can 'hold this pace for many more months.'

SO WHICH IS IT? WHERE IS THE TRUTH? WHY AREN'T WE BEING TOLD THE TRUTH? WHY AREN'T THE MILITARY PERSONNEL BEING SENT OVER THERE BEING FOREWARNED OF SUCH A SHORTAGE? WHY AREN'T THEY GOING OVER BETTER PREPARED FOR THE RIGORS THE ARE ABOUT TO FACE?

Once again, I wonder why America sends ill prepared troops into warzones. It is NOT that they are undertrained. SOME are STILL underequipped. SOME are under too much stress and fatigue. If our troops are extended for greater periods of time, which they often times are, they become too tired, too stressed, too physically, emotionally, and spiritually deprived. This causes ERRORS, FATAL MISTAKES, and UNNECESSARY FAILURE AND ACCIDENTAL MISFORTUNE.

I read in one article recently about the TROOPS VOLUNTEERING TO GO BACK OVER. EXCUSE ME! I don't know that many are VOLUNTEERING for their 3rd tour, 4th tour, especially if they are newlywed, expecting a firstborn child, have already missed countless Holiday Seasons with Family/Friends. YES, SOME do volunteer, but they are the FEW.

AFTER all of these tours, as the VA has already become VERY WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR DECLINE OF MOST PTSD CLAIMS, these young men/women will be facing more PTSD than quite possibly even those that went to Vietnam did. Maybe...depending on how much longer this horror continues. Obviously, there is no end in site because once we (Iraqi and American/Coalition Forces) take ground, we depart only for the same area to be reclaimed by the terrorist factions. Later on, we are forced to go back, time and time again, and retake the same area, only to leave again, and permit the terrorists to retake it. I call it the never ending cycle that keeps war active. As long as we continue to fight in such a manner, war in unending. It remains a vicious cycle. The question is then, WHY ARE WE DOING IT THIS WAY?

America's Veterans for this generation will be sicker and more enmass than the Vietnam Era I'm afraid. And the VA will find more and more excuses to turn it's back on them than they did/have on the Vietnam Era Veterans. There were/are some things that the VA and Department of Defense could not DENY in the Vietnam Era, Agent Orange, Napalm, Chemical Warfare, Exposure, Illness, Diseases that affected the spouses and the unborn. Yet, it still took years and generations to get them to ADMIT to these sorts of trials upon our OWN SERVICEMEN/WOMEN.

Everything we see, hear, read, today is a contradiction. WHO DO WE BELIEVE?

Watch Video:
Marines Get Called Back to Iraq
U.S. Troop Presence Brings Drop in Violence

AREN'T THESE HEADLINES A CONTRADICTION?

IF TROOP PRESENCE MEANS A DROP IN VIOLENCE, WHY IS THERE A DESPERATE NEED TO SEND THOUSANDS OF MORE TROOPS BACK INTO IRAQ?
IF TROOP PRESENCE MEANS A DROP IN VIOLENCE, WHY IS THERE STILL SO MANY U.S. TROOP DEATHS DUE TO KILLED IN ACTION?

Just sharing a few THOUGHTS!
Diane M. Weller
POWMIA ANGEL

[outlaw3179]

Ma'm with all due respect . I was one of the Marines who volunteered to go to Iraq when I was newly married. I had just had a son who was born 2 months before I left. In my compny of Marines there were countless who were in the same situation. Many of theese Marines were off contract , many of theese Marines did not have to go back. All of them knew what the consequences were and they all knew the risks. We werent supply guys, we werent admin, we are Marine Corps. Infantry.
My same company is going to be going back in about a year or so ( OPSEC) . Many of the senior sgts, staff NCO's , and even some of the corporals who do not have to go back are going to go back . It is a sense of duty , honor and responsibility , not just for what the few want , but for the greater good of the Nation. This is what makes us Marines and this is what Marines have done for over 200 years.
You have to remember , each person in the military is a volunteer. They are signing the contract wich obligates them to a period of 8 years. Most will do their 4 and never have to be recalled. But right now times are changing. Marines are having to deploy over and over and thats because were fighting a war on 2 fronts. Kind of like World War 2 where Marines , soldiers and sailors where there. They didnt come home . They were gone for years at a time.
You ask who to believe....

Ill tell you who to believe....Believe the young men and women who are reenlisting, believe the ones who are going back knowing full well what that means. Believe the families of the men and women who stand behind them , because they understand the sacrifice that they are making is for the better good. Stop listening to the "experts" on tv , quit listening to all the fatass senators and the lawmakers who have no idea what the hell they are talking about. Quit listening to all the protesters who repeatedly bash the military but have no problem enjoying the freedom wich they provide.
Ma'm ....Marines, soldiers, airmen , and sailors would rather you dont fight for their "rights"....theyre busy winning a war. Either back us ....or just leave us alone. Either way...YOUR WELCOME.

[jinelson]

Well said Outlaw well said indeed - Semper Fi

[yellowwing]

Damn outlaw, you nailed that one! Semper Fi

[Camper51]

These men are not being recalled (is there something wrong with them? are they broken/defective?) they are being CALLED up to active duty. they signed an 8 year contract that said they do so many years of active duty then go to the IRR subject top being called up if needed.

If this is happening then we need to be upping our quotas for new recruits so that this tactic is no longer necessary...

they can recall me, fix me, and then send me on over to the sand box if they like, I would be proud to serve again, and it would be a recall for me since I am broken/defective...

[thedrifter]

Ma'm with all due respect . I was one of the Marines who volunteered to go to Iraq when I was newly married. I had just had a son who was born 2 months before I left. In my compny of Marines there were countless who were in the same situation. Many of theese Marines were off contract , many of theese Marines did not have to go back. All of them knew what the consequences were and they all knew the risks. We werent supply guys, we werent admin, we are Marine Corps. Infantry.
My same company is going to be going back in about a year or so ( OPSEC) . Many of the senior sgts, staff NCO's , and even some of the corporals who do not have to go back are going to go back . It is a sense of duty , honor and responsibility , not just for what the few want , but for the greater good of the Nation. This is what makes us Marines and this is what Marines have done for over 200 years.
You have to remember , each person in the military is a volunteer. They are signing the contract wich obligates them to a period of 8 years. Most will do their 4 and never have to be recalled. But right now times are changing. Marines are having to deploy over and over and thats because were fighting a war on 2 fronts. Kind of like World War 2 where Marines , soldiers and sailors where there. They didnt come home . They were gone for years at a time.
You ask who to believe....

Ill tell you who to believe....Believe the young men and women who are reenlisting, believe the ones who are going back knowing full well what that means. Believe the families of the men and women who stand behind them , because they understand the sacrifice that they are making is for the better good. Stop listening to the "experts" on tv , quit listening to all the fatass senators and the lawmakers who have no idea what the hell they are talking about. Quit listening to all the protesters who repeatedly bash the military but have no problem enjoying the freedom wich they provide.
Ma'm ....Marines, soldiers, airmen , and sailors would rather you dont fight for their "rights"....theyre busy winning a war. Either back us ....or just leave us alone. Either way...YOUR WELCOME.

Amen!

Ellie

[artymarine]

I have been retired for 12 yrs. And have applied twice to go back on active duty and I do believe it may happen. If I can do just one tour to give some hardcharger a rest. That would be great.

I do not consider myself an old man, I stay in shape, I am a certified state firearms instructor and dabble in MMA fighting.

Still Lean
Sill Mean
All Marine

[gunnydi]

You all have missed my POINT entirely. But that's all right. Let me clear up a few things you all have brought up though.

My son is a Sgt. in the USMC, has been in the Corps since 1999. He is due to get his promo to SSgt. in Oct. He is currently in Iraq for his 3rd tour- maybe 4th. But at least 3rd. He was last in Baghdad less than one year ago as an MSG for 6 months, THAT DUTY he volunteered for. Upon leaving Iraq, he returned to his regular MSG duty station, Lima, Peru where he finished up his MSG Duty of 3 years and got married to a lovely woman in Lima, Peru. Due to a mess up with the State Dept then, and AFTER he was discharged from his MSG Duty, there was a glitch with her paperwork. My Marine had to return to the US alone. His wife never got to join him until Feb. 3, 2006. 5 days after her arrival stateside, the poor girl was notified of her father's death, an accident. She was not permitted to return to Peru to attend his funeral. Obviously, it saddened her, but she lived through it and with time, she's accepted it. She didn't know that her life would be upset yet again by another deployment so soon. She is alone in a strange country, although she has adjusted quite well to America but doesn't yet know how to drive and has to depend on walking or other means of transportation. She is pregnant and due to give birth to their firstborn son the end of Nov.
I'm not asking for any sort of pity here. Just a little understanding for the couple. I think it's awfully difficult and a harsh reality that they will be celebrating their first anniversary yet not be together, they haven't gotten to spend a holiday season together yet and they won't again this year. They won't share the birth of their firstborn. (And yes, I do know, they are not the only couple this happens to.) They will not be together to share their birthdays with one another again, etc. etc.

I do not BASH THE MILITARY. I am the daughter of a WWII Veteran of the US Army a SSgt. who fought at the Battle of the Bulge as well as many other infamous warzones and battlefields. I, myself, am a veteran of the USAF. My son, as I stated above, is a Sgt. of the USMC, and my youngest daughter is an E-4 Gunner's Mate aboard the USS Roosevelt DDG-70.

Since my son's latest arrival in Iraq, he wrote me one email which stated this, "I'm sorry I haven't written, we've been busy since we set foot here and it hasn't stopped. This pace is gonna kill us all if it keeps up."

Before you all start jumping in a person's business and personal background, why not take at face value what point the person is attempting to get across first and foremost?

The POINT of my writing was the FALSESHOODS coming out of every oriface that American's listen to today, the Press, the DOD, the VA, even the White House. That there are, IN DEED, contradicting stories and headlines run back to back like the American people are so dumb they can't add 1 + 1.

I did NOT say that NO MARINES OR ANY OTHERS IN ANY OTHER BRANCH OF THE US ARMED FORCES VOLUNTEERS TO GO TO IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN. What I did say is that THEY DO NOT ALL VOLUNTEER TO REPEATEDLY GO OVER TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME, nor do they VOLUNTEER to EXTEND their stay there for several more months than first expected. The RECALLS are not VOLUNTARY as in Dave Patterson's son's case. He questioned me about whether or not I thought he should even report to Camp Pendleton because he hadn't been going to report for any duty since he left Active Duty. I ADVISED HIM HIS SON SHOULD REPORT PER ORDERS TO CAMP PENDLETON.

Yet here you all are discussing issues that I did NOT bring into this forum and then some of you are even blaming me and condeming me and calling me non-supportive to our troops because YOU mistook, misread, what I actually DID write. Missing my POINT entirely.

And THIS, dear military families and patriotic supporters, IS what is wrong with America today!

[gunnydi]

4 Military Services Met Recruiting Goals
Stars and Stripes | By Lisa Burgess | July 11, 2006
ARLINGTON, Va. — All four military services met their active-duty recruiting goals in June, the 13th month in a row that recruiters have met or exceeded their goals, according to figures released Monday by the Pentagon.

All of the services are on target to meet their active-duty goals for fiscal 2006.

Five of the six reserve components also met or exceeded goals in June, the figures showed.

The only reserve component to fall short was the Navy Reserve, which met 95 percent of its goal for the month.

Two of the reserve components are lagging behind their year-end goals: the Navy Reserve, which has met only 83 percent of its year-to-date goal; and the Air National Guard, which is at 92 percent of its year-to-date goal.

But the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, which had struggled in previous months — falling behind their goals even as late as April — roared ahead in June.

The Army Reserve accessed 5,640 soldiers, or 121 percent of its monthly accession goal of 4,661.

With 25,004 soldiers accessed into the force so far this fiscal year, the Army Reserve is at 101 percent of year-to-date goal.

The Army National Guard, meanwhile, which missed its goal last year, accessed 5,823 soldiers in June, or 101 percent of the monthly goal of 5,743. The service is at 103 percent of its year-to-date mission, according to the statistics.

The June numbers are lending credence to Army leaders’ statements that unlike fiscal 2005, recruiting in fiscal 2006 will be successful — despite the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and growing the overall size of the force.

“I’m cautiously optimistic we’re going to make our [fiscal 2006] numbers,” Army Secretary Francis Harvey told C-SPAN on June 14.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters Monday that more recruiters, financial incentives and other “tools” have helped the active services to meet their goals.

Among those tools that have apparently paid off has been the Army’s controversial strategy of “backloading” its recruiting efforts.

Instead of spreading recruiting goals evenly over 12 months, as they did in the past, Army officials lowered monthly recruiting goals for the first eight months of the fiscal year, focusing on the more productive summer months.

Critics said that even with the “summer surge” in their favor, the resulting numbers would be too high for recruiters to meet.

But in June, Army recruiters brought in 8,756 accessions, more than the 8,600 goal they were set.

June’s recruiting efforts bring the active Army’s total to 51,612 recruits, leaving 28,388 slots on the roster left to fill between now and Sept. 30, the end of fiscal 2006.

But the bar for the next three months remains very high: more than 9,460 individuals will have to agree to join the active Army in July, August and September for the overall goal to be met.

Diane M. Weller
POWMIA ANGEL

[thedrifter]

You stating Your case....

We ALL Have A Right to OUR Opinions Now

Ellie

[sgt tony]

Good Going Outlaw you got that one right. Hey I would be more than willing to go back any time any where. I have been out since 1983 but I still shoot real straight.
Semper FI

[sgt tony]

Dear Ms Gunnydi
I understand what you have stated but the men and women that are in the military wheather active/reserive/inactive have signed there contracts and even if we would rather they stay home to be with loved ones or holidays together then who should we send over there? I would go if I could and if they will let me I will go. It is hard on all the troops but that is the job they take when you are a Marine, Army, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard.
I know this does not settle the problem but that is just the way it is.
Yes they have stated that they have meet the goals in recurting but they have to train them in there MOS and that takes time to get done.

[outlaw3179]

Sgt. Tony is right...Ma'm your son Im assuming reenlisted during a war. Its not like he doesnt know what hes getting into. You said hes about to be promoted to SSGT. He has men and women under him , who are looking up to him for leadership and guidance. Hes a grown man and he knows the consequences of his actions. Respect his decision. You talk about him like hes a little boy and has no idea what hes doing ....almost like another mom down in Texas. Im not trying to be disrespectul ma'm because I have a mom too. Moms worry , thats their job. But please understand we're Marines, this is what we do.

[His_angel]

I was going to stay out of it. But after reading again I can't keep my fingers from walking.

I can understand that your baby boy is a Marine. I can also understand that he has a family and is expecting a baby. And I can understand him wanting to be home a bit as well as your pride in how you and your family {previously and now} have served our country.

Maybe the Air Force, Army and Navy are more "sensitive" to the "needs" of the individual. There are many Marines who have been to the sand box 2 or 3 or more times already. Some volunteered. Some were just given orders. Marines deploy. That's what Marines do. Marines have been involved in every major conflict on the front lines. That's what Marines do. I heard many times while I was in and even since I got out, "If Uncle Sam wanted you to have a family they would have issued you one." It's partly in jest. There is a basis behind the comment though. Someone can hold family first in their heart. When it's time to be mobile it doesn't matter if you have a new spouse, new baby, new house or have been there already. Being a family member of a Marine can be difficult. Long distances can be hard on a relationship. Even harder when someone is at home constantly worried about the safety of their Marine and not sure when their Marine will be home. Many times going for lengths of time without hearing from the Marine as well.

So recruiting numbers are being met. It takes time to get through boot, additional training and additional schools. There is only so much room to train new Marines. Just take boot camp for example. There are only so many squad bays with so much room for X number of recruites. There are so many personnel to train the recruits. Only so many recruits can be at any given place at a time such as obstacle courses, classes, swim quals or rifle range. To have more than there is room for would obviously cause safety issues as a result of overcrowding. Then there are also only so many resources such as the number of rifles that can be issued at any given time. Only so many medical persons. Only so many instructors.

Meanwhile we have a need for more Marines {and other service members} due to everything going on. There are already reservists that have been active for a few years now. They are already meeting recruiting quota's, training new Marines and getting them in position as quickly as possible. Thus the IRR recall. IRR Marines {and other service members} have already been through boot {or basic}, already been through other training, already been through schools, and already know how to perform certain duties and tasks.

As you already know and as others have already stated, a contract was signed. Whether it was 4 years active and 4 years IRR; it is made clear that one is obligated for the IRR duty years. It is not a draft and someone being called up involuntairly. It is a recall of those who volunteered, agreed to the terms of duty and contract, and are still obligated.

I can understand your concern being the Mom, Mother in Law and soon to be Grandma. That fact that Grandpa served in another war does not exempt him from his services and obligations that he volunteered for now. The fact that he has already deployed does not relieve him from going again. In Vietnam we had those who were drafted that did more than one tour. On this board we have active members from Vietnam to today that have been involved in one or more deployments and one or more times in the same conflict or war.

Yes. There will always be those who will think, "That's not right." There are those that question our reasons for even being involved. Fact of the matter is we are involved. Fact of the matter is the ones involved did volunteer and are under contract. Fact of the matter is that most everyone over there has family too. Many have had babies born that they were not there for. Many have new spouses they haven't been able to spend much time with. Most have Mothers who are just as concerned as yourself. If everyone was excused from their obligations then we would not have enough manpower thus those there would be at even greater risk for losing their lives.

Angel

[eddief]

All I can say about those who were recalled back to active duty is this- Welcome back to the Suck! Bwahaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaa!