Who Needs A Draft?

[Nbadan]

The U.S. Army has forced about 50,000 soldiers to continue serving after their voluntary stints ended under a policy called "stop-loss," but while some dispute its fairness, court challenges have fallen flat. The policy applies to soldiers in units due to deploy for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The Army said stop-loss is vital to maintain units that are cohesive and ready to fight. But some experts said it shows how badly the Army is stretched and could further complicate efforts to attract new recruits.

"As the war in Iraq drags on, the Army is accumulating a collection of problems that cumulatively could call into question the viability of an all-volunteer force," said defence analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute think tank. "When a service has to repeatedly resort to compelling the retention of people who want to leave, you're edging away from the whole notion of volunteerism."

When soldiers enlist, they sign a contract to serve for a certain number of years, and know precisely when their service obligation ends so they can return to civilian life. But stop-loss allows the Army, mindful of having fully manned units, to keep soldiers on the verge of leaving the military.

Under the policy, soldiers who normally would leave when their commitments expire must remain in the Army, starting 90 days before their unit is scheduled to depart, through the end of their deployment and up to another 90 days after returning to their home base. With yearlong tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, some soldiers can be forced to stay in the Army an extra 18 months.

Reuters (http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-01-29T144559Z_01_N196487_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAQ-USA-STOPLOSS.xml)

The current state of our Armed Forces. Do we wanna win this war or not?

:hat

[xrayzebra]

What is wrong with a draft. I like the idea. What some on this board need.
A little learning curve wouldn't hurt you. Find out there is more than life than
school.

[Mr. Peabody]

I don't regret my time in the military. It made me into the man I am today.

[Oh, Gee!!]

I don't regret my time in the military. It made me into the man I am today.


were you ever in the "shit?"

[Mr. Peabody]

were you ever in the "shit?"

What do you think junior?

Do you think these hands have been soaking in Ivory liquid?

[JoeChalupa]

What I don't get is...where are all the young adult children of all the so called "red states"? You'd think since they were all gung-ho to support Bush and his war that a Draft wouldn't even be an issue.

I just don't get that. Then again I don't expect the Bush daughters to go running to enlist.

[Mr. Peabody]

were you ever in the "shit?"

I wasn't in a class room, hoping I was right, thinking about it. I was up to my knees in rice paddies, with guns that didn't work! Going in there, looking for Charlie, slugging it out with him; While PUSSIES like you were back here partying, putting headbands on, doing drugs, and listening to the GODDAMN BEATLE ALBUMS!

[JoeChalupa]

Oh..and yeah I know it is a VOLUNTEER Army. But the way I see it..don't committ our troops somewhere where you wouldn't send your own children.

[JoeChalupa]

The Beatles rock!!

[Mr. Peabody]

Oh..and yeah I know it is a VOLUNTEER Army. But the way I see it..don't committ our troops somewhere where you wouldn't send your own children.

Using that logic, we couldn't commit our troops to any combat.

[Mr. Peabody]

The Beatles rock!!

They were Beach Boy wannabes.

[Spurminator]

What I don't get is...where are all the young adult children of all the so called "red states"? You'd think since they were all gung-ho to support Bush and his war that a Draft wouldn't even be an issue.

I just don't get that. Then again I don't expect the Bush daughters to go running to enlist.

Young adults don't vote.

[Nbadan]

I wasn't in a class room, hoping I was right, thinking about it. I was up to my knees in rice paddies, with guns that didn't work! Going in there, looking for Charlie, slugging it out with him; While PUSSIES like you were back here partying, putting headbands on, doing drugs, and listening to the GODDAMN BEATLE ALBUMS!

http://www.movieactors.com/photos/stripes127.jpeg

Settle down Francis - most of these guys were still a gleam in their dad's eyes during Nam.

[Mr. Peabody]

http://www.movieactors.com/photos/stripes127.jpeg

Settle down Francis - most of these guys were still a gleam in their dad's eyes during Nam.

Not Stripes, but

http://superfrenchie.com/Pics/Blog/rodney_dangerfield_back_to_school.jpg

[Nbadan]

Speaking of Stripes...


WASHINGTON — Struggling to retain enough officers to lead its forces, the Army has begun to dramatically increase the number of soldiers it promotes, raising fears within the service that wartime strains are diluting the quality of the officer corps.
....
The higher rates of promotion are part of efforts to fill new slots created by an Army reorganization and to compensate for officers who are resigning from the service, many after multiple rotations to Iraq.

The promotion rates "are much higher than they have been in the past because we need more officers than we did before," said Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman.
....
But the recent trends in promotions have stirred concerns that the Army is being forced to lower its standards to provide leaders for combat units that will be deployed overseas.

"The problem here is that you're not knocking off the bottom 20%," said a high-ranking Army officer at the Pentagon. "Basically, if you haven't been court-martialed, you're going to be promoted to major."

LATIMES (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-officers30jan30,0,1693991,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines)

http://www.movieactors.com/photos/stripes155.jpeg
Short of court-martialed, huh? Now that's my kind of Army!

[ClintSquint]

I'm for the draft. That's what the youth of today needs!

[Lyndie England]

Short of Court-Martial? :depressed

I Could have been someone!

http://www.whodigsben.com/images/abugirab1.jpg

[xrayzebra]

Hmmmm. looks like Abu Grab all over again to me^^^^.

Is that a cell phone in her sock. Waiting on her next trick to call I guess.

[Clandestino]

nbadan still up to no good! :lmao

[midgetonadonkey]

Now that I'm too old and overweight to be drafted, I'm all for it.