Monday, July 12, 2004
There is No Backdoor Draft
This so called "back door draft" critics talk about is a call up of Soldiers in the reserve, most of whom I’d guess are in the Individual Ready Reserve or IRR. I was in the IRR for almost five years and all the while, I knew that I could be called up. The IRR is made up of Soldiers who are not on active duty or doing the one weekend a month thing, but still have time left on their contract. All initial contracts are for eight years. In the Guard, most Soldiers go 6 x 2, that is 6 years of one weekend a month and two years in the IRR. Many do this so that they can take advantage of college benefits. I already had a degree and went 3 x 5. I would have gone 0 x 8 if the option was available. I figured train me up and give me a call when you need me.
With the Army, like so many other, large, institutions, it’s a numbers game. I volunteered for Operation Enduring Freedom when I was in the IIR. As a medic, I thought for sure they’d take me. I think it was too much trouble for them; maybe if I spoke Farsi, they’d take me, but to pull people out, one at a time, I guess it wasn’t worth it. Now that things are getting tight, it’s worth it.
This criticism of the military and the administration is unwarranted.
This so called "back door draft" critics talk about is a call up of Soldiers in the reserve, most of whom I’d guess are in the Individual Ready Reserve or IRR. I was in the IRR for almost five years and all the while, I knew that I could be called up. The IRR is made up of Soldiers who are not on active duty or doing the one weekend a month thing, but still have time left on their contract. All initial contracts are for eight years. In the Guard, most Soldiers go 6 x 2, that is 6 years of one weekend a month and two years in the IRR. Many do this so that they can take advantage of college benefits. I already had a degree and went 3 x 5. I would have gone 0 x 8 if the option was available. I figured train me up and give me a call when you need me.
With the Army, like so many other, large, institutions, it’s a numbers game. I volunteered for Operation Enduring Freedom when I was in the IIR. As a medic, I thought for sure they’d take me. I think it was too much trouble for them; maybe if I spoke Farsi, they’d take me, but to pull people out, one at a time, I guess it wasn’t worth it. Now that things are getting tight, it’s worth it.
This criticism of the military and the administration is unwarranted.
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