The Draft is next
 

Army to recall former military members
Tuesday, June 29, 2004 Posted: 12:43 PM EDT (1643 GMT)


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Army is preparing to notify about 5,600 retired and discharged soldiers who are not members of the National Guard or Reserve that they will be involuntarily recalled to active duty for possible service in Iraq or Afghanistan, Army officials said Tuesday.

It marks the first time the Army has called on the Individual Ready Reserve, as this category of reservists is known, in substantial numbers since the 1991 Gulf War.

The move reflects the continued shortage of troops available to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to fight the ongoing war on terrorism as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lt. Gen. Frank Hagenbeck, the Army's deputy chief of staff for personnel, said earlier this month of the Army's troop strength, "We are stretched but we have what we need."

Pentagon officials have echoed that statement explaining that while the military is reaching deep into its resources, war planners have long had contingency plans such as this for when troops are really needed.

Several hundred members of the ready reserve have volunteered for active-duty service since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Those who are part of the involuntary call up are likely to be assigned to National Guard or Reserve units that have been mobilized for duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to Army officials. An announcement is planned for Wednesday.

Members of Congress were being notified of the decision Tuesday, the officials said.

Unlike members of the National Guard and Reserve, the individual reservists do not perform regularly scheduled training.

Any former enlisted soldier who did not serve at least eight years on active duty is in the Individual Ready Reserve pool, as are all officers who have not resigned their commission.

The Army has been reviewing its list of 118,000 eligible individual reservists for several weeks in search of qualified people in certain high-priority skill areas like civil affairs.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/06/29/ira....ap/index.html

Wonderful. I'm a few years shy of being 26, too.

Frankly, I can't wait for the draft.

I wonder if 'mercuns will still view war as a TV show or video game when the draft is reinstated.

Who said something about riots yesterday?

A little social upheaval will do us all a world of good.

Forgive me if I don't share your enthusiasm.

Wow.

Patti

I don't see the public supporting a real draft this time around.

- Jake

Like that will matter for the lame duck Pres. :shrug:

I don't see much of his "base" supporting him when their kids are on the front lines. (Or maybe they'll be the ones on Coast Guard duty. :rolleyes: )

- Jake

They don't support being in Iraq, yet we're there.

You think? And yeah, so far Bush hasn't really cared what anyone wanted, including in his election. Gawd, a draft would be terrible! I mean, I already don't have a boyfriend, and that just narrows the pool... :p
Amber

Well, they did and overwhelmingly so in the beginning - I am just sayin . . . . .:cool:

I don't think the opposition is overwhelming. It would be if there were a draft.

- Jake

I am assuming no draft will take place until his "lame duck" second term, if he has one - hopefully he will not.

I think he does care what some folks wanted, just not what most folks wanted.
And yet his dad used to drive me crazy with all of his poll watching. :(

- Jake

Well, second term seems to be when scandals hit the presidents hard, if you look at Clinton & Reagan, so who knows ;) .
And Congress would still need to worry about the 2006 elections.

- Jake