Bad news for the bad guys!
Posted on 04/12/2004 7:41:55 PM PDT by Libloather
82nd Airborne soldiers re-enlisting in high numbers
Division has already met goals for retention for fiscal year '04
Monday, April 12, 2004
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT BRAGG
Though thousands of 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in the past two years, some of them taking hostile fire, the storied unit is exceeding its retention goals and re-enlisting soldiers in droves.
Despite reports that the Army's increased operations in the war on terrorism is hurting retention, deployments have helped the division retain experienced soldiers, a spokesman said.
"They came in to do something and they are actually doing it," Master Sgt. Jerry Johnson said.
Many soldiers who went on leave when they came back from Iraq said they planned not to re-enlist, but when they returned to Fort Bragg, they did, he said.
"They are going back home and getting a lot of support. People are proud of them," Johnson said.
The 82nd has already met its re-enlistment goals for fiscal year 2004, and the year is only half over.
The goal was to re-enlist 536 soldiers. More than 600 paratroopers have signed up to stay in the Army.
The unit has signed more than 90 percent of the soldiers who are finishing their first enlistment and those who have already re-enlisted once but have served less than 10 years. The division also has met its goal to retain career soldiers who have more than 10 years in the Army and are planning to stay until they are eligible for retirement after at least 20 years.
Spc. Robert Hirsch, 22, of St. Paul, Minn., said he had no plans to re-enlist after spending a year in Iraq, which he called the worst in his life. Despite the long deployment, Hirsch signed up again last month. He is now preparing to go to Special Forces selection.
Soldiers are being promised a re-enlistment bonus ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on their military specialties and the length of their commitments. Some soldiers with special training can earn bonuses as high as $20,000.
Spc. Frank Crayton, 21, from Kathleen, Ga., re-enlisted so he could go back to Iraq. He signed a six-year contract and agreed to transfer to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, which is preparing to return to Iraq in the fall.
"I joined the Army to fight wars. I believe in what we are doing over there," he said.
Pvt. Terrell McClary, 21, from Kingstree, S.C., re-enlisted before his first contract expired. He tacked on three years after a little more than a year of his initial contract.
McClary said he was motivated by his time in Iraq. He arrived in Baghdad in July 2003 and said that helping the Iraqis made him feel good. He also will transfer to the 3rd Infantry.
Spc. Nathaniel Crocker shares McClary's motivation. Crocker, 22, from O'Fallon, Ill., extended his military tour for a year.
"What I did in Iraq gave me a sense of purpose," he said.
Other soldiers have had enough.
Spc. Clifton White, 22, of Philadelphia, wants to study computer programming.
If he stayed in the Army, he expected to get about a year of training followed by another three years in uniform.
"That is asking too much," he said.
Big Media will pick on this breaking news any second now...
And a grateful bump to our brave guys' service.
Prairie
Rebel mortar attack breaks calm - Camp Pendleton Marines suffer minor wounds
I wouldn't want to speculate on what he smokes.......
(However, like the ClinToon, he "didn't inhale".)
Enough of that....
Go Troops!
You Make US Proud!
What made an impression on me were the reactions of his male friends. There was a sizeable group of young men with whom the returning soldier had attended high school. They appeared to be young men from all walks of life. From nerdy college boys, to working class buddies, they all appeared to look up to the returning hero. They saw him I suspect in a much different light than they did before he left for war. It was a vastly different reaction than what young men returning from Viet Nam experienced.
His mother told me he was planning to goto college when his enlistment is up ... get in ROTC so he could be an officer. Her son at present is planning on making the military a career. He is obviouly the sort of young man who could rise to the top in any field. .. education, industry, business, law, public service, or any field. It is significant that he has chosen the military.
I remember when Nixon first got the all volunteer military passed. Many felt that only those that could not make it in civilian life would volunteer. But practice has shown that many of Americas best are attracted to military service. They are of great quality and are serving for all the right reasons. Our nation if fortuneate.
I spent 3 years of my life in the military, and 35 years in the media. The military draws a lot better class of citizen than the media.
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