Fresh Agitprop Here!
Posted on 09/16/2004 7:07:11 PM PDT by churchillbuff
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - Soldiers from a combat unit at Fort Carson say they have been told to re-enlist for three more years or be transferred to other units expected to deploy to Iraq, the Rocky Mountain News reported Thursday.
Hundreds of soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team were presented with that message and a re-enlistment form in a series of assemblies last week, two soldiers who spoke on condition of anonymity told the newspaper.
"They said if you refuse to re-enlist with the 3rd Brigade, we'll send you down to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which is going to Iraq for a year, and you can stay with them, or we'll send you to Korea, or to Fort Riley (in Kansas) where they're going to Iraq," said one of the soldiers, a sergeant.
The second soldier, an enlisted man, echoed that view: "They told us if we don't re-enlist, then we'd have to be reassigned. And where we're most needed is in units that are going back to Iraq in the next couple of months. So if you think you're getting out, you're not."
The sergeant told the News the threat has outraged soldiers who are close to fulfilling their service obligation.
"We have a whole platoon who refuses to sign," he said.
An unidentified Fort Carson spokesman said Wednesday that 3rd Brigade recruitment officers denied threatening the soldiers with more duty in Iraq.
"I can only tell you what the retention officers told us: The soldiers were not being told they will go to Iraq, but they may go to Iraq," said the spokesman, who confirmed the re-enlistment drive is under way.
One of the soldiers provided the form to the News. If signed, it would bind the soldier to the 3rd Brigade until Dec. 31, 2007.
An Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Gerard Healy, said sending soldiers to Iraq with less than one year of their enlistment remaining "would not be taken lightly."
"There's probably a lot of places on post where they could put those folks (who don't re-enlist) until their time expires," he said. "But I don't want to rule out the possibility that they could go to a unit that might deploy."
Extending a soldier's active duty is within Army authority, since the enlistment contract carries an eight-year obligation, even if a soldier signs up for shorter terms. Members of Iraq-bound units can be retained for an entire year in Iraq, even if their active-duty enlistment expires.
"I don't want to go back to Iraq," the sergeant told the News. "I went through a lot of things for the Army that weren't necessary and were risky. Iraq has changed a lot of people."
The enlisted soldier said the recruiters' message left him "filled with dread."
"For me, it wasn't about going back to Iraq. It's just the fact that I'm ready to get out of the Army," he said.
If you really want to enjoy yourself discuss the real Churchill with him...his knowledge of Sir Winston is sorely lacking. Not that that doesn't stop him from trying to tie Churchill quotes to his defeatist agenda.
Everyone tired of Neville's BS, say "Aye."
Go get 'im, Peach! SUPERB response!
I'm really surprised he's still here. While I enjoy a good debate, he exposed himself with his rediculous response about "searching for an exit strategy."
The folks who served in combat and survived have a right to get out at the end of their enlistment; unless there is a "stop loss" in effect. But to have them threatened and coerced into reupping is very B-A-D juju as Tarzan used to say. It will come back and bite the army in the A$$. There are a LOT of very experienced folks who are just aching to go, if they'll just issue a few waivers.
Aye.
Just check out old posts.
"The exit strategy is to be there until we don't need to be there anymore....We are removing some troops from Germany and S Korea I hear..."
Hey! I guess Bush does have an exit strategy! For Germany and Korea!
The russians haven't been a threat since I left in 91.
BTW when are the troops coming home from the Sinai, kosovo, or beligium.
You would think the UN could take over those missions, cause I know they cann't do sudan and iran.
BTW I know soldiers who would reenlist to go back to Iraq, but then you know that.
:-)
How many democrat talking points are you going to post on how many threads before this idiocy ends? When you get spanked on one thread, you abandon it. But like a common garden mole, you pop up somewhere else seconds later.
You're a common troll and petty agent provocateur.
BYE BYE little minded troll.......
After 9/11, I read Steven Emerson's book and then immediately after several Churchill books. He would not be pleased at this abuse in his name :-)
So...where's Murrymom been lately?
How about I show you YOUR exit strategy?
Brothers and Sisters, I smell ozone.
Exactly.
Fresh Agitprop Here!
Saw on the FNC that the 82ND was being called up. I believe they will be rotating troops soon.
His is to vote Kerry in then run away.
"My friends and my Marines are still there, still fighting," he said softly. "Any Marine in their right mind would want to be right there with them. All I've really lost is about 10 degrees of peripheral vision, and I'll be OK without that. I'm ready to be with my Marines again."
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