Army Reservist Accused of Insubordination

My Way News(AP) ^ | Nov 28, 2003 9:14 PM (ET) | BEN DOBBIN

[neverdem]

Something tells me that a draft may come back more quickly than expected. FWIW, as described by AP, this chain of command sounds quite harsh and uncaring.

[patton]

Do you believe the description?

[ConservativeMan55]

"Something tells me that a draft may come back more quickly than expected. FWIW, as described by AP, this chain of command sounds quite harsh and uncaring."

I believe Debka is more credible than the AP.

[ConservativeMan55]

LOL...you beat me to it!

[Pern]

Individual members of the 401st are allowed to refuse to sign the waiver, but Earley said McAlpin was "butting in" for other soldiers.

Translation: He was providing other soliders information, something good officers do, and it went against the Chain of Command grain.

If the law says 12 months, then 12 month's it is. I know that extra month can mean a lot to the solider going away.

I've seen commands that use every little excuse to degrade a person, so the harshness doesn't suprise me.

[skinkinthegrass]

The Law is, the Law...sounds like the USArmy should read their own regs...I understand his statement...and the USArmy's...His, Is the better argument.

[patton]

;)

[templar]

Something tells me that a draft may come back more quickly than expected.

Nah, not nescessary yet. Just freeze all discharges for the duration of the War, like in WWII.

Besides, who ya gonna draft? A bunch of kids that have been indoctrinated by the public schools to be terrified at the sight of a mere drawing of a gun? Be better off drafting the street gangs; at least they sorta know how to shoot.

[ontos-on]

11 months---12 months ?????? "civil affairs unit"----teaching english was his combat station--- I am sorry, this guy sonds more like a union shop steward than a soldier.

[FR_addict]

I agree. If the circumstance is really described by the soldier correctly, then the army needs to read its' own regulations and abide by them if they expect the common soldier to follow the rules.

If we need more soldiers, then this issue needs to be addressed. We are giving the Iraqis, 87 billion dollars. If we need more people in the military, this issue needs to be addressed by the administration and Congress, not hidden by changing the rules on those already serving our country.

[elbucko]

Something tells me that a draft may come back more quickly than expected. FWIW, as described by AP, this chain of command sounds quite harsh and uncaring.

I disagree with both your opinion on the draft and the "harsh, uncaring, command". I was both a draftee in '67 and 6 years later spent two years in the National Guard, so I know a little about both.

A draft will not work now. This conflict has to be "sold" to those who want to participate. Conscription was one of the reasons we lost Vietnam.

As for the Guard and Reserves, many (not all) of these guys sign on for a gravy train of weekend fun, two weeks a year playing army at a fort (but sleeping in a BOQ) and having a nice little addition to their retirement income in their "Golden Years".

It's time for the Guard and the Reserves to join the rest of the US military (which Bush is doing). That this "officer" has "issues" is without doubt. He should go, as ordered, or face a CM and risk the loss of benefits if found guilty. The word "fair", in the UCMJ, only applies to a courts martial.

[elbucko]

--- I am sorry, this guy sonds more like a union shop steward than a soldier.

Exactly.

[neverdem]

Who do I believe, the AP or an arbitrary, politicized Army chain of command that will screw soldiers in a heartbeat?

I'm pretty sure you're aware of LTC West's predicament.

To me it's a toss-up.

[Pern]

...this guy sounds more like a union shop steward than a soldier.

It doesn't matter what his job was, every solider is a rifleman first. He would be spending his time in the desert right along side the troopers, eating those delicious MRE's, sleeping in tents, waking up with sand fleas the size of cockroaches because they feasted on you while you slept, and let's not forget the sand, it get's EVERYWHERE!!

Complaining because his unit is being shafted out of a month allowed by Army reg's is, in my opinion, the mark of a good officer. It show's he's looking out for his men.

It might not seem like a lot of time, but to the trooper going out there, for a stint as long as 18 months, it is immeasurable.

[rabidralph]

Gosh, my draconian Navy gave us six months at sea, six months at home. Oh, the humanity.

[neverdem]

"Gosh, my draconian Navy gave us six months at sea, six months at home. Oh, the humanity."

These guys are in the Army Reserve. As I understand the current law and the situation, these folks are being forced to volunteer or their careers will be in jeopardy.

I'm quite familiar with how various chains of command can operate. I did almost 9 years active duty in the Army, and another ~5.5 in reserve and guard units.

[PAR35]

this guy sonds more like a union shop steward than a soldier.

An officer willing to stand up for his enlisted men? He sounds like a leader of men rather than someone who orders troops into battle from a safe distance.

[erinjohn]

This guy is a Reservist The Military is not his primary job. While I understand we are at war. Iraq and Afghanistan do not qualify as large scale conflicts. The Army needs to increase its manpower to cover Iraq/Afghanistan type small wars Reservist are just that reserves and should not be over used as cost cutting tools. If this guy was active duty it would be a whole other story. His argument is valid.

[Sci Fi Guy]

Something tells me that a draft may come back more quickly than expected

I believe that we had a military about twice the current size during the Reagan Administration. If Bush was willing to spend the money on National Defense, we would not have much trouble building back up to a Reagan size military.

[BikerNYC]

I think if the draft did come back, "don't ask, don't tell" would fly out the window, because you would see a lot of young people, who don't care as much if they are perceived to be gay, claiming they are when they are brought in.