Army to Expand Stop-Loss Program

American Forces Press Service ^ | Jan. 2, 2004 | By Donna Miles

[Calpernia]

Army officials are expected to expand the stop- loss/stop-movement program soon to include more soldiers deployed in support of the war on terror.

An Army announcement, expected within the next week or two, will broaden the number of soldiers whose separations, retirements and reassignments are temporarily placed "on hold."

The expansion of the stop-loss/stop-movement program comes just as the Army prepares for a major rotation of troops in Iraq within the next few months.

Lt. Gen. Dennis Cavin, commander of U.S. Army Accessions Command, said during a CNN interview today that the stop-loss program is designed "to provide continuity and consistency" for deployed units and to enhance their ability "to execute their mission to the highest degree of their effectiveness."

He insisted that the program does not mean that the Army has a shortage of qualified troops to support the war on terror. Cavin said the Army remains "very successful" in its recruiting efforts and continues to "bring in top- quality men and women who want to make a difference."

The current stop-loss restrictions took effect Nov. 13 and cover active-duty soldiers while they are deployed outside the continental United States in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraq1 Freedom.

The restrictions bar voluntary separations and retirements for soldiers in designated units beginning 90 days before deployment until 90 days after their units return to their home stations.

In addition, the stop-movement policy essentially suspends the normal rotation of soldiers into and out of affected units.

The Army's Reserve Component Unit Stop Loss policy took effect in November 2002. It applies to Reserve and National Guard soldiers deployed in support of the war on terror, from the time their unit is alerted until 90 days after demobilization.

[Calpernia]

Pro Military, Pro Coalition News

An Army announcement, expected within the next week or two, will broaden the number of soldiers whose separations, retirements and reassignments are temporarily placed "on hold."

The expansion of the stop-loss/stop-movement program comes just as the Army prepares for a major rotation of troops in Iraq within the next few months.

[RiflemanSharpe]

You take the king's shilling, you do the king's bidding. It has been that way for centuries and shows no signs of changing.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Old Sarge]

(waving) Me too, Folks, me too!

[boxerblues]

Well my boys don't need to worry about this, one signed up for 4 more years just before being deployed to the sandbox and the other reupped on Christmas Eve for 3 more years with another year in Korea. All I wanted for Christmas was my kids to be in the same time zone...oh well

[CasearianDaoist]

They say that there is no [roblem with new enlistments this year. How do myour boys feel about this issue (in general imeans - it is clear how the feel about in as idividuals)

[blackie]

Army to Expand Stop-Loss Program ~ Bump!

[antiRepublicrat]

All my best to your boys. Care packages to the sandbox are awaitin' if you can get me an address. I know I appreciated them when I was there.

[Steel Wolf]

The stop loss is covering over serious manpower issues. One of the battalions that I work with has been stop lossed for a long time, and is slated to lose a huge percentage of their personnel when the stop loss ends. If the military refuses to address the reasons why people are getting out, they'll be stuck with these manning problems for the forseeable future.

[TruthNtegrity]

The major part of this stop-loss applies to troops already deployed. Fearing that they would get out as soon as they returned home, the Army has extended their stays where they are: Iraq, Kuwait, wherever.

I don't think this is going to do anything but make those who intended to get out, be more fervent in doing so when they finally get orders home.

I have never forgotten the image of the Officer getting off of the Abraham Lincoln and walking right up to a microphone to announce that this was it - he wan't putting his family through another deployment like that one and he was getting out. When the shocked reporter asked him how long he'd been in, he answered, "Eighteen and it doesn't matter. I've missed seeing my children grow up for the past year, I've missed evey T-ball game for my youngest son, I've missed every school performance any of them have had, and I'm not taking it anymore."

Two years short of retirement is sure giving up right before the reward of retirement.

TNT

[boxerblues]

Its mixed, most of the boys they know knew that when they signed on the dotted line they would be one timers, others wanted to tough it out for the 20 years if possible. My youngest got a few of his friends to join up after he did, telling them the hardest part was bootcamp and if can do it they could too, but they didn't have me for a mother so boot was a breeze for my kids :)

[ex-snook]

After the neocons convince Bush to take on Iran, Syria, and NK and occupy Iraq indefinitely, the breeze you feel will be the draft but under a more popular name.

[Grut]

If the military refuses to address the reasons why people are getting out, they'll be stuck with these manning problems for the forseeable future.

I think you'll find that the military has considered the matter and decided they don't really need all those 'weak sisters'; that's the classic rationalization that lets them ignore their own responsibility for retention problems.

[leadpenny]

Bump your comments. I have it on good authority, were it not for s/loss the Army would be hemorrhaging Captains. If they stick around to make Major, they will head for 20.

FReep mail comin' at ya.

[joesnuffy]

Nothin worse for moral than having that carrot of DEROS dangled in front of you...
and then upon reaching it..having it snatched away...more than once is NOT a smart idea....

[ColdSteelTalon]

More and more reservists are going to go bankrupt over this for sure. I can tell you that is not going to go well for retention.

People are nuts when they sign an open ended enlistment aggreement that says that the government can keep you till the end of time.

People should read their enlistment contracts more carefully before signing.

[the_french_gynecologist]

patriot act schedule II (if you love american then you won't mind dying in iraq/korea/afghanistan... unless you're a communist, or a terrorist, or a bothist)

they'll definitely be short on troops when china and n. korea get their act together

i doubt very much the chinese and n. koreans are just going to sit there tinkering with their dysfunctional hydro dams and nuclear plants while haliburton begins pumping oil and gas to south east asia for cash on the dollar

all likelihood the north will grab south korea and japan will be threatened with nuclear leverage to remain neutral... ergo no air bases for american intervention... china will grab taiwan and america will be able to do nothing about it unless they have 5 million men to spare or are willing to risk a nuclear retaliation

with no friendly customers in asia to sell the oil bushco will have to negotiate anyway if they want to sell their now worthless oil

[cynicom]

Cavin is a liar, we do not have enough grunts.

[Steel Wolf]

We don't have enough anybody. That's the problem. Our personnel shortfalls are being willfully ignored until they become severe, then they are being patched with 'stop loss' programs or lowered standards for training and retention.