[An.American.Expatriate]

opps, bad link-up

the Link on "self" above takes you to the Boston Globe page which shows the discharge date . . .

here is the link again http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/timeline.htm

[judicial meanz]

John Kerry had a heck of a deal!

He joined in February 1968. He made Lieutenant in 1970. He was discharged in February 1970. I calculate 1 year 11 months and a few odd days of active duty service.

He was discharged from the USNR in 1978- date not given. That means he held a valid US Navy commission until 1978, and could be called to active duty at any time while in that status. As a matter of fact, inactive reserve members were called up for the Gulf Wars when they thought they were done with the service.

In less than 2 years, he joined, went through his basic officer training , served on a destroyer, went to swift boats, got all those cute medals, and made Lt(O-3).

I dont know what his original enlistment/commissioning contract was, but I know my original enlistment period was 6 years, with 4 to be served on active duty and the rest in the reserves.

[Turbo Pig]

Non-Issue. Little known secret, almost everyone who signs up in the military actually signs up for an 8 year stint. This is no matter how long an active duty period is on your contract. If your active duty period is less than 8 years, once your active duty period is complete, whether through completion of the contract, or resigning your commission, you are placed in the IRR (Inactive Ready Reserve) for the remainder of the 8 years. Once in the IRR, you are subject to recall to active duty at the desire of the government. This usually occurs to people that are in critical MOS (Military Occupational Specialties) that are in short supply during a crisis.

On paper there are standards that you are supposed to maintain in the IRR. In actuality all you have to do is be able to breath and walk. They send out annual "where are you" letters to IRR members. Most of them end up in the circular file, and the government really doesn't care. This is because if the government really wants you back on active duty, they will find you and request your presence. None of this changes the fact that Kerry was cavorting around with the enemy. It does mean that technically, he as not breaking any rules regarding his status in the IRR.