Veteran Returns to Army

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2005 — Army Maj. Harlie R. Treat came back to active duty to contribute to his country, help his fellow soldiers, and “keep a younger major with young children at home.”

And he is contributing to the mission here with Combined Joint Task Force 76 as the assistant inspector general to Army Lt. Col. Brian Williams.

Treat returned to active duty after a 12-year hiatus following his retirement in 1983. He first enlisted with the Arkansas National Guard in 1960 as a field artilleryman for six months shortly after high school.

“I did that because I thought it would help me get an appointment to West Point,” said Treat.

Treat didn't get the appointment but later enlisted into the Army as an infantryman, and was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Wash. After an assignment in Korea with the 7th Infantry Division, he returned to the United States to assume drill sergeant duty, and apply for Officer Candidate School as a staff sergeant in 1967.

Treat graduated at the top of his class, and in 1968 he became the Headquarters Company platoon leader, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He was later sent to Vietnam as an individual augmentee with the 101st Airborne Division.

“I was in the Pathfinder section when I first got there,” said Treat, “and I later became the rifle platoon leader.”

“Nobody in my rifle company except the company commander had a previous tour there,” said Treat. “My platoon sergeant and squad leaders were all draftees with less than two years in the Army.”

Following his service in Vietnam, he became an instructor at the Jungle Warfare School in Panama, and commanded the only parachute infantry rifle company in the Canal Zone.

Treat was also an instructor for three years at the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Okla., and a Reserve Officers Training Corps instructor at Texas Tech University for three years.

In 1980, he was assigned as the inspector general at Fort Stewart, Ga., with the 24th Infantry Division until he retired in October 1983.

At his retirement ceremony, he wore the now-defunct khaki uniform because he, “came into the Army wearing khaki, and was going to leave wearing khaki.”

After the events of Sept. 11, 2001, he felt compelled to re-enter active duty. However, after a long, tedious processing of his request, he did not actually become an active duty officer again until last April.

Army Maj. Harlie R. Treat, Combined Joint Task Force 76, is the assistant inspector general assigned to Forward Operating Base Salerno. He returned to active duty after retiring in October 1983. U.S. Army photo

“I felt it was necessary for our country to respond militarily to the 9/11 attacks,” said Treat. “With no draft, I knew the Army's resources would be stretched to the limit. My children are all grown and finished college, and I have no real responsibility there. The biggest responsibility I have here is to help soldiers and commanders to solve problems that they have not been able to resolve on their own.”

The role of the inspector general is to identify systemic problems where the procedures set forth by the system have been followed, but failed to produce desired results.

“In general terms,” Treat explained, “if a vehicle has a flat tire, we don't fix the flat: we see why it's not fixed or why it went flat in the first place.”

The IG assists unit leaders in solving any problem that affects any soldier's ability to do his or her job, whether it is a problem with finances, logistics or something else.

“If you have a problem, you make it known to the chain of command,” said Treat. “If that doesn't solve it, the IG is here as a backup. The commanders should always have the first shot to solve a problem.”

In his experience working with soldiers, Treat has noticed how problems with frequent deployments and family separation in the global war on terror are very similar to those faced by soldiers during the Vietnam War.

“The primary difference is that soldiers now deploy with their units, whereas soldiers were sent to Vietnam as individual replacements,” said Treat. “I think the unit deployment is the better method.”

“I've been very impressed at the quality of today's enlisted (soldiers) and their willingness to accomplish difficult missions,” said Treat. “We are fortunate today to have much more experienced leadership in our rifle platoons.”

Moreover, the Army is that much more fortunate to have experienced leadership like Treat in the ranks.

The barriers put in place by the services to prevent a retiree from coming back on active duty are monumental. Many of us who did 20 to 30 years and acheived command level rank are traditonally and vigorously prevented from getting back on active status, even as a 'back-fill' officer (a stateside assignment that can free-up a younger active duty type for overseas combat assignment). The personnel dudes simply want to avoid the massive paperwork with the retired finance sections and the active duty operational types have a pathologic fear of experienced senior officers getting into the command and support chain and thus hindering their own advancement.

A local dentist from around here was recalled because the Army needed a dental surgeon. But no color uniform wants an old throttle pusher, JAG or battle staff planner or member. Of course they're right. War is a young man's vocation irrespective of the experience; probably outdated any how---and besides, most of us couldn't even live through a routine 5K, sit-up and pull-up PT test.

Of course they're right. War is a young man's vocation irrespective of the experience; probably outdated any how---and besides, most of us couldn't even live through a routine 5K, sit-up and pull-up PT test.

Actually they are not right. During WW-II there were lots of WW-I retreads, especially in the Navy. They often served as CO's of smaller ships, transports, oilers, etc. Or they served in the logistics tail back home.

Once such was portrayed in the movie PT-109, serving very typically as the chief maintenance officer for a PT boat squadron or flotilla.

I'm old and fat, but I could do my job, freeing up a younger guy to serve in theater, or just supplying needed extra manpower.

Many ex service members are serving now, but as contractors or civil servants in support roles. That includes your old Feline Freeper.

… and besides, most of us couldn't even live through a routine 5K, sit-up and pull-up PT test.

Back when the Army was calling up retirees, many volunteered – but there was that requirement to pass the PT test. Exceptions could easily be made. I can teach my old MOS with a very short time to update. I do not need to run 2 miles to be able to stand at a podium or on the deck of a ship. I could easily free up the young marathoner now standing at the podium.

PFC Fusco;

Thank you for this thread. We old guys can still fight! I am former U.S. Navy and enlisted at the age of 33.

In fact, my father had returned to duty many years ago after being out for about 15 years.

Regards, J. Scott Davis

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