Posted on 12/25/2005 2:44:27 PM PST by SandRat
WASHINGTON, Dec. 25, 2005 – Servicemembers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are re-enlisting in high numbers, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff today said he thinks he knows why. Marine Gen. Peter Pace spoke with Chris Wallace on the Fox News Channel's "Fox News Sunday," making his first appearance on a Sunday talk show as Joint Chiefs chairman.
"(The high re-enlistment rate) shows their pride in what they're doing and their understanding of how important it is," the general said. "It is absolutely true that for those units that have served overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, that their re-enlistment rates are the highest of all of our armed forces."
Pace said servicemembers know they're doing important work, and also know it's appreciated. "I think Pfc. Pace understands the value of what he or she is doing, and they know that what they're doing is appreciated by the Iraqis and the Afghan people. They know that the support here at home for the armed forces is very, very solid and very strong. They're proud of what they're doing, and they want to continue to do it."
The chairman acknowledged that waking up far from home on Christmas morning can be difficult for the nation's deployed forces, but he added they can wake up with great pride in what they've accomplished in 2005.
"This has been an incredible year," the general said, "and all of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen (and) Merchant Marines have so much to be proud of, and we should all be thankful."
Pace cited an unprecedented concentration of major relief efforts, including the South Asia tsunami, hurricane relief in the United States and earthquake relief in Pakistan. He also noted that U.S. servicemembers' efforts helped to bring about Afghanistan's second parliamentary election as well as two elections and a referendum on a constitution in Iraq.
"When they wake up this Christmas Day, and they're away from home, they also can take enormous pride in being part of a really historical year," Pace said.
The chairman also noted the contributions military families make. "You know, when we're overseas and we are in harm's way, we know when we get in trouble, and we are able to, through our training, do something about it," the general said. "Our families here at home don't know when we're in trouble, so they wait and they pray.
"And when we come home," he continued, "they stand in the background and pretend that we did it all on our own. But the families that we have supporting our military are serving this country at least as well as those who wear the uniform."
My 22 year old nephew just re-enlisted. He is a Stryker commander. Our whole family is very proud of him.
TexGuy You have every good reason to be proud! God Bless your nephew. Please thank him for his service from me.
Thank you, SandRat, for posting this.
God Bless the men and women of the United States Military! You are all heroes!
He's on FNS (the replay) right now!
Congressman Murtha (Traitor-PA) said the Army is broken.
Afghanistan will be a harder nut to crack and may well fall back into yet another generation of tribal warfare. If so, we will be there to take the hits and make the necessary hits to drag their savage arses into the 21st century. These palaces full of savage peoples are faced with the reality that they shall join the future and prosper, or fight the future and perish.
Anyone with a globe can see why we are where we are today; the rest of you can just assume we are fighting a couple of useless wars for oil or revenge For those missing my point, note India's position and political disposition re. Pakistan and China to our unknown strategic position in the east.
No one amongst the civilian population really knows what we have over there (Afghanistan) and where the heck whatever it IS may be is deployed. No one knows our strategic alliances with India regarding deployment, and no one knows anything except both our forces have access to highly accurate, reliable and readily deployable long/medium/short range nuclear devices; from land sea or air the reality for the enemy is complete vaporization of a square mile of strategically necessary territory at moments notice (in Iran and China).
I think Russia is out of the picture as they know their hardware and software are vulnerable (and inferior). They just sell their garbage to our (and their) enemies.
"(The high re-enlistment rate) shows their pride in what they're doing and their understanding of how important it is," the general said. "It is absolutely true that for those units that have served overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, that their re-enlistment rates are the highest of all of our armed forces."
How well I know and lived for 20+ years.
Lib/dems just lie...and lie....and lie...
Every American should be proud of what are men and women are doing not only to defend the US but to give the gift of freedom to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. They call the WWII vets "The Greatest Generation." People like your nephew, every one of which is a volunteer, are giving them a run for their money IMHO.
Every time some place would heat up and we were alerted, 99% of my troops would come up to me and ask if they could be put on the advance party roster. When Grenada broke out there was only one man (a 2nd Lieutenant) who did not actually beg to go.
We weren’t needed because the Airborne troopers did their job. A lot of disappointed people.
You got it ... Thanks ...
I've tried to go back twice since 9/11 but they keep telling me my status is 14K.
When the enemy gets to 14th and K street in DC they'll call me.
I admit I had my hopes up when a few retirees were called up – but they had this little thing about passing a PT test. Sir Arthur Ritis wouldn’t let me.
My take is that real soldiers (and not the garrison monkeys) are re-enlisting because they actually get to be soldiers - and not garrison monkeys. For a true warrior, what could be more fulfilling than actual legalized, sanctioned combat?
The left is deeply saddened. They took great glee when the recruitment went down.
I remember when we first went into Afghanistan and our military guys marked their planes with 9/11 sayings. Our military guys and gals seem to understand with complete clarity what's going on in the world today. It's a War on Terror and America is at great risk. It's a great pity that many politicians and members of the putrid MSM don't understand what the American military know. God Bless our Military - they are the GREATEST Americans.
Uhhh..I suspect the bonus offered to grunts have a tad to do with enlistment. Family friend is being offered $25,000 to re enlist.
The Marines don't pay re-enlistment bonuses
Sorry, they do. His is 25K...
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