Posted on 10/18/2006 12:16:47 AM PDT by ajolympian2004
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (Army News Service, Oct. 16, 2006) – On the way to a yearlong deployment in Iraq, 307 Soldiers of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, participated in the Army’s largest-ever reenlistment ceremony held during a deployment Saturday.
Headquartered at Fort Richardson, Alaska, the unit ceremony took place at Camp Buehring, where the Soldiers stopped for final preparations before entering Iraq.
“This ceremony says a lot about the personal courage and selfless service of these paratroopers,” said Command Sgt. Maj. David Turnbull, command sergeant major for the 4th BCT, 25th Inf. “They understand they have a tough mission ahead of them and are still willing to commit themselves to continue in the Army.”
The large turnout underscores the service’s new campaign slogan, “Army Strong,” said the brigade’s commander, Col. Michael X. Garrett.
“Many are going to attribute this record-setting event to reenlistment incentives. But, on the eve of deploying north to Iraq, these paratroopers show that it is on a much more personal level,” Garrett said. “These paratroopers have seen something in someone, somewhere – whether it was a squad leader, platoon leader or commander – that led to this moment.”
Cpl. Brian Anderson, a recon scout with the unit’s 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, said he reenlisted for much the same reason as his comrades.
“I am reenlisting for the same reason as any other paratrooper here in this formation. I want to serve my country and I love the Army,” he said.
Large version of picture -
http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/uploads/large/2006/OCPA-2006-10-16-083006.jpg
uhm its called stop-loss. You can't get out when you are headed to a deployment or in a combat zone.
I concur.
uhm looks like re-enlistment to me.
Look at the big picture.
Reenlistment means they decided to stay in the Army for three or more years, has nothing to do with stop loss. Stop loss is an involuntary estension of your enlistment.
BULL-HOCKEY! These honorable Americans VOLUNTARILY RE-ENLISTED. "STOP LOSS" is not voluntary. State your credentials about military recruiting and retention before you make a stupid and insipid comment like that.
I dunno. Regardless of the individual soldiers' motives, you don't get 'stunt' reinlistments like this unless there's a problem the stunt's supposed to counter.
"reinlistments" = re-enlistments. We need an 'edit' function!
Then they would be extended, not reenlisted. The timing is not surprising. All money earned in the combat zone is tax-exempt. Including re-enlistment bonuses even if paid out over several years.
Exactly......bet it's not reported in the n.y.times ,so you know it's the real thing!
How long does stop loss extend? If it's for a year or two I can see it having an effect on increasing reenlistment due to signing bonus and only another year or two longer service than stop loss would require.
GOD BLESS our men and women in uniform!!! They are America's BEST!
That turns out not to be the case. Mass reenlistments such as this occurred last year when the Army was meeting its quota without any problems and the Marines had met theirs by September. BTW, I remember seeing on a milblog that 4th ID was 20% ahead of its quota as of March this year.
I remember "stunt" reenlistments every time the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds would come to a base I was at, back in the early Nineties when the Air Force was turning people away in droves.
Stop loss is an involuntary extension. Reenlistment is never involuntary, it is basically a new voluntary contract between the soldier and Uncle Sam.
Stop loss usually only extends until the end of the unit's scheduled deployment. My nephew was subject to it, even though he intended to go on the deployment whether he had a choice or not. But his brigade was taken of the rotation (there's an Iraqi brigade doing their job) and he decided to get out and go to college.
About "stunt" reenlistments...
Take a look at this 2005 story where the Army was "far ahead" of its quota for reenlistment and the 82nd Airborne had already met 97% of its quota by May.
Then we have this 205 story where the 3rd ID breaks the division record and the in country record for mass reenlistment.
One wonders what problem the 3rd ID was trying to counter in 2005.
Hey just to set the record straight they just arrived their they had a re enlistment ceremony for those who wanted to re enlist. My husband still had time on his current enlistment so there is no stop loss there He is just proud of what he does and wants to continue to do it. You should get your facts straight before you make you make your comments. ITS CALLED RE ENLISTMENT when its voluntary
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