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"I am getting this feeling that if we go to war with Iran, we are going to need a lot more troops. So, I am going to get out my boots and shine them up, my Uncle might be recalling me in the next year. I am over 55 now, but I am in excellent physical shape (rode over 28,000 miles on my bike the past 3 years), and still say active shooting my pistols and rifles. So, while I may not be able to hump in the boonies and carry the heavy ruck sack any more, I can at least free up a younger, stronger warrior from his boring guard type duties or guarding convoys and such. I am ready to wear my uniform again, if my Uncle rings me up!!"

In the Manatee Herald Tribune (Bradenton, Florida), there was an article yesterday about a 59 year old retired Colonel who has just been recalled to go to Iraq. He's packing, I guess. If you want to go, contact your Reserve Unit and talk to them.

I am not reserves. I am retired Army. We can sign up and be put on a list, and if they have a need for your MOS, then they will call you up. As a retired military, you are always subject to recall to active duty. We all have what used to be called "hip pocket orders" meaning, we carried our orders in our wallets (our retired ID card) and were subject to recall as needed. If you did not report, you were AWOL. When recalled, of course, you would be medically checked out to see if you could handle active duty again after so many years.

During the first gulf war, I was at Fort Benning, GA. I was working my last assignment before retirement. There were lots of recently released soldiers recalled for the war effort in 1991. Many folks who had got out 1 to 2 or so years before were recalled, especially combat arms types.