US soldier refuses to report for active duty in Iraq

AFP via Breitbart ^ | Jun 15, 2008 | afp

[informavoracious]

He was a photojournalist. Doubtful that’s a critical MOS. Maybe he just really wanted to be a modern journalist, you know, the kind where he himself is the NEWS...

[Moose4]

The flowery centerpiece in front of the flag is such a nice homey touch, don’t you think?

}:-)4

[af_vet_rr]

He will be prosecuted and may serve a few years in prison. He knows this very well and hopes that the bad publicity of the case will help him. It won’t work.

Actually, unfortunately, the Army has been letting a lot of people off with DDs or GDs. It's gotten pretty ridiculous at times. From a relative I've talked to, anytime anybody in his division decides they no longer want to put on a uniform, the Army falls all over itself trying to get them to stick around, including letting them run around for months with simple please of "if you return, no harm, no foul".

Now this little twerp - maybe the Army will make an example out of him, but for every idiot like him, there are plenty running around that don't make the news and that the Army either gets back or discharges.

[af_vet_rr]

He was a photojournalist. Doubtful that’s a critical MOS. Maybe he just really wanted to be a modern journalist, you know, the kind where he himself is the NEWS...

We are at war, we have had to make extensive use of the IRR. If the Army was exceeding their retention and recruiting goals, then we wouldn't have had to make extensive use of the IRR (I say exceed - I've heard several times that the Army is meeting their retention and recruiting goals, but the fact that large numbers of IRR members are still being utilized says they have manpower problems even if they are meeting the goals they've set).

While it seems like a photojournalist (especially one who spent his time updating what sounds like glorified Army blogs) would be way down the list of critical MOSes, obviously the Army needs him. They don't call up IRR members just for fun.

[Operation_Shock_N_Awe]

Negative ghost rider

in order to be eligible you have an obligation to fill; even if you begin using them before the obligation is complete.

And as I noted to be Honorably discharged.... it is after your 8 years is up. And to reiterate it this includes either the IRR time... OR re-enlistment that carries you to 8 years or beyond. Check out ACTUAL enlistment papers at —

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd0004.pdf

you’ll appreciate paragraph 10a on DD form 4.....

“FOR ALL ENLISTEES: If this is my initial enlistment, I must
serve a total of eight (8) years, unless I am sooner discharged or
otherwise extended by the appropriate authority. This eight year
service requirement is called the Military Service Obligation. Any
part of that service not served on active duty must be served in the
Reserve Component of the service in which I have enlisted.”

Don’t forget 10d, 10e, 10f, 10g, 10h — that explain what the full time means.....

So now what’s “horse jockey?” Good job on blaming the Administration, though. Inconvenient facts such as a servicemembers’ obligationss do tend to shed light on Bush Derrangment Syndrome.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Maybe that was a misprint and they meant to say “his father is off his rocket”.

[PsyOp]

Fine. Deploy him stateside.

Expedited orders to report forthwith to Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

Escort will be provided.

[2CAVTrooper]

I’m not going to post the entire thing word for word so I’m just going to post what is relevant but on my DD Form 4/1 Enlistment/Reenlistment Document it says:

B. Agreements

8. I am enlisting/reenlisting in the United States (list branch of service) ARMY RESERVE this date for 8 years and 0 weeks beginning in pay grade E1. The additional details of my enlistment/reenlistment are in Section C and Annex(es) A,B.

C. Partial statement of existing United States laws.

9. FOR ALL ENLISTEES OR REENLISTEES. Many laws, regulations, and military customs will govern my conduct and require me to do things a civilian does not have to do. The following statements are not promisesor guarantees of any kind. They explain some of the present laws affecting the Armed Forces which I cannot change but which Congress can change at any time.

a. My enlistment is more than an employment agreement. As a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, I will be:

(1) Required to obey all lawful orders and perform all assigned duties.

(4) Required upon order to serve in combat or other hazardous situations.

b. Laws and regulations that govern military personnel may change without notice t ome. Such changes may affect my status, pay, allowances, benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the Armed Forces REGARDLESS of the provisions of this enlistment/reenlistment document.

c. In the event of war, my enlistment in the Armed Forces continues until six (6) months after the war ends, unless my enlistment is ended sooner by the President of the United States.

10. MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATION FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL GUARD.

a. FOR ALL ENLISTEES: If this is my initial enlistment, I must serve a total of eight (8) years. Any part of that service not served on active duty must be served in a Reserve Component unless I am sooner discharged.

b. If I am a member of a Reserve Component of an Armed Force at the beginning of a period of war or national emergency declared by congress, or if I become a member during that period, my military service may be extended without my consent until six (6) months after the end of that period of war.

c. As a member of a Reserve Component, in time of war or national emergency declared by Congress, I may be required to serve on active duty (other than for training) for the entire period of the war or emergency and for six (6) months after its end.

d. As a member of the Ready Reserve I may be required to perform active duty or active duty for training without my consent (other than as provided in item 8 of this document) as follows:

(1) In time of national emergency declared by the President of the United States, I may be ordered to active duty (other than for training) for not more than 24 consecutive months.

(4) When determined by the President that it is necessary to support any operational mission, I may be ordered to active duty for not more than 90 days if I am a member of the Selected Reserve.

-end

No matter how you look at it, the coward is in breach of his contract and at MINIMUM should be reduced to E1, imprisoned for the remainder of his obligation, and have full forfiture of all pay, allowances and benefits.