No. It was part of his contractual obligation when he joined the Army.
Posted on 06/15/2008 5:19:33 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
A month after US army reservist Matthis Chiroux publicly refused to deploy to Iraq, the former sergeant on Sunday set himself up for possible prosecution by failing to report for active duty with his unit in South Carolina.
"Tonight at midnight, I may face further action from the army for refusing to reactivate to participate in the Iraq occupation," Chiroux told reporters in Washington.
"I stand here today in defense of those who have been stripped of their voices in this occupation, the warriors of this nation...", Chiroux read from a statement as his father Rob, who had travelled to Washington from Alabama to support his son on Father's Day, stood beside him.
Last month, Chiroux rejected an order calling him back to active duty in Iraq, saying he considers the war "illegal and unconstitutional."
Chiroux served five years in the army, with tours in Afghanistan, Japan, Germany and the Philippines.
He was honorably discharged last year and was placed in the Individual Ready Reserves (IRR), a pool of former soldiers who can be "reactivated" in a national emergency or war.
Prior to the Iraq war, IRR members were rarely recalled to active duty, according to the Military Times, an independent newspaper for members of the US armed forces and their families.
"Many believed they never would be called -- but when the army found itself stretched by unexpected combat demands in Iraq in the summer of 2004 it began issuing mobilization orders," Military Times wrote in an article published a year ago on Sunday.
According to the paper, hundreds of IRR members "refused to report or simply ignored their mailed mobilization orders."
Matthis' father Rob, a rocket scientist who lives in the army town of Huntsville, Alabama, said mobilizing IRR members was a form of back-door draft.
"If our country is in such a dire emergency that we need to conscript manpower, congress has to vote to reinstate the draft," the elder Chiroux told AFP.
"But they won't do that because if congress said we need to bring back the general draft, the war in Iraq would be resolved very quickly," he said.
"Moms and dads, who represent millions and millions of voters, would say: wait a minute -- you want to draft my kid? Iraq's got to stop."
It's actually Agence France-Presse (AFP). Different from Associated Press (AP). Same MO. Same as Reuters, too.
Unless the member requested, and was granted a waiver. My case, 1972.
Yeah, I'm just making it up.
If you don't think for a second that there are plans underway to deal with Iran, you're smoking crack.
No. It was part of his contractual obligation when he joined the Army.
See 60 as well.
Please don’t call me that, my Grand Father was the only one who could.
I guess I’ve spent the last 21 years in the Army with my head stuck in my fourth point of contact. I may however ask you for a job in a year.
Horse hockey...those benefits you list are provided to every Honorably discharged veteran with or without committment to IRR.
The simple fact remains, this adminsitration has done a crappy job preparing for the mess in Iraq and the veterans are paying the ultimate price..
LOL! Crap and a sack more often. ;-)
Hey, if you're in the medical field we can fix you up...or if you feel the need for constant pressure we can get you into buying and selling crude oil.
Kerry was reputable sailor. From his honorable service as an enlisted guy, through OCS, and his time sailing towards Vietnam. He lost it though, while there, and needed a quick out. He got it, and went on to defame the folks he served with.
It was a good move for him. He reached star status and ended up as a US Senator. Not bad work for a traitor.
I remember this item from some time ago and that little twerp isn't in the brig already?
Get that ass-hat to Leavenworth!!!
I am in the buisness that causes people to need medical help. As for the constant pressure, it’s what gives life in my opinion.
Honorable service as an enlisted guy? You obviously have no clue ... another pontificating ignoramus who never served day one in any branch of the U.S. military.
Do I detect something less than total pleasure at wearing little round white hats and seeing the world through a porthole ?!?!?!?!
Remember, on a SSBN, 150 men go to sea for three months ..... 75 couples return!
:~)
C’mon, even a rocket scientist knows that Individual Ready Reserves (IRR), is a pool of former soldiers who can be “reactivated” in a national emergency or war. Oh wait. Never mind.
>>>My name is Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, and I served in the Army as a Photojournalist
Thank you, you answered my question. Reading the initial blurb I bet myself this soldier was not in a direct combat branch but rather some more cushy support job.
Unless the history I read is different than the history you read, I am correct.
Kerry joined the United States Navy Reserve during his senior year at Yale. He is quoted as saying that he decided to join the Navy after he approached his draft board for permission to study for a year in Paris, and the draft board refused.[9] In addition, several of his classmates were enlisting in the armed services. Upon graduation from Yale, Kerry entered active duty and served until 1970, eventually reaching the rank of Lieutenant. Kerry was awarded several medals during his second tour of Vietnam, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. Kerry’s military record has received considerable praise and criticism during his political career, especially during his unsuccessful 2004 bid for the presidency.
Commission, training, and tour of duty on the USS Gridley
On February 18, 1966, Kerry enlisted in the Naval Reserve.[13] He began his active duty military service on August 19, 1966. After completing sixteen weeks of Officer Candidate School at the U.S. Naval Training Center in Newport, Rhode Island, Kerry received his officer’s commission on December 16, 1966. During the 2004 election, Kerry posted his military records at his website, and permitted reporters to inspect his medical records. In 2005, Kerry released his military and medical records to the representatives of three news organizations, but has not authorized full public access to those records.[14]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry#Military_service_.281966.E2.80.931970.29
I hate to cite wiki on this but it was the easiest to find and I have to go to bed.
LOL! To the max. No, I served in VN for a short time (wounded), the rest of my military experience was on Destroyers. LOL! Could say something crude here, but won’t in deference to all my brothers in the Navy … still laughing. ;-)
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