I say shoot the guy for cowardice.
Have you ever thought what you call "cowardice" is simply someone that's feed up with playing "nation builder". Defending your country is one thing. Playing cop or carpenter is something altogether different. Why should someone that has fulfilled thier active duty requirements be subjected to recall for anything other than a national emergency or a real declaration of war?
He volunteered, he knew the terms. He quits; he suffers the consequences.
End of Story.
Since my hitch in the Army ended in 1969, I’m a little out of touch with how things are today. I have a question for someone to answer. When did the obligation become eight years? Mine was six years - three active regular Army, three inactive reserve (no meetings or drills) and the end of the six years I received my honorable discharge in the mail and all ties were broken, barring the outbreak of a world war or something.
Although voluntary military service in peace time is an admirable and necessary thing, I can’t imagine signing up for an eight year obligation unless you already had decided that a military career was what you wanted. After all, eight years is nearly halfway to retirement. I know I’d be more than a little PO’d if I kept getting jerked in and out of civilian life at the whim of somebody at the Pentagon, regardless of what I’d signed up for. Would I honor my commitment? Of course, just as I did forty years ago. But I doubt if there’d be much rah-rah spirit in me.
As this thing has dragged on, my thinking has begun to change. If this is a real war, get the damned thing done and keep the politicians out of it. Then bring these people home to complete their obligation where we have a real national emergency - on our southern border.
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.