Not too good...
Posted on 03/01/2009 3:40:30 PM PST by Libloather
NC military mom heads for Fort Benning with kids
By TOM FOREMAN Jr., Associated Press Writer
13 mins ago
DAVIDSON, N.C. – A North Carolina woman who was recalled to the Army four years after being honorably discharged was driving nearly 400 miles and braving a Southeastern winter storm to report for duty Sunday, with her children by her side.
**SNIP**
Pagan is among thousands of former service members who have left active duty since the Sept. 11 attacks, only to be recalled to service. She filed several appeals, arguing that because her husband travels for business, no one else can take care of her kids. All were rejected, leaving Pagan to choose between deploying to Iraq and abandoning her family, or refusing her orders and potentially facing charges.
Master Sgt. Keith O'Donnell, an Army spokesman in St. Louis, said earlier that the commander at Fort Benning will decide how to handle the situation.
"The Army tries to look at the whole picture and they definitely don't want to do anything that jeopardizes the family or jeopardizes the children," O'Donnell said. "At the same time, these are individuals who made obligations and commitments to the country."
Of the 25,000 individual ready reserve troops recalled since September 2001, more than 7,500 have been granted deferments or exemptions, O'Donnell said. About 1,000 have failed to report. O'Donnell most of those cases are still under investigation, while 360 soldiers have been separated from the Army either through "other than honorable" discharges or general discharges.
O'Donnell said Pagan isn't likely to face charges, since none of the individual ready reserve soldiers who have failed to report faced a court-martial.
**SNIP**
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Not too good...
and so she should
not too bright
many military members with traveling spouses make child care arrangements
Why do they need to call back a mother with kids four years after her discharge?
What’s not too good? She made a commitment, benefited and needs to honor her commitment. He needs to ruck-up and honor his commitment as the spouse of a service member.
Simple really.
You also are drawing benefits (like adding to your military pension and education benefits).
And, IT WAS HER DECISION to join the IRR.
She could have got out completely.
UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH, this would have been TERRIBLE....
But BHO is President, so .....It’s OK.
(speaking for the Media)
It's a southern thang...
She enlisted for 2 or 4 years and had a 8 year total obligation. Almost enlistment contracts are written this way. She did get out normally.
She is not in the wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She has zero pension. Her husband does not have to quit his job to take care of the kids. The military will have to figure a way to accommodate the kids. There is daycare on most bases. Maybe she can serve stateside.
I am kind-of thinking she is not in the wrong, also, unless I hear something drastic to change my mind.
Wait just one minute. I went from Active to Individual Ready Reserve to Honorably Discharged. The article says she was Honorably Discharged but was in the IRR. What’s the deal? This is bogus. My guess is that she was released from Active Duty into the IRR, in which case, she was certainly eligible for recall. Is my memory failing me? I don’t see how you can be Honorably Discharged and still be in the IRR. Correct me if I’m wrong...
Uh, no. Not even close.
Every person enlisting in the military is obligated for 8 years service, even if their contract is for two years.
In that case, the ist 2 years would be active duty, and the remaining 6 in the IRR.
You are not wrong.
Your first HD is conditional on remaining service in the IRR.
When your total 8 years is up, you get a real HD in the mail.
Military are required to file child care plans. period
I have my HD from active duty, my later HD from the IRR, and a yet later HD from the reserves in my safe. All 3 are listed on my DD214.
What country did you serve under? Because it wasn’t this one.
The Discharge was for active duty. I had the same thing with the Navy. I was a reserve officer on active duty, I got an honorable discharge when I left active duty. I then became a drilling reservist for which you get paid and earn retirement credit. When I stopped drilling I was sent to the IRR where there was no pay or retirement credit. They finally kicked me out totally with another Honorable Discharge.
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