USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Marine Corps Separation Temporary Policy Change ~ January 10, 2003

SignOnSanDiego.com ^ | 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub and FRiends of the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

January 9, 2003

WASHINGTON: Preparing for possible war against Iraq, the Marine Corps has taken the unusual step of stopping all Marines from leaving the service for the coming 12 months, officials said Thursday.

The decision was announced to all Marines in an internal message Tuesday from Gen. James Jones, the Marine Corps commandant. He said it applies to active-duty as well as reserve Marines and is effective Jan. 15 through Jan. 31, 2004.

Most of 75,000 Marines for Iraq war would come from Camp Pendleton

The last time the Marines took this action, known as "stop-loss," was during the buildup to the 1991 Gulf War, said Capt. Gabrielle Chapin, a spokeswoman at the Combat Development Command at Quantico, Va.

Although the order applies to the entire Marine Corps, which has 173,000 men and women on active duty and 100,000 in the reserves, some exceptions can be made, including for those who already have a retirement date of April 1 or earlier. Commanders also can consider exceptions for personal hardship and other circumstances.

Separately, 125 Marine Corps reservists with Company A, 8th Tank Battalion, based at Fort Knox, Ky., were reporting for active duty Thursday. Sgt. Maj. Timothy J. Didas of the 8th battalion said in a telephone interview that the reservists are to report to the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Friday.

Another 20 reservists in support positions with the 8th battalion, including cooks, radio operators and motor vehicle repairmen are being mobilized from bases in New York, Kentucky, South Carolina and Miami along with Company A, Didas said.

Didas said he had no information on whether the reservists were going to deploy to the Persian Gulf area. During the buildup to the 1991 Gulf War the entire 8th Tank Battalion was activated and deployed to the Gulf.

Last fall the Army issued "stop loss" orders for nearly all its Special Forces soldiers, who are heavily engaged in the war in Afghanistan, although the action did not apply to the rest of the force. The Marines are the only ones to apply a "stop loss" action to all service members.

In addition to the approximately 1,000 Marines from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force who recently arrived in Kuwait in anticipation of a possible war against Iraq, thousands more are either heading to the Gulf region from U.S. bases or are preparing to do so in coming weeks.

Specific figures are classified, but Jones said Wednesday in remarks at the National Press Club that if there is a war in Iraq, the Marines likely would contribute between 65,000 and 75,000 troops – mostly from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The Pentagon's Iraq war plan calls for the use of up to 250,000 troops from all services.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Todays Heros and Stars of the Canteen

Please Thank someone in the military for ensuring our Freedom.
Take a moment and Thank a Service Man or Woman.
Just Click on the graphic to SEND an e-mail.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

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Help From The Homefront

Thousands of San Diego-based sailors and Marines are serving aboard U.S. warships deployed in the Persian Gulf and the Western Pacific. NBC 7/39 has contacted all of the deployed ships and most have responded,
saying they would love to hear from the folks back home.

Fill in the form below. We will forward your message of support to our fighting men and women aboard the USS Tarawa, USS Rushmore,
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[Mo1]

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From the men in the Military and the Canteen

[JohnHuang2]

Morning, amigo, and God bless our troops.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Todays transportation for you and the Girlz.

[fatima]

Bump for all who we love.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks for stopping ny!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Tonk and all.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning John.

[Soaring Feather]

[Soaring Feather]

Good Morning Aeronaut

[Aeronaut]

Good morning BF. I trust all is well with you.

[Soaring Feather]

Yes sir, as you would say, 'nearly perfect!'

[Soaring Feather]

Canteen men and Military men Good Morning. Thank you for the lovely vase of flowers today.

[Soaring Feather]

[GOPyouth]

Thanks for sending the news link for the emails to our folks on the ships from San Diego. I just emailed one out.
Again, thank you!
Matt

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Tonk! Good morning, Canteen Crew! Good morning, EVERYBODY!

Good Morning, TROOPS!

[tomkow6]

Today's FEEBLE attempt at humor:

During a recent vacation in Las Vegas, a man went to see a popular magic
show. After one especially amazing feat, a man from the back of the theater
yelled, "How'd you do that?"

"I could tell you, sir" the magician answered "but then I'd have to kill
you."

After a short pause, the man yelled back "OK, then just tell my wife."

[Pippin]

YAWNNNNNNN!!!!!!!

GOOD MORNING TOMKOW!