”For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security. Thomas Jefferson
Posted on 02/11/2003 2:05:09 PM PST by FloridaGeezer
Panic phone calls coming, lawyers say.
Washington-South Carolina freshman Gov. Mark Sanford-an Air Force reservist-sparked an outcry when he suggested his job would keep him from joining a war against Iraq.
Sanford, a Republican, was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the reserves in January 2002 and was elected governor in November. He said recently that he wouldn't deploy, then changed his course and said he would go if called.
But he's not the only military reservist with doubts about heading for the Persian Gulf.
Lawyers say they're being flooded with pamic calls from reservists who either don't believe the United States should attack Iraq or are worried about their safety, their jobs, their finances, their health or leaving their loved ones. The reservists are afraid to talk on record, their attorneys say.
"We have everybody from doctors to seaman apprentices wanting to get out," said David Sheldon, a former Navy lawyer now in private practice in Washington.
Virginia Beach lawyer Greg McCormack said a lot more reservists are calling him than in 1991 when the United States drove Iraq out of Kuwait,
This time around, with no overt aggression by Iraq, "a lot of people are questioning what are we doing, moms and dads saying, 'Why should my son go?,'" said McCormack, a former Army prosecutor.
No one disputes that most reservists are cooperating with the Pentagon call-up, the largest since the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
"Most people in the military are there to do their job and do it well," said Pentagon Spokesperson Maj. Sandy Troeber.
No Pentagon statistics on AWOLs and deserters were available beyond 2001.
But the G.I. Rights Hotline, which was set up by antiwar activists to help those who have either fled or are thinking about it, say their calls have more than tripled in the past few months.
"Sometimes they say, 'I just got back, I can't go again,' or 'I was just in it for the college money,' or 'I'm willing to defend my country but I'm not willing to invade Iraq,'" said J.E. McNeil, a lawyer for the G.I. Rights Hotline.
Last week, Defense Sectretary Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged some of the nation's reserves have been "jerked around" since the rolling call-ups began after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Reservists have been doing everything from guarding local airports to cleaning up after the war in Afghanistan. Now, they'r heading for the gulf. Rumsfeld is considering easing the future burden on the reserves by delegating more support jobs to permanent troops.
About 95,000 reservists and National Guardsmen are on active duty. More than 260,000 were mobilized during the Persian Gulf War.
Jay Farrar, a military analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that after Bush declared a long term war on terrorism 16 months ago, many of his reservist friends began resigning or retiring to avoid being called up again and again.
Some of the services, including the Marine Corps, have frozen retirements and are keeping overseas units in place to ensure troops can't retire even if they want to.
But, Farrar predicted, despite a reluctance to go to war, the number of AWOLs will be about as low as during the Persian Gulf War.
Most of the people , while it's painful to go, believe in their commitment and will honor their commitment," Farrar said.
Reservist or full-time servicemen who dodge their orders can receive a dishonorable discharge or even jail time. The military usually waits 30 days before considering them deserters.
The Pentagon says not even governors are exempt from deployment,
Air Force Reserves spokesman Lt. Col. Audrey Bahler said only members of Congress or those holding "key" federal jobs are automatically exempted. Other requests are handled "case by case."
Reserveists sign up for a six year stint and are paid only when they are on duty. They also can get college tuition and other G.I. Bill benefits. While on active duty, they receive the saame benefits as military enlisties, such as health care, They can be activated for as much as 12 months at a time.
They also get added help from Uncle Sam and private industry.
Employers are required to save a reservist's job, and some companies continue to provide benefits and salary supplements to absent workers. A 60-year old federal law also tries to alleviate mortgage and credit card worries by capping the interest rates that banks may charge active-duty reservists.
”For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security. Thomas Jefferson
But of course, the media will seize on ANY sentiment that makes President Bush's war plans look bad, no matter how much in the minority that sentiment is. Think about it: How many non-Hollywood types get whole stories (and headlines) detailing their opinion on the war? Virtually NONE when that opinion is in favor. And yet, actors make up a minuscule percentage of the population.
You know what? You are exactly right. I remember right after 911 re-enlistment and recruitment rates were off the charts and are still pretty good today.
What he said!
1. Go.
2. Go to jail.
I have zero use for such bums.
And how loathsome to join the reserves to win an election, then try to back out.
(USNR - Retired)
From the Charlotte Observer
In a letter to Lt. Gov. André Bauer released to the news media Tuesday, Sanford said he wanted to make clear his position on the issue. Bauer would temporarily take Sanford's place while he served on active duty.
"The bottom line for me is that I made a commitment and I am going to keep it," Sanford wrote. "Therefore, as to any orders I receive I will do just as anyone else in my unit and follow them."
Sanford's job description with the 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, headquartered at Charleston Air Force Base, is medical administration officer. That means he would coordinate medical airlifts aboard giant C-17 transport planes, which fly battle casualties to military hospitals in Germany or the United States.
The article goes on to say that Sanford hasn't completed all the training he needs to serve on active duty, because all the sessions were full when he applied, and that through the whole process he was treated as just another patriotic American wanting to serve his country, which is what he is.
Time to pay up!
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