Mass Reenlistment Marks July 4th Celebration in Baghdad [Morale at bottom? Bunk.]

DoD ^ | July 5, 2003 | U.S. Army Pfc. James Matise / 101st Airborne Division

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Mass Reenlistment Marks July 4th Celebration in Baghdad By U.S. Army Pfc. James Matise / 101st Airborne Division MOSUL, Iraq, July 5, 2003 -- The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) celebrated America's 227th birthday in grand style the Fourth at the division headquarters, located at the palace overlooking the banks of the Tigris River. The Independence Day festivities culminated in a mass reenlistment ceremony, where 158 Screaming Eagles stepped forward, raised right hands in front of their fellow soldiers and swore to continue defending the Constitution of the United Sates. "We say this is a great day or a great evening in the Army, and a great moment for that soldier, because the Army gets [better] every time a single soldier raises his or her right hand and agrees to stay in our ranks," said Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne Division and Coalition Forces in Northern Iraq. "Tonight is a night that I think is unprecedented, and that is 158 great soldiers who will raise hands, take the oath and stay in our ranks for a number of more years." The soldiers who reenlisted, from privates to senior noncommissioned officers, represented 36 states in the Union and came from every major unit within the 101st. They crowded the palace compound and gave a new meaning to standing-room only as they flocked to the ceremony. For each soldier affirming his oath of service, there was a different face, a different set of skills brought to the table, and a different reason for staying in the ranks. "It was the $15,000 bonus," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Keen, Company D, 311th Military Intelligence Battalion. "Plus, it's a good job." Keen has been in the Army for about seven years as a Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System common ground station operator, a career field specialty currently in high demand. He committed himself to six more years Friday. "I would have reenlisted anyway without the bonus," said Keen, who plans on "going the full 20" to retirement. His wife, back at Fort Campbell with their two children, has been very supportive of his move, he said. "She's happy," Keen said. "She's glad I'm going to stay in." Staff Sgt. Tim Danko, Jr., a military policeman with the 194th Military Police Company currently attached to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Al Kut, said his decision to reenlist was driven in part by wanting so see how far he can go in the Army. " I've only been in six years, and I've made my E-6, so I'm going to stay in," Danko said. "When we get back, I'm going to put in for Drill Sergeant. My goal is to make E-7 in 10 (years)." Danko signed on for four more years with the Army. His wife, an Army recruiter in Clarksville, did not get a chance to voice her opinion about his reenlistment, but he's sure that she will be supportive when she finds out, Danko said. "She doesn't know yet -- I can't get a hold of her," Danko said. "But we both know we're going to stay in, so it's all good." The soldiers reenlisting lined the palace balcony and steps as Petraeus personally swore them in. Each one of them later received a division coin and had a personal photograph taken with the general.

Gen. John M. Keane, Army chief of staff, visits with soldiers and officers at the Fourth of July pool party at the Coalition Provisional Authority headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Conrad College, 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment "Even in our command group, everyone above us is keenly aware that we are now in our fifth month of this deployment, that it's getting real, real hot, and that the mission remains tough," Petraeus said. "And I can assure you that everyone who has come through here…they are all deeply grateful for what you have done, for what our division has done, in liberating Iraq and now in winning the peace." Danko said he did not get a retention bonus, but was happy his retention noncommissioned officer was able to make good on the promise to bring him up to Mosul from Al Kut so he could participate in the ceremony. "You get to reenlist in Iraq with the general," Danko said. "How cool is that?" Reporters from Agence France-Presse, Iraqi Media Network, The New Yorker, and the Baghdad Bulletin came to cover the festivities, which included a recorded cannon salute to the 50 States of the Union and a concert given by the 101st Airborne Division band. Hundreds of the division's soldiers also witnessed the reenlistment of their fellow soldiers. "Thanks to all of you for being here tonight, thanks for supporting the great Screaming Eagles as they raise their right hand, and thanks for all that I know you are going to do in the months ahead," Petraeus said. Sgt. James Vicar, a generator mechanic with Company C, 8th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, has been serving for 12 years and just committed himself to two more years. "(The deployment's) been pretty good," he said. "My wife's grandfather passed away and I couldn't be back for that, but it's been pretty good." Vicar said his military service has thus far taken him all over the world. He has been deployed to Kosovo, twice to Saudi Arabia, served a tour in Germany, and now he has reenlisted in Iraq, in a palace once owned by Saddam Hussein. His decision to reenlist was a simple one, he said. "I'm enjoying the daylights out of the Army," he said. "Everyone else should."

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

More unabashedly pro-'military efforts in Iraq':

*Scorecard on the War on Terrorism: A sweeping but underreported success. 
*Defending independence - Col. Oliver North nails the press.

*CNN's Brown Admits Focus on Iraqi Attacks Skewing Public's View [MRC]
*'Incredible Progress' Made Restoring Iraq's Infrastructure, Officials Say [Our troops rock!]

*Franks says There are Enough Coalition Forces in Iraq [agrees w/ Pres: "Absolutely. Bring 'em on."]
*IT’S NOT OVER YET , reserve officer 'LT. Smash': "Live from the Sandbox" 

*'LACI IN BAGHDAD [Throwing cold water on our Iraqi "Quagmire" -My title]

*Democracy starts to take shape in Baghdad ^

 

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[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Good news ping.

[boxerblues]

Screaming Eagles bump

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping to some good news!!

Good news deserves notice!

Bush Doctrine Unfolds :

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[dwilli]

The soldiers who reenlisted, from privates to senior noncommissioned officers Is a soldier who is still a private (E-1) after the first enlistment eligible for re-enlistment?

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

You are fast!

Bump for the FR fundraising team. Thank you, every FREEPER donor. My piddly $5/mon. to FR allows me to bypass the DNC-press - to help our troops and hurt the Clintons at the same time. How cool is that?!

NTales of Saddam's Brutality [lengthy, graphic]

[ArrogantBustard]

They sure sound depressed, dejected, and demoralized.



NOT.

[boxerblues]

I'm not up on military law, but my one son who just recently went the army in Sept, has been told he can re-enlist after 6 months, something about a window of opportunity

[Gary Boldwater]

I may be wrong, but aren't the people in the military under some type of order where they can't retire or let their enlistments expire?

[Gary Boldwater]

It's the Stop-Loss Order:

Army partially lifts Stop-Loss order
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 29, 2003) -- The Army has lifted "Stop Loss" for active-component units and for soldiers in about half of the specialties that had been required to stay on active duty.

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Reginald J. Brown approved the partial lifting of Stop Loss May 27.

This lifting of Stop Loss will allow about 16,000 active-component, 4,900 Army Reserve and 675 National Guard soldiers to leave active duty if they want between now and October, personnel officials said.

These soldiers, as they begin their transition from the Army, will be provided time to complete transition and career counseling, along with demobilization activities, officials said. They said the Army's Stop Loss exit strategy will normally allow 180 days to transition soldiers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Personnel strength managers from all Army components will regulate separation dates to ensure no adverse impact on Army-wide readiness, officials said.

The Army lifted its "stop movement" order earlier this month to allow many OIF soldiers to report to their next assignments.


Soldiers in the following specialties are now no longer subject to Stop Loss:


Officers with specialties: 15C35 (Aviation Intelligence); Additional Skill Identifier (ASI) K4 (Special Operations Aviation), K5 (MH-60K Pilot), and/or K6 (H-47E Pilot); 18 (Special Forces); 38 (Civil Affairs); 39 (Psychological Operations).


Warrant Officers with specialties: 153E (MH-60 Pilot); 154E (MH-47 Pilot); 155E (C-12 Pilot); 155G (O-5A/EO-5B/RC-7 Pilot); Pilots with ASI K4 (Special Operations Aviation), K5 (MH-60K Pilot, and/or K6 H-47E Pilot); 180A (Special Forces); 350B (Intelligence Technician); 351C (Area Intelligence Technician); 352G (Voice Intercept Technician);


Enlisted soldiers with Military Occupational Specialties: 00Z (Command Sergeant Major with Special Forces (SF) background); 18B (SF Weapons Sergeant); 18C (SF Engineer Sergeant); 18D (SF Medical Sergeant); 18E (SF Communications Sergeant); 18F (SF Operations and Intelligence Sergeant); 18Z (SF Senior Sergeant); 37F (Psychological Operations Specialist); 38A (Civil Affairs Specialist); 67U (CH-47 Helicopter Repairer); 98C (Signals Intelligence Analyst).


The Stop Loss policy was initiated in four separate increments to allow the Army to retain soldiers -- who were determined to be essential to the national security of the United States -- on active duty beyond their date of retirement or separation for an open-ended period. It began with Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom Nov. 30, 2001. The fourth and last increment, announced Feb. 14, was for units supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Stop Loss does not affect most involuntary separations or retirements, officials said, nor does it generally limit laws, regulations, or policies that lead to involuntary separations, retirements, or releases from active duty.

Reserve-component Unit Stop Loss, which affects Reserve soldiers assigned to alerted or mobilized RC units, remains in effect.

The following skills for all components remain affected by the Army's 12-Month, Skill-Based Stop Loss Program:

Officers designated: 30 Information Operations, 31 Military Police, 34 Strategic Intelligence, 35 Military Intelligence, 45A Comptroller, 48G FAO (Mideast/N Africa), 51C Contract & Industrial Management, 53 Information Systems Management.

Warrant Officers: 152C OH-6 Scout Pilot, 153D UH-60 Pilot, 154C CH-47D Pilot, 311A CID Special Agent, 351B Counter Intelligence Technician, 351E Human Intelligence Collection Technician.

Enlisted: 52E Prime Power Production Specialist, 55D EOD Specialist, 74B Information Systems Operator, 92M Mortuary Affairs Specialist, 95B Military Police, 95C Correctional Specialist, 95D CID Special Agent, 96B Intelligence Analyst, 96U UAV Operator, 97B Counter Intelligence Agent, 97E Human Intelligence Collector, 97L Translator (Minus Russian and Spanish), 98G Voice Interceptor (Language Specific).

[trebb]

There is a Stop Loss program in effect that keeps people in certain career fields from leaving during time of war/conflict, where their expertise is needed. It has nothing to do with folks reenlisting - they do that because they want to. Those whose enlistments would normally end, are just held over, they do not have to commit to more time; they just don't get to separate until the potential emergency need is past.

[Frank_Discussion]

"Even in our command group, everyone above us is keenly aware that we are now in our fifth month of this deployment, that it's getting real, real hot, and that the mission remains tough..."

A thought occurred to me: Perhaps a big reason we haven't been cleaning house of the snipers/saboteurs is because of the heat? Maybe when temperatures drop over there, and the troops can move around easier, then we can really pursue the mop-up operations in earnest.

[dwilli]

I guess things have changed. Used to be that only E-3 and
above could re-up. Had to show signs of advancing your
career, same for officers.

[boxerblues]

could have soemthing to do with his MOS also, but Im not sure I'll have to write to him and ask

[smadurski]

I dont see how it could be possible unless you got busted down to e-1 to reenlist as an e-1. An enlistment is two years and up at two years you should be an e-3 if not then the army doesnt want you anyway. I went from e-1 to e-4 in 2 years then stayed an e-4 for 4 years. My promotoin points never dropped then as sure as heck I get out 6 months later my points drop.

[fourdeuce82d]

Big All-American Hoo-ah to the "Buzzards" (grin)

Rock on boys.

Here's a question- one troop says "I've only been in six years, and I've made my E-6, so I'm going to stay in," Danko said. "When we get back, I'm going to put in for Drill Sergeant. My goal is to make E-7 in 10 (years)

What are the common times in service for the various ranks? I remember E2 at six months, '3 at one year, Spc4 at commander's discretion, but usually around two years, and E5 at four/five years (back in 80-83)

What are average times now for E5, 6,7, etc.? Anybody?

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Good news ping + help wanted - answer to fourdeuce's #17?

[BlueLancer]

"What are average times now for E5, 6,7, etc.? Anybody?"

10 years to E-7 isn't too bad ... it's possible if you're a sharp troop and in an MOS that has competitive standards/qualifications. A lot depends here on whether the promotion points were low enough for E-5 and E-6 to get promoted quickly after your promotion board.

If you take a lot of college courses in your off-duty time and all of the correspondence courses that your MOS offers, you will have an excellent chance of getting selected at 10.

12 or 13 to E-7 is probably about normal. If you haven't made E-7 by 15 or so, I'd say that it was probably too late to hope for promotion.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

We've been pretty earnest - over 1300 bad guys detained during the two weeks of Operation Scorpion (# taken out???). Still, the troops are only human.

Mr. Dhia has been working with the Iraqi people for 8 weeks. If our news networks aired the briefings on Iraq, instead of opining based on second-hand sources, the nation would be solidly, unwaveringly behind our troops and our efforts in Iraq. Thank goodness for the DoD website. We can bypass the DNC news filter:

Emad Dhia: Iraqis? "They feel free." Troubles? "They are blaming Saddam, of course." ^