Draft? What draft?

varwoche · 2nd July 2004, 06:19 PM

The notion of a draft keeps coming up, recently from senator Chuck Hagel.

Quote:

Hagel ... said the United States is going to have to consider restarting the draft to maintain its many military commitments abroad. article

Given that people are already being drafted involuntarily, I suggest that, in the name of accuracy, it's about time that the words surrounding the debate shift from "should there be?" to "who else is elligible?"

Quote:

Amid Congressional concerns that the military is stretched too thin, the Army is preparing to take advantage of a rarely used wartime program that allows it to recall soldiers who have left the service and did not join the reserves. Pentagon officials said Tuesday that 5,600 former soldiers were going to be called up for yearlong tours, mostly assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan. article

2nd July 2004, 06:35 PM

Well, so they're calling up the 'radioactive reserve'. They did so in the previous Iraq war.

When you're allowed to leave the military, they do keep their strings attached to you for a number of years. It's in the contract.

varwoche · 19th July 2004, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Lexington psychiatrist Charles Ham thought he retired from the Army seven years ago. But, he recently got a call telling him to report to Fort Jackson for a physical examination.

Ham knew more than 5000 veterans who recently left the service were being called up, but he had been in the Army for 41 years and is now 67.

article

LostAngeles · 19th July 2004, 03:58 PM

Funnily enough, I was just looking that bill up. (S 89, if you're interested.)

It's last action was the day it was introduced, over a year and a half ago. It's currently sitting in comittee, where I sincerely hope it will stay and subsequently die.

aerocontrols · 19th July 2004, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by varwoche
Given that people are already being drafted involuntarily, I suggest that, in the name of accuracy, it's about time that the words surrounding the debate shift from "should there be?" to "who else is elligible?"

I think it's dishonest to refer to the IRR as a draft. If you want to refer to it as such, you shouldn't then act as if it's something new. It's been called up to support various missions since it was established.

crimresearch · 19th July 2004, 09:13 PM

And IIRC, it is a misnomer to refer to many of those drawing a military pension as 'retirees'...they are on **retainer** for a number of years, again it is in the contract, and agreed to by all parties.

Agammamon · 20th July 2004, 07:10 AM

Which is why the 67 year old guy is being called up. "retirement" in the military is an obligation to potentially unlimited service in return for a guaranteed paycheck. It is usually a good risk to take.

Also, why are these guys always going on about a draft to fulfill our commitments and yet hardly anyone seems to ever consider trimming those commitments to meet the resources we have?

2nd July 2004, 06:19 PM	#1
varwoche Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Puget Sound Posts: 7,233	Draft? What draft? The notion of a draft keeps coming up, recently from senator Chuck Hagel. Quote: Hagel ... said the United States is going to have to consider restarting the draft to maintain its many military commitments abroad. article Given that people are already being drafted involuntarily, I suggest that, in the name of accuracy, it's about time that the words surrounding the debate shift from "should there be?" to "who else is elligible?" Quote: Amid Congressional concerns that the military is stretched too thin, the Army is preparing to take advantage of a rarely used wartime program that allows it to recall soldiers who have left the service and did not join the reserves. Pentagon officials said Tuesday that 5,600 former soldiers were going to be called up for yearlong tours, mostly assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan. article
	__________________ To survive election season on a skeptics forum, one must understand Hymie-the-Robot (and/or Fat Jack)

2nd July 2004, 06:35 PM	#2
evildave Guest Posts: n/a	Well, so they're calling up the 'radioactive reserve'. They did so in the previous Iraq war. When you're allowed to leave the military, they do keep their strings attached to you for a number of years. It's in the contract.
evildave Guest Posts: n/a

19th July 2004, 03:14 PM	#3
varwoche Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Puget Sound Posts: 7,233	Geezer Drafted Quote: Lexington psychiatrist Charles Ham thought he retired from the Army seven years ago. But, he recently got a call telling him to report to Fort Jackson for a physical examination. Ham knew more than 5000 veterans who recently left the service were being called up, but he had been in the Army for 41 years and is now 67. article
	__________________ To survive election season on a skeptics forum, one must understand Hymie-the-Robot (and/or Fat Jack)

19th July 2004, 03:58 PM	#4
LostAngeles Anti-WM Jihadist Join Date: May 2004 Location: Having a cup of tea. Posts: 10,159	Funnily enough, I was just looking that bill up. (S 89, if you're interested.) It's last action was the day it was introduced, over a year and a half ago. It's currently sitting in comittee, where I sincerely hope it will stay and subsequently die.
	__________________ "There is also a likelihood that the settlement will fall between two biomes, potentially hazardous if the player expects a peaceful oceanside meadow, without realizing the ocean is full of amphibious zombie whales." - Dwarf Fortress Wik

19th July 2004, 04:36 PM	#5
aerocontrols Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,445	Quote: Originally posted by varwoche Given that people are already being drafted involuntarily, I suggest that, in the name of accuracy, it's about time that the words surrounding the debate shift from "should there be?" to "who else is elligible?" I think it's dishonest to refer to the IRR as a draft. If you want to refer to it as such, you shouldn't then act as if it's something new. It's been called up to support various missions since it was established.
	__________________ Misunderestimated in 2000. Unredefeated in 2004. My dog does his tricks. My roomate's dog tries to escape the kitchen. We call you to be a people of manners, principles, honour, and purity; to reject the immoral acts of fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling's, and trading with interest. Source

19th July 2004, 09:13 PM	#6
crimresearch Alumbrado Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 10,618	And IIRC, it is a misnomer to refer to many of those drawing a military pension as 'retirees'...they are on retainer for a number of years, again it is in the contract, and agreed to by all parties.
crimresearch Alumbrado Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 10,618

20th July 2004, 07:10 AM	#7
Agammamon Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,385	Which is why the 67 year old guy is being called up. "retirement" in the military is an obligation to potentially unlimited service in return for a guaranteed paycheck. It is usually a good risk to take. Also, why are these guys always going on about a draft to fulfill our commitments and yet hardly anyone seems to ever consider trimming those commitments to meet the resources we have?
	__________________ It will be a great day when the US Air Force has all the bombs it needs and the NEA has to hold a bake sale in order to pay its lobbyists.