Army Reserve / Nat'l Guard deploying again - your thoughts?
913758
Interesting question. I have been monitoring this news pretty close since it has such a huge impact. I just returned from a 16 month deployment - and already there is talk about going back again. I guess if I wanted to spend this much time active I would have enlisted active. Of course it will have a huge impact on employment - and everything else for that matter. I think it is a form of backdoor draft. Most of the part time Soldies out there never intended to make a full-time commitment to this. We deployed once, did our job, and stood up to our commitment.\n\nTo answer your question though, yes I would attempt to fight this - right down to the wording of the US Code. I would tend to stir waves - get a legal interpretation of the Presidential Order and constitutional rights. In my opinion it is clearly abusive.
781702
The soldiers at Fort Campbell have actually been coming home now since July. There are a LOT of people here so it has been a huge ordeal. It takes a lot of time, manpower, and patience to get 20,000+ soldiers home from Iraq. While they are in the process of redeployment they stay very busy and it's hard to get in touch with people. When my husband was on his way home I didn't hear from him much the last week or so - he called from Maine to let me know what was going on with his flights. I know that from the time he got to Kuwait to when his flight landed at Fort Campbell was about 4 days (it was the same both times he was deployed). It is not unusual for it to have been a week since you heard from him. Also, several incoming flights this week were delayed by a few days. I don't know how that affected everyone else, but it may have backed up everyone by a few days.\n\nOnce he gets to Fort Campbell, he will have a mandatory 7-day reintegration period. This is a post-wide requirement, everyone who comes home must go through it. If his flight lands after 6 pm, he may have the next day off (at the commander's discretion) - otherwise, reintegration starts the next day. The 7 days are half days, and the rest of the day he should have off. At the end of those 7 days, he will get a 4-day weekend, then back to work for normal work days. Once a certain percentage of the brigade has gone through reintegration (I think it was 75% for my husband's unit), they will release them for up to 30 days leave. My husband got home at the end of July and didn't get leave until September 18th, so it may be a while. (It shouldn't be that long for the guys who are coming home right now though.) \n\nPlease keep in mind that he will be very busy in the next few weeks. They have a lot to do when they get home, and even after leave is over they will still be dealing with post-deployment things. I am sure he will contact you when he gets a chance, you just need to be patient.
867690
I'm sorry, but he's not.  My hubby is on cycle break, thank goodness.  However, I'm checking on this for you as we speak and I'll do an edit when I have your answer.\n\nEDIT:  I'm so happy to help in any way that I can.  Military life comes full circle for many of us.  We were the "young'uns", now, we're the "old folks".  Never be afraid to ask questions.  Military life is a life like none other and we ALL need support.\n\nI really am glad you asked a question and specifically pointed me out.  However, my info is pretty limited as of right now.  Ft. Sill is closed due to our weather conditions.  Hubby won't be able to check much until he goes back in.  Anyways, this is what we have:  19 January should stand as graduation date.  That would be 9 weeks BCT and 2 weeks exodus.  We do fill up fast here and I'm glad you worked it all out ahead of time.  Hubby is going to try to check on exact dates of exodus.  Is your son coming home??  What a great present I'm sure that would be for you.  I'm glad his letters are upbeat.  That's a good sign.  Most of the Drill's here are cool.  We love all of them in our unit.  They really want these guys to succeed.  The phone number to the unit I think your son is in is (580) 442-1304.  I'm sure you already have his number, but this is what I deducted from the info you've given.  Your best bet is to call them....they do need to answer your questions.  I know they don't like to be bothered by family members, but you have a lagit question and they can answer it.  Since hubby is in a different unit, it's hard to get exact info other than knowing everything is on schedule for what's posted and that's the same he has.\n\nGood luck and I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful.  If I do find anything else out, I'll be sure to post it on here.  Be sure to yell "HI" to me while you're in town!!  I can't even begin to tell you what an awesome experience graduation will be.  Enjoy!!\n\nEDIT2:  I wrote your e-mail addy down.  How did you find me??  I haven't answered any other questions of yours and you seem to know me so well.  Anyways, glad I can help and if I find anything else, you'll know about it.
1029602
i have a friend who's husband is security forces, he deploys alot but then again he is an officer, not sure if that makes a difference.  if i  were you though i'd count on being deployed with that job.
218633
Its a deal with the devil, but your local national guard recruiters will have carreer evaluation tests. Not just the armed services apptitude test, but a civilian test too.
581062
I don't know if there is an actual rule to that, but they way they make the deployment schedules, it's unlikely to go twice in a row.  In the USMC, it's been 7 months there before the new guys show up.  They stay for seven months.  It's possible that as soon as you return, you'll start training to go back as the new guys replacements.  But that is what I am trying to do, and I am having a difficult time being put on a deployment.  There are more Marines willing to go than slots available.  Many Marines have gotten to go/had to go three times in one enlistment.  I've only gotten there once.  I've got a year left though.  Hopefully I'll make it back again.
627425
Dig it: I was at both.  Ft. Jackson for BCT, and Knox for AIT (Bradley Mechanic).  Between the two, I spend 6 months in AIT at Ft. Gordon, GA.  This was a while ago, during the Clinton Administration when the Army was experimenting with "Low Stress" basic training.  I can tell you this: when asked during our final inspection what, if anything, we would change about basic training, of the 60-odd men in my basic training platoon, all but one said they'd make it harder.  We were all disappointed with how easy it was.  \n\nAt Gordon, I met some guys who did what they called "Pro-Train" at Jackson.  Apparently it was the exact opposite of what we did; thirteen weeks, ridden hard and put away wet.  Gordon itself was a very relaxed post for training, but it had to be.  AIT could be anywhere from 8 months to a year and a half.  You can't ride someone like you would in basic for that long.  \n\nFt. Knox was a wake-up call.  My MOS was reclassified and I was reassigned there.  Toughest time I had in training.  We did PT twice a day, training most weekends, ran to and from school, and had an hour of personal time at night if we were lucky.  But when I came out in the best physical and mental shape of my life, I felt an unparalleled sense of pride that I did not feel after basic training.\n\nRanger6 has the right idea.  Trying to get off easy is only cheating yourself.  Enjoy Ft. Knox.  It will be one of the toughest times of your life, but you'll live through it.  And you'll be able to stand just a little taller than some.  Good luck.
899859
It depends on the characterization of your discharge. Was it "other than honorable?" If so, you are not eligible to re-enlist.\n\nIf the discharge was honorable or general under honorable conditions, you can ask for a waiver and go with the National Guard or reserves - once in either of those, your former duty is "reset" and you are good to go.\n\nGood luck to you, and quit screwing up !
661305
I have seen people do it.  First go to the unit you want to go to and talk to them and you can make it happen and to gain another soldier that unit will have motivation to help you.\n\nIt may be harder now that units deploy allot but your old unit can not keep you in if you are "moving".
849121
No. I was honorably discharged just before Desert Shield. The closest I came was when we were on 24 hour alert for Operation Just Cause in 1989.\n\nEven if I re-enlisted, I was scheduled to be rotated to shore duty.
843155
It would not surprise me.  I have heard Military officials say that they need more people.  \n\nI am not opposed to re-instating the draft, even in peace time.  We had young men who were a lot more mature when they were alot more prepared for life.\n\nEdit-\n\nI am for the draft being re-instated, but only for men.  If a women CHOOSES to enlist, let her, but lets please not force our women into the Military.   Can we not respect  women like society used to.  You know in the day when a Man would stand up for a woman?  remember those days?  I have no problem with letting the men go out and shoot the guns and protect me.  That is how it should be, that is how God intended it.
968972
I will give you an eyewitness statement. First, I'm not from Texas (I'm a Tar Heel!!! - GO NC!!), second I'm not in the National Guard, I'm active duty. Now the account, I served with an active duty battalion that was assigned 2 National Guard companies - one was from Kansas and one was from Texas. They were truck companies, and both saw heavy action. On a side note, I found both units to be extremely professional in their duties. Neither shirked from any mission assigned to them and had an amazing "Can Do" attitude. If I had any negative comments about the Guard units I have served with - they are minor. I found they had a bit of a height/weight and PT shortcoming, but they more than made up for that with their Mission First attitude. My BC had a board in his office/tent with a collection of all the Guard patches of units we had run into over there. I don't recall a single state missing from his board - we even had a couple territory patches (Guam and PR). So whoever posted that on a Yahoo Board is simply giving into conspiracy BS and once again, as they almost always seem to be - are yapping away and have NEVER spent a day. Isn't it curious how the folks who seem to to come up with this crap have a mysterious lack of service to go along with their tripe?
825456
you know how the military is. i would check with the or about manning and see how many slots are still open and if they have any inbounds coming to fill them. if you know anyone that works assigments at mpf they might be able to hook you up.\ni would just talk to my first shirt about it and tell him the truth. if he's not  an ass then maybe he would understand. i don't know however if you can get a waiver to go before a promotion board? i worked in the orderly room for 4 years and never heard of anyone doing that before? you know how it is though, start at the lowest level and work your way up. sorry to hear about the situation, that sucks! you must be stationed in san antonio? good luck!
740027
This is completely up to your commander of your Reserve unit.  Unfortunatly some Reserve units are so undermanned right now that they won't let anyone go active duty.  It's kind of sad.  \n  If this does end up happening to you one of the best things to do is to take you request up the reserve chain of command.  First go to your Batallin HQ, and from there to Brigade.  \n  Be aware that once you do transfer you may loose rank.  I know of some E-5 sgts that were in the National guard that got bummped down to E-2 pvt when they went active duty.  Also your contract will be totally redone.  Hopefully your MOS will remain the same, but it is possible that they will want you to reclass. \n  It definatly isn't as easy as saying Well I want to go active duty for the duration of my contract so i'm just gonna go.  For the record this is somthing I looked into while I was an E-5 in the reserves.  I finally decided against it when they told me that I was gonna loose rank and be an E-4 again, and would HAVE to reclass and go through AIT again.
1166396
I'd suggest calling any local military bases or reserve/guard units. I know that active duty military bases have programs in place like what you are talking about.
90033
Hey! Last week is not very far... l think you will hear from your brother soon .definately, they don't take them by force! and if they are being taken by USA for military training..., its not easy but l believe  they will make it and soon get used to it. more hopefully everything will be alright...
996875
My husband is currently in the national guard getting ready to go active duty.  We recently found out that if you are not active duty the military doesn't care one crap about you.  Just remember, those who yell the loudest in the military get things done the quickest.  my advice, annoy the crap out over everyone involved until they do something about it.\n\na military wife.