Army to call up ready reservists and former military members

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-06-29 02:58pm

Army to recall former military members
Tuesday, June 29, 2004 Posted: 12:43 PM EDT (1643 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Army is preparing to notify about 5,600 retired and discharged soldiers who are not members of the National Guard or Reserve that they will be involuntarily recalled to active duty for possible service in Iraq or Afghanistan, Army officials said Tuesday.

It marks the first time the Army has called on the Individual Ready Reserve, as this category of reservists is known, in substantial numbers since the 1991 Gulf War.

The move reflects the continued shortage of troops available to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to fight the ongoing war on terrorism as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lt. Gen. Frank Hagenbeck, the Army's deputy chief of staff for personnel, said earlier this month of the Army's troop strength, "We are stretched but we have what we need."

Pentagon officials have echoed that statement explaining that while the military is reaching deep into its resources, war planners have long had contingency plans such as this for when troops are really needed.

Several hundred members of the ready reserve have volunteered for active-duty service since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Those who are part of the involuntary call up are likely to be assigned to National Guard or Reserve units that have been mobilized for duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to Army officials. An announcement is planned for Wednesday.

Members of Congress were being notified of the decision Tuesday, the officials said.

Unlike members of the National Guard and Reserve, the individual reservists do not perform regularly scheduled training.

Any former enlisted soldier who did not serve at least eight years on active duty is in the Individual Ready Reserve pool, as are all officers who have not resigned their commission.

The Army has been reviewing its list of 118,000 eligible individual reservists for several weeks in search of qualified people in certain high-priority skill areas like civil affairs.

We transfer sovereignty and look oh goody, poor bastards who thought they were out get pulled back in.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-06-29 03:08pm

Oh. Shit. I'm inactive reserve. until like, January. I was an MP....that's pretyy umm...soughtafter....PLEAASE let my knee save me....

Post by **Zaia** » 2004-06-29 03:08pm

No, no, no...that means Mark will probably have to go back...

At least he wasn't there as long as my friend Rob (Marines, not Army) was, but still... Damnit.

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2004-06-29 03:15pm

Can they actually force people to re-join the military?

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-06-29 03:22pm

2000AD wrote:Can they actually force people to re-join the military?

Yes, I believe it's part of the enlistment, you can join for eight
years, and then basically tell the military to fuck off.....

or you can join for four or so years, upon which you transfer into
inactive reserve and can be called up at any time.....

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-06-29 07:35pm

2000AD wrote:Can they actually force people to re-join the military?

No, nor can they force you to join. It's just a matter of what contract you signed as Shep pointed out.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2004-06-29 07:41pm

Most people are under the mistaken belief that an initial enlistment contract is for only 4 years. The finer print says 4 years active duty, and 4 years inactive reserve(note: it's not especially fine print, quite big actually). Signing up for another enlistment will remove the remaining inactive reserve time remaining.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-06-29 07:55pm

I'm still amused by the fact that the Army asked my dad, who's been out of the service for thirty years and is now disabled (In part because of a service related injury) if he'd like to volunteer for service in Iraq. He turned them down. That was around seven-eight months ago though. I suspect that possibul source of manpower has been expended.

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2004-06-29 08:04pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:I'm still amused by the fact that the Army asked my dad, who's been out of the service for thirty years and is now disabled (In part because of a service related injury) if he'd like to volunteer for service in Iraq. He turned them down. That was around seven-eight months ago though. I suspect that possibul source of manpower has been expended.

Meanwhile, a friend of mine from church who served many years ago tried to volunteer but was told he was too old.