Comments on: NON-VOLUNTEER FORCE

By: Kathy K

Kathy K — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

They need to have an Army (Navy/Airforce) Auxiliary again. (Not just women this time.) Volunteers who are not regular military but who can do some of the jobs they do. For instance, someone older may make a good guard even if they can't march x miles per day with a 60lb pack.

We could free up the regulars to do their own jobs. (And yes, I probably would volunteer.)

By: Cam

Cam — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

You know, Kathy, that's a wonderful idea. Do you mind if I mention it to a few congressmen?

By: Juliette

Juliette — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Stop-loss happens all the time, at least four times that I can remember in my 21 years of service. WaPo just discovered it and are perpetrating it like some new-found "abuse" to the military. Consider the source.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Juliette,

I know we had a stop-loss after 9/11 and, if I recall correctly, another one during the Iraq War. But I don't recall any during the 20 years my dad was in (1962-83) or during my brief stint (1988-92). I don't see any problem with them during emergencies, but peacekeeping isn't an emergency.

By: Jem

Jem — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

James,
As I recall, there was some stop-loss in at least the Air Force during your time on active duty (first Gulf War)--though it may not have affected your specialty. We've also had stop-loss periods in my career field in 1999 (Kosovo) and, of course, the most recent events in Afghanistan and Iraq. So stop-loss isn't really all that rare.
Having said that, I agree that it is vital to long-term retention to have these sorts of exceptions to enlistment contracts be isolated and rare.

By: Juliette

Juliette — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

James,

A stop loss is often specialty-specific and might not have affected those of you and your father. I had four different specialties, one a combat-related one and two with chronic shortages. For the fourth and last one (medical), the powers-that-be gave those of us that were able to retire a heads-up: apply now or get caught in the changes. I listened and acted.

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