I first want to say that I served with many fine individuals and that we were proud to serve our country and secure freedom for a new generation of people who never had the opportunity to experience freedom before. Secondly, there is no difference between active and reserve forces when deployed in a combat operation. The individual merit of the soldier,sailor, airmen, or marine is the same, the only thing that may change are the equipment supplied to them.

The reservists of the United States Military are not in need of yours or anyone else's sympathy. Just perhaps a realization that they are soldiers of the United States who comprise 40 percent of the active force in OIF. They have a right just like their active duty counterparts to not reenlist when their original contract expires. They may be less likely to reenlist than their active duty counterpart but it is certainly not because they whine and complain about fighting our nation's battles. Rather, it is the fact that they have responsibilities active personnel don't have; to include ownership of small businesses(which helps america's economy) and responsibility to civilian employers and civilian companies(often holding jobs of critical importance to their employers be it a public or private entity)to name a few. In addition to these added responsibilities our nation's reserve forces recieve less family support when deployed as well as less personal benefits and support upon deployment than is provided to their active duty counterparts.

In your response you argued that the evidence provided in the artcile was anecdotal. Well my friend your response was not only anecdotal but it was also shortsighted and ignorant. Rather that engage in useless rhetoric about the merit of a group of individuals in our armed forces(that you clearly know nothing about) why dont you ask important questions like how can we reform our reserve forces to meet the ever increasing demands of the War on Terrorism.

Maybe this is irrelevant, but does the LAT also have articles highlighting those whom have decided to re-up. I bet there are pretty good odds that they do not.