Thursday, April 26, 2007

Back Door Draft -- Coming soon to a recruiting office near you!

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Graphic and article by Jude Rouslin


Hey, Jude!
by
Contributor, Jude


Late yesterday afternoon, the phone rang and a women stated that she was calling from the United States Army Recruiting Command, USRC. She asked for my husband by name, however, he was not available at the time of the call. I star 69'd the call and located a telephone number and the call came Arlington Virginia. 703-658-8380

A chill went through me as I felt this was a little to close for comfort. He's 56 years old and had been in the last draft during the Viet Nam War. He was sent to Boot Camp as a draftee and soon after, due to test scores, was given the opportunity to enroll in Special Services Training. Was given an Honorable Discharge as a Draftee and became an Enlisted Serviceman. He was provided with Security Clearance and was to be trained in Communications and Electronics. However,it did not take him long to realize that he still was viewed as an Army Draftee amongst the other Branched Services that also were attending the school. Apparently, Draftees were looked at as low man on the pole. And it didn't take him long to decide that he did not want to be a part of the Services or support the War in Viet Nam.

He decided to go AWOL and moved to Canada. After a period of time, he chose to turn himself in and served his time in the Brig and received an eventual Dishonorable Discharge from the US Army. His actual active duty time is perhaps nil, except for time spent in boot camp . Military Service Obligation, MSO is 8 years.

He continues to oppose the Invasion of Iraq and needless to say, he has no plans to return to active duty status . I began to think about the list of people USRC was going through. The dates , the events surrounding discharge during yet another unpopular war. Is the Army going through lists searching for skill specific individuals? Those with remaining MSO 's or were they simply going through the alphabet to bolster their recruitment numbers. Perhaps they had simply arrived at the "R's" for the years of the early 70's.

I've attempted to research the recruiting practices in this Country and was amazed at the many various Military Initials that stand for Back Door Draft such as:

IRR
Individual Ready Reserve [IRR] or otherwise known as, Individual Warriors, according to Army News Service, April 4,2006
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2006/04/mil-060404-arnews01.htm

PRCA
Presidential Reserve Callup Authority [PRCA] is a Provision of a public law (US Code, Title 10 (DOD), section 12304) that provides the President a means to activate, without a declaration of national emergency, not more than 200,000 members of the Selected Reserve and the Individual Ready Reserve (of whom not more than 30,000 may be members of the Individual Ready Reserve), for not more than 270 days to meet the support requirements of any operational mission. Members called under this provision may not be used for disaster relief or to suppress insurrection. This authority has particular utility when used in circumstances in which the escalatory national or international signals of partial or full mobilization would be undesirable. Forces available under this authority can provide a tailored, limited-scope, deterrent, or operational response, or may be used as a precursor to any subsequent mobilization.

Identifying those with remaining Military Service Obligations.

"In May 2004 the Army's Human Resources Command - St. Louis (HRC-STL), began identifying Individual Ready Reserve Soldiers with a statutory Military Service Obligation (MSO) remaining for possible assignment to an Army Reserve unit. These Soldiers may be assigned to position vacancy requirements within designated Reserve units based upon the needs of the Army.

Since early May 2004, the Army Reserve's Retention and Transition Division has been contacting Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) Soldiers with a remaining Mandatory Service Obligation (MSO) to solicit their voluntary transfer from the IRR to Army Reserve Troop Program Units (TPU). In conjunction with a screening of the IRR population by HRC-St. Louis, this effort was intended to match the skills of IRR Soldiers with units in their local areas, thereby enhancing the readiness of the Army Reserve."
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/usar-irr.htm

There is a data base that has been compiled that makes it easy for the Military to identify those in the private sector which have specialized skills deemed as necessary for the Military.Also anyone up to the age of 60 is eligable for being targeted by many of the back door draft policies that have been set forth .

The Iraq Invasion has impacted on U.S. Military to the point of lowering standards, questionable recruiting practices,back door drafts, redeployment's and private mercenaries, and they still have not met their quota. I find it alarming that they over used and abused U.S. Military is seeking out other avenues in which to help to increase the numbers of our service people. As long as an individual is under 60 years of age, they may be reinstated and placed on Active Duty for George Bush's insane, unpopular invasion and continued war in Iraq. Also the fact that Bush seems hell bent in a continued presence in the Middle east, and continues to beat his war drums towards Iran and Syria, it would appear that next we will see DOD enlisting Boy Scout Troops as well Girl Scouts in order to have numbers that will support his disastrous foreign policies.

Enough is Enough! Hell No Mr. George W. Bush, My Husband Didn't Go Then and He Surely Won't Go Now .

Further readings
Retiree Mobilization
Army Times Recruit Survey
http://www.armytimes.com/legacy/new/1-292925-1584089.php
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2006/04/mil-060404-arnews01.htm
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/2462/

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmm.
So does your family have a strategy in the unlikely event your husband is called to duty?

Anonymous said...

Duh...all this is contained in the paperwork one signs , thereby agreeing to, when one enters the military. Sorry, but your husband should have read carefully before moving from draftee to enlistee. There are pros and cons with every style of military commitment. I was a reservist who finished service in the IRR. It is a lot of paper to read, but it is all there in black and white. I am most sorry that your husband was drafted in the first place. I am a firm believer in a strictly volunteer military. There is always a good way to resolve unclear issues. I suggest all who question their status seek good counsel. Most, but not all in our government prefer not to drag in the reluctant.

Anonymous said...

Nowadays pay and benefits aren't to bad it the roadside bombs that are the REAL hazard.

Anonymous said...

Wow, thanks for sharing this insight!

But I must admit my amazement that the Bush administration would reject calls from the left (Charlie Rangel, NY) to institute a draft, and then bother forced re-ups through the nefarious means you describe.

Sorry, doesn't pass the smell test.

Anonymous said...

IRR stands for Inactive Ready Reserve, plus you don't seem to understand how the normal draft system works, your husband is too old at this point even to be an officer, and the fact that a dishonorable discharge means you can never again join a branch of millitary service.

Anonymous said...

I can't imagine. Being called up again. I have two uncles who served in Vitnam. One of them was special forces and had security clearance that left him doing things directly for the president. One eventually went on to become a drill sargent for the national guard. The one that was special forces passed over last year. The other has fought an addiction to pot and alchol thanks to that war. Of the 184 boys that went from my home town only 5 came home. Of those five, my uncle is the only one still alive. They have been through enough. They served their time in one really stupid war they don't need to serve more time in another even stupider war

Anonymous said...

Bush had an exit strategy for Vietnam. He should have one for Iraq. We do. This war is a sham.

Shame on hypocrites and shame on the office of the president and shame on the the government of america for lying to the People of america and the world. You can fool some of the People some of the time, but...etc. Your time is up and we are fed up.

It is painfully obvious that the time for a New American Revolution is here and now.

It is the right of the People to alter and abolish this form of government. The groundswell is growing by the minute. And We, the People will prevail against Halliburton, Enron, Bush, Cheney, Gonzales, Rove and those of that ilk who have infiltrated our society with evil intent.

Lies and deceit are the rule of the day in this administration.

Imagine a government that would create 9/11 in order to suck up to the Saudis and initiate the next world war.

Next, I suppose you will be knocking on my door because of my opinion here. I will be greeting you with my own brand of, shall we say, a new american awareness, right between the eyes.

Anonymous said...

The military keeps calling my 15 year old son. I have no intention of allowing the military to put a gun in my son's hands and turn him into a murderer. Plus my son has already gotten into college, so there is nothing that the military can offer him. I have told my son what to tell them when they call, but he is too decent to do so.

Anonymous said...

Comrade,

Maybe your husband should have remained in Canada with all of the other wussie boys.

Give me a break. All wars are unpopular. Unfortunately it's too often neccessary. I served for over 13 years. If they asked me back I'd go. It's an honor and privalige to serve my country. A country that took in both of my parents.

The problem is that most bleeding hearts, like yourself, live decadent lives and have no idea what sacrifice and duty are; nor the price of freedom and security. You think everything is unfair or wrong when the topic in your social(ist?) groups and you discuss them as though you talking about a play or conert. But, then try to instill your values on everyone else and try to make them conform to you. If you don't believe what our nation was founded upon, I'll gladly help you pack.

They say every problem has its own solution…I hope your solution soon finds you.

Semper Fi,
GM

James said...

So, your argument is that because your husband was a deserter in Vietnam he did his part?

Honestly, I can't imagine that the Army would want a 56-year-old one-time deserter. It's got to be a foul-up in the records somewhere.

That said, the IRR and PRCA aren't a "backdoor draft." They are means of recalling reservists, who are all volunteers, back to active duty to serve time they agreed to serve when they signed their initial contract.

Leather Neck said...

I agree with Comrade 110% all the way, I am a US Marine 0331, And it is pretty sad that this country has more wussy's, then fighters now days, What we need is men with strong mind's and strong damn will to fight the way we were Back Vietnam, World War 1 & World War 2 and even before. This country is founded on Freedom but wussy's like your Husband doesnt have a idea to earn that Freedom!

US Marine Core
LnCpl Taylor
~Semper Fi~

Anonymous said...

Answer me this: why would the military want someone who was a traitor to his country? Why would they want a coward who ran away when his fellow countrymen were answering the call of duty? The military isn't going to call back someone of this low character who wasn't in long enough to get a skill worth having back. He should have stayed in Canada. Instead he left us high and dry in a time of need and is back when things are good.

Anonymous said...

viney: Bring back the draft, share in securing this nation. I was drafted in 65. Scared the hell out of me. I kept telling my self millions of men went through this I can to. I did it gave me self displain. I was lucky I made. Wouldnt trade that time for anything. Having said that no solder should have to go to a war Zone 4 times in a row. I know that would have taken a tow on me. Thats why the suicide rate is so high. You cant be lucky forever. Thats why we need the draft. To help those brave men who not afraid like your hubby. Think of the big picture not just your vision in the picture. Only the draft will save us.

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