U.S. Army's 'stop-loss' orders up dramatically over last year

[babylonsister]

U.S. Army's 'stop-loss' orders up dramatically over last year
The jump coincides with the extension of combat tours from 12 to 15 months.
By Julian E. Barnes, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 9, 2008


WASHINGTON -- The number of soldiers forced to remain in the Army involuntarily under the military's controversial "stop-loss" program has risen sharply since the Pentagon extended combat tours last year, officials said Thursday.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was briefed about the program by Army officials who said that thousands of new stop-loss orders were issued to keep soldiers from leaving the service after Gates ordered combat tours extended from 12 to 15 months last spring.

The Army has resorted to involuntary extensions of soldiers' enlistment terms to prevent them from leaving immediately before a combat tour or in the middle of a deployment.

Army officials have argued that the policy is necessary to ensure that they are not forced to send inadequately trained soldiers and unprepared units into war.

However, many soldiers subjected to the stop-loss policy consider it a backdoor draft. Critics argue that once soldiers have completed the enlistment period they agreed to, they should be allowed to return home. The involuntary retention program is so unpopular that it helped inspire a recent movie called "Stop-Loss."

The number of soldiers held in the Army under the stop-loss program reached a high in March 2005 of 15,758. That number steadily declined through May 2007, when it hit 8,540. But since then, the number of soldiers subjected to stop-loss orders began to increase again, reaching 12,235 in March 2008.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-stoploss9-2008may09,0,851069.story

[annabanana]

1. Keith also mentioned that a HUGE number of soldiers who were

classified "unfit" for duty due to injuries, or PTSD were being sent back in. (I don't remember the # but it was in the tens of thousands.)

They are breaking the biggest, most expensive tool on the toolbelt.

[babylonsister]

2. Yes, here's the info KO was referring to. How much more obvious

does it have to get that the Pentagon and 'powers-that-be' just don't give a crap? And don't get me started on McCain and the GI Bill...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3258940

[annabanana]

3. The military is being abused. and it's not even THEIRS..

It's OURS.