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        Daily Chat >> General Posts >> Involuntary activation
        
(Message started by: Rosybabe on Mar 26^th, 2008, 11:18am)

Title: Involuntary activation
Post by Rosybabe on Mar 26^th, 2008, 11:18am

My stepson Jonathan, got a letter from the Marine Corps requiring his presence at the base in Tulsa for muster. The letter also says that He will be screen to see if He is eligible to be involuntarily activated again for another round in Iraq. That would be another 12 to 18 months of active duty.
He just got out of active service back in August and He just started college in Missouri. We were there past January helping him with his new home. He was so excited!
He did three rounds in Iraq and now He is being called again.
He says that if He has to go He goes because that is his duty, but we are heartbroken :'(...
Did you know that the marines are calling back about 2500 IRR's (reservists) for involuntary activation?
and this is not only happening for the marines but also for the Army...

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Jimi on Mar 26^th, 2008, 11:24am

There is nothing right about that. 3 tours was too much. To send someone back after that, especially now that he has enrolled in college, is just not right. That war is ruining our country as we know it, especially economy wise.

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Peppermint on Mar 26^th, 2008, 11:36am

Not sure how it works, but I agree with Jimi, does not sound right!

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Paul98 on Mar 26^th, 2008, 11:40am

Rosy-

When he mustered out did he sign on to the resurves? I thought once you mustered out, your out. ??

-P.

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Rosybabe on Mar 26^th, 2008, 11:52am

well this is how it works, when you enlist you are signing a contract for 4 years of active duty and 4 years of Individual ready reserve (IRR). You are not required to muster during those 4 years but if they call , you have to go and also they can reactivate you if they have the need for more people.

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Callico on Mar 26^th, 2008, 12:01pm

Rosy,

I'm sorry your stepson is having his life put on hold this way.
It doesn't seem right, but it is something all branches of the service have used since the end of WWI. The idea is that there is a ready group of trained personnel that can be used as a cadre to stabilize a new unit.

Please tell him I said thanks for the service that he has already rendered, and my appreciation for his going back.

Jerry

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Rosybabe on Mar 26^th, 2008, 12:02pm

this is taken of the marines corps site news section...

Stars and Stripes | Jeff Schogol | January 17, 2008

Marines in the IRR have left active duty but still have time on their service obligation. Unlike other reserve component troops, they are not attached to units and do not drill.

The majority of the Marines are expected to go to Iraq, while the rest will go elsewhere in the U.S. Central Command theater of operations, officials said.

Of the Marines expected to receive orders to deploy, about 300 are ground Marines, about 100 are in motor transportation, 75 are military police, and the rest come from about 60 other Military Occupational Specialties, said Col. Steve Driggers, of a Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

Only eight of the Marines are officers, while the rest are at the rank of sergeant or below, Driggers said.

The IRR Marines will be activated for 12 months - a seven-month deployment and four-and-half months of pre-deployment training, he said.

In August 2006, the Corps announced it was authorized to mobilizecall up as many as 2,500 Marines from the IRR at any given time to fill shortfalls in the active-duty force.

Since then, the Marine IRR has held three musters, after which a total of 1,464 Marines have received orders to deploy, officials said.

At the latest muster in September, about 1,900 Marines were screened in the hopes of getting 1,500 Marines to deploy.

Not all Marines who are screened get orders to deploy because they can be exempt for medical reasons, hardships and other circumstances.

Of those Marines who were screened and did not receive orders, about 500 had medical reasons for not deploying, about 250 had hardship reasons, about 200 had joined Reserve units, and about 50 had gone back to active-duty or joined other services, Driggers said.

To make up for any shortfalls, the Corps can go to the Select Marine Corps Reserve or active-duty force, said Corps spokesman Maj. Stephen O'Connor.

In the prior IRR call-up, about 540 of the roughly 1,800 Marines screened received orders to go downrange, O'Connor said.

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Gator on Mar 26^th, 2008, 12:03pm

Paul, when you enlist in the military, you agree to serve or be available to serve for a certain period of time. It was six years when I got out. A typical enlistment was four years active and two years reserve. Usually, the reserve status was just basically an "on-call" thing where you could be called back to active duty, but did not have to make monthly or yearly training.

I agree that three tours of duty in a war zone is too much and requiring more is just insane. If we continue to abuse our troops like this, we will have no choice but to re-institute the draft because fewer people will voluntarily subject themselves to that.

Personally, I think the draft would be a good thing, anyways. Military service has been a very positive thing for many people who otherwise may have become burdens to society. The service teaches discipline and more importantly self-discipline. It definitely turned my oldest son around. Not to mention, America would have a ready supply of people to draw from in case of emergency who could be deployed quicker because they already have the basics.

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Callico on Mar 26^th, 2008, 1:28pm

Rosy,

I just came across a quotation while doing some other work that I thought it fits the situation. I think I know who said it, but it was not attributed, and I am not sure, so will pass it along as unknown.

"Give thanks for those who defend democracy,
for they bear the gift of liberty and pay the price of
freedom."

Jerry

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by John Michael Smith on Mar 26^th, 2008, 1:32pm

Once you sign the line, they can keep you for eight years, no matter what your contract is for, as far as active duty goes. Hope he doesn't have to go again.

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Paul98 on Mar 26^th, 2008, 1:35pm

on 03/26/08 at 12:03:44, Gator wrote:

Ahh! I was thinking back to when there was a draft and you got your card, did your time and were out for good unless you signed on with the reserves after mustering out. Lots of guys were preying for 4F status back then. Some even gave themselves 4F or got a buddy to give it to them.

-P.

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Rosybabe on Mar 26^th, 2008, 1:40pm

Thanks all! I just feel very sad because we got used to know that He was safe and talking to him almost every day.
Mireille is incredible close to him. She wants to call him all the time. He is her only brother.
He got a Kitten and a dog. I know He wanted to come back to normal that's why He got pets.

I hope they spare him this time...

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by echo on Mar 26^th, 2008, 2:09pm

Three tours is enough to ask of anyone.

Sorry to read this has happened.

He is an outstanding young man for being willing to place his collegiate life on hold to serve his country, and all of us, again.

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by cynjeep89 on Mar 26^th, 2008, 2:48pm

Rosy,

Please keep us posted on what happens with Jonathan.

Cyn

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Melissa on Mar 26^th, 2008, 2:57pm

I'm very sorry to hear that Rosy. :(

My brother-in-law heads for Iraq in October.

Prayers for them both.

*Hugs*
mel

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by midwestbeth on Mar 26^th, 2008, 3:44pm

Rosy, Thanks to your step-son for his service. Like others have said, three tours is enough to ask of anyone. I hope he gets to stay.

Beth

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by JeffB on Mar 26^th, 2008, 5:39pm

That sucks.

Tell him thanks and keep safe

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Annette on Mar 26^th, 2008, 5:42pm

[smiley=hug.gif]

Prayers for your step son and for Mels BIL, may God keep them safe and well at all time.

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Charlie on Mar 26^th, 2008, 8:05pm

Sounds pretty crappy to me too.

Gator is probably right about the draft....I say "probably" only because I've never been eligible.

Countries are supposed to fight wars, not armies. Only families and soldiers were asked to sacrifice. Unlike another time, it's: "We will pay no price, support no burden."

You'd think they could do better than abuse our best.

Charlie

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by BarbaraD on Mar 27^th, 2008, 7:52am

Sorry Rosy... it's not fair, but give him a hug and a big thanks for all of us.

I'm for the draft and have been for years (about ever since they got rid of it). Gives kids 2 years to get their act together and learn discipline and a trade if nothing else.

But four tours in Iraq is too much.....

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by DennisM1045 on Mar 27^th, 2008, 10:06am

Hopefully they'll recognize his 3 tours as enough and leave him out of it. I'm sorry for the turmoil this has caused you.

((((HUGS))))

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Involuntary activation
Post by Kirk on Mar 28^th, 2008, 12:27am

Oh well. Its like we used to say in the Marines. Welcome to the suck.
I'm sorry to hear he stands a chance of going back.

[smiley=smokin.gif]