[RowansDad]

"The Army Reserve is facing an <b>extreme shortage</b> of <b>company officers</b>, a situation aggravated by a surge in resignation requests.<br><br>
"The shortage — primarily of captains — has seriously reduced the capabilities of the Reserve, and continued losses will further reduce the readiness of "an already depleted military force," according to an Army briefing document submitted last month to Congress.<br><br>
"Army Reserve <b>resignation requests</b> have <b>jumped</b> from just <b>15 in 2001</b> to more than [/b]370 during a 12-month period ending in September[/b]. To preserve its leadership ranks, the Reserve increasingly has rejected resignation requests, forcing some officers to stay on even after they have fulfilled their initial eight-year service requirement."<br><br>
More here:<br><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002113845_officershortage09m.html" target="_blank">http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...ortage09m.html</a><br><br>
Jeepers, I wonder why this might be happening?

 

[chicagomom]

Hey ya go to war with the army ya got, baby.<br><br>
Gah. Just realized how much he sounds like Telly Savalas...

 

[RowansDad]

Bump.

 

[chicagomom]

Perhaps it could also be explained by the Army's new Bible-adherence policy with regard to military service.<br><br>
"If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married." -- Deuteronomy 24:5

 

[Ravin]

It seriously irks me when people sign up and then balk when actually required to do their job.<br><br>
I'm IRR with the Navy Reserve. I stopped active drilling when I became pregnant, because I didn't want the commitment of being away from my baby for long workdays one weekend a month or the 2 weeks, etc. But if I were to be called to active duty, I would go because I made the commitment and, well, it would be my duty. I wouldn't be happy about it, but I'd do it.<br><br>
War means you may be committed "for the duration". It's in the fine print on one's enlistment contract.

 

[RowansDad]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Ravin</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">War means you may be committed "for the duration". It's in the fine print on one's enlistment contract.</div>
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How come now retired general Tommy Franks, chief planner of this mess, didn't stay on "for the duration"? It would kind of piss me off if I was one of the many who's tour in Iraq is getting extended while Franks is off trotting across the U.S. for his book tour and landing endorsements for creepy teen tracking devices (see <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/10/tech/main660381.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/...in660381.shtml</a>).

 

[RowansDad]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Ravin</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">But if I were to be called to active duty, I would go because I made the commitment and, well, it would be my duty. I wouldn't be happy about it, but I'd do it.</div>
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Shhhhhhhhh.....Sheesh, don't jinx yourself...<br><b>Retired Army colonel, 70, sent to Afghanistan</b><br><a href="http://www.marionstar.com/news/stories/20041211/localnews/1731211.html" target="_blank">http://www.marionstar.com/news/stori...s/1731211.html</a>

 

[Marg of Arabia]

Ravin, are you trying to tell us that reservists know they are slaves to the military for their entire lives?? Because I remember recruit officers coming to my highschool and never did they give us that impression. You act as if these people haven't heeded the call. They have OVER AND OVER AND OVER! They are being used because they are cheaper and get little benefits. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/angry.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="angry">