"I Didn't Sign Up for the Navy to be in the Army!"

[fishman3811]

The Other Military Draft
By JOSHUA FRANK

"There sure as hell is a draft going on," the passenger sitting next to me said begrudgingly as the flight attendant handed him a ginger ale on our way in to Los Angeles last week. "I signed up to be in the Navy, not the damn Army."

It will be his third deployment to Iraq in four years but his first to be served on shore. Thousands of Navy and Air Force personnel are now serving non-traditional roles in Iraq -- posts they never signed up for. Steven, who asked I not use his last name in print, said he's to receive six weeks of weapons training at a California Army base before being flown over to Iraq for a year-long deployment.

"We've all heard of the stop-loss policy, there's even a new movie about it, but few know about what else is happening in our armed forces right now," Steven explained. "The back door draft is real, for sure, but here we are being shipped off to Iraq to basically serve in the infantry. It's ridiculous."

The Department of Defense reports that sailors and Air Force members are carrying out many different missions in Iraq, from traditional duties in the air and sea to construction jobs, medical operations, civil affairs, custom inspection, security and detention operations. Most are promised non-combative roles in Iraq, but many have found themselves to be in harms way once they arrive.

In 2007 the Navy sent roughly 2,200 "individual augmentees", as the service calls them, to handle combat-related duties with Marine and Army units stationed in Iraq. As of early April, 2008, 92 Navy and 46 Air Force personnel had been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, with those numbers sure to rise as the U.S. troop surge continues into its second year.

On March 31, 400 Navy reservists who had received training at military bases in Virginia were shipped back to Iraq. "The good news and bad news about this is that we are out doing things that our people weren't originally trained for," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley in a speech last year.

Such a trend has increased over the past several years. In 2006, for example, there were 4000 Air Force members in Iraq, but that number has jumped significantly. Now the Pentagon reports that over 6000 are to serve in the country by year's end.

"Technically, these combat-related assignments do not violate service members' contracts," said Lawrence Korb, who handled manpower as assistant secretary of defense during the Reagan administration. "But many ... are not volunteering for these jobs -- they're being told to do them."

Military recruitment numbers across the board are dwindling, and as result all branches of the service are being overextended to maintain current troop levels in Iraq. Aside from combat-related roles, however, sailors and Air Force members have been deployed in order to protect U.S. economic interests in the region -- from oil pipelines to Halliburton's numerous reconstruction projects.

And that's what seems to have sailors like Steven irked at the troop surge and his new job in Iraq.

"It's a draft, plain and simple. I don't care what they call it," Steven told me as our plane landed at LAX. "I didn't sign up for the Navy to be in the Army. But I'm going because I don't feel I have a choice. I have children to feed and a mortgage to pay."

fishman3811 Reviewed by fishman3811 on 04-09-2008. "I Didn't Sign Up for the Navy to be in the Army!" The Other Military Draft By JOSHUA FRANK "There sure as hell is a draft going on," the passenger sitting next to me said begrudgingly as the flight attendant handed him a ginger ale on our way in to Los Angeles last week. "I signed up to be in the Navy, not the damn Army." It will be his third deployment to Iraq in four years but his first to be served on shore. Thousands of Navy and Air Force personnel are now serving non-traditional roles in Iraq -- posts they never signed up for. Rating: 5

[fishman3811]

Another way the good old U.S.A is screwing its people.....But it makes sense since they dont want to have a real draft because the elite who run your country will all be hung from the highest tree.....because the war is sooo popular

[Mr. Clandestine]

You're actually a 'closet American', aren't ya? It's almost humorous how your disdain for certain American policies bleeds through in all these accounts you post as "news".

And why don't you ever cite your sources? Ashamed of where they originated? Or just plain lazy?

[Psycho4Bud]

As we listen to General Petraeus' testimony to Congress this week and mark, on Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, we should keep in mind the number of young Americans who have sacrificed their lives for America. Any judgment we make about where we are and what we must do in Iraq must be conditioned by the courage and commitment of those who have volunteered to protect us.

Consider Mike Monsoor as just one example of those who believe in the cause of freedom and believe in protecting America.

He Yelled "Grenade!" but It Was Too Late

On the morning of September 29, 2006, Petty Officer 2nd Class Mike Monsoor was on duty with three fellow Navy SEALs on a rooftop in Ramadi.

Monsoor was 25 years old and already serving his country with more courage and more impact than most of us do in our lifetimes.

The SEALs' job was to protect the coalition troops clearing the streets below their rooftop position. When they came under automatic weapon and rocket-propelled grenade fire, Monsoor and his fellow soldiers stood their posts. Suddenly, an insurgent lobbed a grenade up onto the roof. It hit Monsoor in the chest and bounced onto the floor. He yelled, "Grenade!" but it was too late to escape the rooftop. So Monsoor threw his body on the grenade and absorbed the blast. His three fellow SEALs survived. Michael Monsoor died thirty minutes later.
Five Years after the Fall of Baghdad: Honoring the Sacrifice of Michael Monsoor - HUMAN EVENTS

If your boy Steven can't handle the fact he signed up for military service he should either change his panties or talk to a navy seal about it. Maybe one of the two that was saved from the article above. Another GREAT article from Canada.:wtf:

Have a good one!:s4:

[Fencewalker]

And why don't you ever cite your sources? Ashamed of where they originated? Or just plain lazy?

That Other Military Draft - by Joshua Frank

[fishman3811]

P4B typical response from someone who wraps himself in the flag every night.You just cant accept the fact that the white house doesnt give a shit about the American people and the damage that has been done to the once mighty U.S economy.People are dying in wars,your country is in debt up to its ass,your dollar has fallen in value compared to other countries curency and to top it all off China could destroy your economy if it wanted too.America is past its prime thanks to GWB and the sad part about it is most Americans dont even know it.

[yokinazu]

you know when i was in the army we had a term for these guys, either pogues or r.e.m.f.s (rear echillon mother f*ckers) the pansys who get in the miitary and dont want to fight. we even had some mail clerk jerk off say he couldnt go to iraq because his recruter didnt tell him he may have to go to war. people need to take a close look at that contract they are signing and if it dont suit them DONT SIGN IT. i get so sick of hearin how the gov't is screwin them. all i can say is YOU signed the contract YOU took the oath and YOU can blame NOONE but YOURSELF.

now as far as this "stop loss" crap. when you join the military your contract is an 8 year obligation whether or not you serve 2,3,or 4 active years your ass belongs to uncle sam for 8 years. so it is entirely up to them as to wether or not you go home after your active time is up or they extend that contract.

but onthe flip side of this these kids are gettin screwed not by actualy havin to serve but when they are finaly released from duty. veterans benifits have been cut almost to the point of non exsistance. we here all the time about 4,000 + dead GIs 30k wounded, but what about the kids that come home just screwed in the head. i can personaly tell you that combat leaves scars on anyone whose been there wether they take a bullet or not. it takes years to adjust. my x wife knows better than to ask what i went thru, my gf asked one time and i was shit faced enough to tell her some of the things i did and saw and she never asked again, my little girl wont ask either. i still wake up in the middle of the night with cold sweats and can still see the faces when i close my eyes. and i served in desert storm almost 18 years ago.
m1-a1 tank Aco 4-66 armour 3rd infantry attached to 1st armour division

[Mr. Clandestine]

That Other Military Draft - by Joshua Frank

LOL... wow! Directly from the site "Anti-war.com", I had a feeling that the original website would have a similar URL. Thanks for clarifying my suspicions. :thumbsup:

[FlyGuyOU]

One of my best friends, older brother was a Navy SEAL, he has scars on his nuckles from when he had to pull his buddy outta the shit and he was digging into his hands so hard it left scars. huh

[Psycho4Bud]

P4B typical response from someone who wraps himself in the flag every night.

Typical article from a foreigner that loves to piss on our flag....as usual. Maybe that's why Canada didn't want to engage in Iraq....troops didn't have the nads for that sort of action.

Canada sure had the nads though when we got the Kurdish areas somewhat secured. I wonder how many U.S. troops or contracters had to protect their asses though when they were striking up oil deals in Northern Iraq bypassing the Central Government? VULTURES!

Have a good one!:s4: