Our military is voting in support of the war...

[elijah_lives]

Fox News is reporting that while public support for the war in Iraq is slipping, soldiers are re-enlisting at a record rate. Looks like they're (not) voting with their feet!

 

[SeekingTruth]

elijah, I am thankful that we still have young men and women who are willing to fight our wars. Without them, we would not exist as a nation. It seems they believe what we are doing in Iraq is right.

 

[elijah_lives]

According to my brother-in-law (Mosul), morale is very high...

 

[poncho]

Did Fox News happen to mention that soldiers have a choice of either re enlisting and getting a cash bonus to stay deployed in Iraq at the end of their hitch or face a stop loss and remain deployed in Iraq anyway without a cash bonus at the end of their hitch?

[ August 19, 2005, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: poncho ]

 

[carpro]

Originally posted by poncho:
Did Fox News happen to mention that soldiers have a choice of either re enlisting and getting a cash bonus to stay deployed in Iraq at the end of their hitch or face a stop loss and remain deployed in Iraq anyway without a cash bonus at the end of their hitch?

Not that it matters in the results, but can you cite a source, please?

 

[emeraldctyangel]

Oh how stupid. Weve gotten a bonus well before any war ever started. Ive been in for 12 years and got a cash bonus three times. Whoopie.

I dont do it for the money. In fact, I could make a whole lot more working for a security company and never see the inside of that place I consider to be the lip of hell.

I dont stick around for the cash, or because I dont know how to do anything else. I am here to finish this so my son does not have to.

Elijah_lives thank you for getting the meaning of that! I am impressed! God Bless.

 

[carpro]

I don't see anything wrong with the bonus aspect of the reenlistments. They deserve far more than they get.

Ponch made it out to be blackmail. I'd like some verification of that.

 

[elijah_lives]

The program I watched yesterday concerning this was with John Gibson, who also interviewed one of their military analysts; I can't recall his name. I immediately searched their website for the story, in vain. I don't know if they post all of their stories, because I was unable to find it today, either.

The story did not mention bonuses at all. It focused on the morale of the troops, their aversion to casualties but recognition that their service in Iraq is part of a larger picture, and the feeling that it makes a difference to aid in the freedom of individual Iraqis. One specific example cited was the 30th Inf Div, currently in Iraq, with a 250% re-up rate. This example was claimed to be typical.

Being a disabled veteran, I cannot serve in this war, and have to leave it to other volunteers. This is one point that is universally ignored by the pundits -- that all of us since the end of the draft voluntarily raised our hands to take the oath, and nobody was forced to join. For anybody to enlist without considering the consequences (i.e., "I might have to fight and die") is foolish. I live in great pain daily as a result of my injuries, despite large amounts of painkillers, but I do not blame the military, because I volunteered. The press would have us believe that everybody in Iraq was forced in at the point of a gun.

I'm proud of these young men like emeraldctyangel, and am deeply offended by the misinformation being fed to the public by many in journalism. It used to be a profession seeking truth, but now it seems as though the only people in that line of work are there "to change the world", as I heard one journalist say.

 

[just-want-peace]

It used to be a profession seeking truth, but now it seems as though the only people in that line of work are there "to change the world", as I heard one journalist say.

Makes one question the "Freedom of the Press" concept, doesn't it?

After all, if you are only going to be offered ONE(1) perspective what good does "FotP" do for a free society; really no different than a gov't controlled media!

The FotP was intended to keep the citizenry abreast of ALL facts of society. Just the opposite of a gov't controlled press.

 

[billwald]

The war is an outlet for those who like to break things and kill people. Pays better than a street gang.

 

[KenH]

The military is an outlet for those who love their country and want to defend it against all enemies - foreign and domestic.

 

[poncho]

Originally posted by carpro:
I don't see anything wrong with the bonus aspect of the reenlistments. They deserve far more than they get.

They do deserve more than they get, but that isn't the point.

Ponch made it out to be blackmail.

Sounds like blackmail to me.

I'd like some verification of that.

Bad enough to look it up for yourself?

On this one I'm claiming a Dragoon68. I'm going by what I've read, the opinions of others in the know and my own personal experience in the Army and my personal experience with recruiters and adding the stop/loss program into the equation.

 

[emeraldctyangel]

"Sounds like blackmail to me."

What would you even know about it, besides the obvious reading the the cliff's notes and making commentary? If you were IN the Army, then you wouldnt speak with such foolish overtones. You would KNOW. By the way, RECRUITERS have nothing to do with STOP/LOSS programs. That program is directed by MPC under orders from the SECDEF.

Here is some info from https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/enlist/GUIDE/srb.htm
(you may not be able to view as it is a secure site and I accessed it with my CaC card)

But here are the bones:

The Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) Program is a monetary incentive offered to qualified soldiers who reenlist in the Regular Army for continued duty in certain military occupational specialities (MOSs).

The HRC conducts periodic analysis of each MOS in the inventory to ensure the SRB program is supporting its objective and adjusts the list of bonus MOSs, as appropriate.

The SRB is designed to increase the number of reenlistments in critical MOSs and is paid by specialty and grade within established zones. The three zones are:

(1) Zone A - reenlistment between 17 months and six years of active service.

(2) Zone B - reenlistment between six to 10 years of active service.

(3) Zone C - reenlistment from 10 to 14 years of active service. (Zone C bonuses have not been applied since 31 Jan 86.)

The amount awarded for an SRB is computed as follows:

(MONTHLY BASIC PAY) X (YEARS, OR FRACTIONS OF A YEAR (MONTHS) OF ADDITIONAL OBLIGATED SERVICE) X (SRB MULTIPLIER) = SRB AWARD.

Fifty percent of the awarded bonus is paid at the time of reenlistment. The remaining bonus amount is paid in equal annual installments over the reenlistment contract.

The eligibility criteria for awarding the SRB and other program features are outlined in AR 601-280, Army Retention Program, Chapter 5.

With exception to Zone C comments, the Navy and Marine Corps has the same programs. I could not verify Air Force.

 

[emeraldctyangel]

Originally posted by billwald:
The war is an outlet for those who like to break things and kill people. Pays better than a street gang.

My outlet is and always has been Jesus. The benefits are priceless.

 

[emeraldctyangel]

Originally posted by elijah_lives:

Being a disabled veteran, I cannot serve in this war, and have to leave it to other volunteers. This is one point that is universally ignored by the pundits -- that all of us since the end of the draft voluntarily raised our hands to take the oath, and nobody was forced to join. For anybody to enlist without considering the consequences (i.e., "I might have to fight and die") is foolish. I live in great pain daily as a result of my injuries, despite large amounts of painkillers, but I do not blame the military, because I volunteered. The press would have us believe that everybody in Iraq was forced in at the point of a gun.

I'm proud of these young men like emeraldctyangel, and am deeply offended by the misinformation being fed to the public by many in journalism. It used to be a profession seeking truth, but now it seems as though the only people in that line of work are there "to change the world", as I heard one journalist say.

I will keep you in my prayers for improvement in health. I appreciate your comments, even though I am a girl (LOL).

I certainly agree with you on the misinformation. Having been a Media Escort many times in my career, I believe their attitudes are such (thinking we are forced at gun point to serve) because they cannot imagine themselves in our places. If I had a nickel for everytime they expressed trepidation or fear while doing their jobs in my area, I could own the islands of the Phillipines. (heh who needs a bonus then!)

I do not begrudge their fears, heck I even have them myself. But I do think it is quite two faced (Im not sure this is the exact term I am looking for, but anyway), for these journalists to come and walk in my shoes, make it through the experience successfully, and then go write about it like the military made them do it or something.

What is the most often missed point of that experience? Accomplishment. They were able to make it through harrowing events, and lived to tell about it. Instead of being happy to be alive, they grumble and complain.

Personally I feel every journalism school could use a good amount of Jesus.

 

[carpro]

Originally posted by poncho:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by carpro:
I don't see anything wrong with the bonus aspect of the reenlistments. They deserve far more than they get.

They do deserve more than they get, but that isn't the point.

Ponch made it out to be blackmail.

Sounds like blackmail to me.

I'd like some verification of that.

Bad enough to look it up for yourself?

</font>[/QUOTE]To me, that means you have no proof and you just made it up.

That's what I thought.

 

[rivers1222]

Originally posted by billwald:
The war is an outlet for those who like to break things and kill people. Pays better than a street gang.

---------------------------
billwald,
Havent followed many of your posts. Please tell me this was in jest.

 

[poncho]

Originally posted by carpro:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by poncho:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by carpro:
I don't see anything wrong with the bonus aspect of the reenlistments. They deserve far more than they get.

They do deserve more than they get, but that isn't the point.

Ponch made it out to be blackmail.

Sounds like blackmail to me.

I'd like some verification of that.

Bad enough to look it up for yourself?

</font>[/QUOTE]To me, that means you have no proof and you just made it up.

That's what I thought. </font>[/QUOTE]To me that means your not interested enough in the subject to let your fingers do the walking around the internet to find out if I made it up or not.

It takes more than a couple links to get the whole story in any subject, that means spending time searching and reading a whole list of articles, websites, and documents (on your own) and using your own personal experience to come up with your own conclusions. Turning on Fox news an hour a day doesn't mean your informed, Carpro. That only means you get the news that someone else feels is suitable for you to see.

Apparently Ruppert doesn't feel it's suitable for you to see what is really going on with reenlistment pitches and as long as your satisfied with only half the story that's all you'll ever get to base your opinions on.

 

[webdog]

To me that means your not interested enough in the subject to let your fingers do the walking around the internet to find out if I made it up or not

Translation: "I don't have a source and it's heresay"

 

[emeraldctyangel]

Well poncho...what IS your source then? I posted plenty of info and a link for you to click at your leisure and I am trying to give you the benefit of the doubt about how I, a US Service Member, by accepting a cash bonus to remain in the military for a little longer, is being blackmailed. Please enlighten me.