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1,459 Posts
I am unhappy.
My son volunteered for 4 years - that was up last August.
He has been in Afghanistan since Jan last year.
His company's replacements arrived, assumed my son's company's duties, and my son was to fly out yesterday to Kandahar, then to Kuwait, then leave for the states tomorrow.
They come in yesterday while all packed up and ready to leave and tell them they are not coming back to the states until June. Can you imagine how devastated they were as well as the families back home?
My son gladly accepted the 8 month service extension beyond what he volunteered for (they keep them another 3+ months after they return to the states too). Now it will likely be a full year beyond what he volunteered for by the time he gets out - and to tell them that the same day they are suppose to be coming home after counting down the days for months.
What is the difference between forcibly extending the service of a VOLUNTEER and drafting someone??? We are abusing the patriotism of our volunteers so Mr Bush does not have to take the political hit for a draft. The way I figure it only 75% of our forces are volunteer, the rest are drafted exclusively from the armed forces by extending their service.
It is not right.
I am happy to be an American and live in the greatest country in the world - it was this way long before Bush and will be so long after he is gone but it is clear to me our leadership has us in a situation they cannot manage when they abuse our troops in the manner they are doing now.
Raise you hand if you honestly believe the middle east will be better in 6 months or in 6 years? We are just throwing gas on the flames over there - they cannot live with each other much less the rest of the world.
I apologize but this came at a very bad moment for me and I generally avoid political discussions at all cost.
I am just terribly disappointed not to have my son coming back home after he has already served proudly and honorably above and beyond his commitment.
God bless all of our troops - they deserve better
My son volunteered for 4 years - that was up last August.
He has been in Afghanistan since Jan last year.
His company's replacements arrived, assumed my son's company's duties, and my son was to fly out yesterday to Kandahar, then to Kuwait, then leave for the states tomorrow.
They come in yesterday while all packed up and ready to leave and tell them they are not coming back to the states until June. Can you imagine how devastated they were as well as the families back home?
My son gladly accepted the 8 month service extension beyond what he volunteered for (they keep them another 3+ months after they return to the states too). Now it will likely be a full year beyond what he volunteered for by the time he gets out - and to tell them that the same day they are suppose to be coming home after counting down the days for months.
What is the difference between forcibly extending the service of a VOLUNTEER and drafting someone??? We are abusing the patriotism of our volunteers so Mr Bush does not have to take the political hit for a draft. The way I figure it only 75% of our forces are volunteer, the rest are drafted exclusively from the armed forces by extending their service.
It is not right.
I am happy to be an American and live in the greatest country in the world - it was this way long before Bush and will be so long after he is gone but it is clear to me our leadership has us in a situation they cannot manage when they abuse our troops in the manner they are doing now.
Raise you hand if you honestly believe the middle east will be better in 6 months or in 6 years? We are just throwing gas on the flames over there - they cannot live with each other much less the rest of the world.
I apologize but this came at a very bad moment for me and I generally avoid political discussions at all cost.
I am just terribly disappointed not to have my son coming back home after he has already served proudly and honorably above and beyond his commitment.
God bless all of our troops - they deserve better