Comments on: Colonel Debunks Individual Ready Reserve Mobilization Myths

By: EOD Tech

EOD Tech — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:47:29 +0000

I too recieved orders within 8 months of serving four years in the Army. The most confusing part for me was the fact that both of my shoulders were found to be disabled by the Compensation and Pension deptartment of Veteran Affairs. I don’t know how many of you know anything about Explosive Ordnance Disposal but one of the reqiurementsis the ability to wear a 65-85 pound bomb suit (depending on the size) while carrying a 155mm artillery round (approx. 90 pounds) in your arms for 100 meters, which is to include an incline of a degree I can’t recall at the moment. I know this because I use to perform the tests for soldiers wishing to reclass to EOD. I injured my left should approx. 8 months before my ETS date and spent numerous nights in the ER due to severe pain. I have been to four hospitals since the injury to include Walter Reed and have recieved three different diagnosises. I have been seeing a VA Surgeon monthly to try and solve this continued problem. When I recieved orders I was at first shocked that the army had stooped to the level of trying to deploy disabled veterans but quickly remembered how disorganized it was while I was serving so, I figured they had just forgotten to cross reference their list with the VA. After turning in my disablement paperwork I figured I would not hear from them again. I was wrong. They very quickly replied with a “denial from exemption” both by letter and phone call. I clearly appealed this decision having my VA assigned surgeon write a letter stating that I was unfit for combat, especially if weight exceeding 25 pounds was going to be expected of me to carry and that my condition was chronic. This appeal was also denied. I decided to set up surgery (which I was avoiding because it only has a 50% success rate) but decided to do it anyway due to these orders. I sent in the letter showing my pre-op and operation dates which were within 9 days of my report date and I was again denied. I am now sitting at Fort Benning preparing for mobilization and my only last chance of defence is the PA I will be seeing tomorrow. However, even if they find me unfit for combat I will still be unable to get home in time for my pre-op which means I will be back on the waiting list for surgery. Is this really the way the military is honoring their honorably discharged disabled Veterans?

By: Annoyed Scout

Annoyed Scout — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:55:23 +0000

My IRR callup orders got cut Nov 17… happy Thanksgiving. Somewhat surprised because I only ETS’ed 6 months ago, and during the 6 months leading up to that glorious day I was constantly reminded that the Army was getting more recruits than it needed because of the economy and if I wanted to re-up I’d need to make a decision before the 90-day mark. Now barely half a year later HRC wants me to deploy with a National Guard unit? WTF, over. At least if I’d gotten Stop-Lossed I’d be getting a chunk of change back in exchange for one more wasted year.

By: A Resister

A Resister — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:46:29 +0000

I would like to shed some light on the U.S. Army Human Resource Command. What kind of people are making decisions? What are the process of making these decisions? Have these decision makers passed conflict-of-interest check? Have they ever been they influenced by their friends? How often do they used their privileges as bargaining chips? How often do they tip off insider information to their friends? How often do they use their privileged to settle personal grudge? Based on my army experiences, unless these HR POGs prove themselves innocent, I would assume they are all guilty.

By: A Resister

A Resister — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:48:53 +0000

If the system is unjust, you have moral obligation not to comply.

By: A Resister

A Resister — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:55:29 +0000

I took pains to serve the U.S. army, now the army is walking all over me. So this is what I have earned for a full-term service.

It is time to stand up for our own rights. If we act like a door matt, everyone will walk over us. There is another front more urgent than the Taliban: to defend our civil liberty. More than the taliban, more than the al qaida, the U.S. military has become the greatest source of misery. The legality of the two wars have long expired!

By: spc.

spc. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:43:56 +0000

i ets’d may 8th 2009. i just recieved orders nov. 19th 2009, to go to iraq. but the mos they have me down for is 14s (avenger crew member)……i am a 14t (patriot missile operater)! can the army really recall you, and send you into a warzone to perform an mos that you were never trained for?!?!?!?

By: angry sgt

angry sgt — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:11:35 +0000

First of all I am not against the war on either front. I am, however disgrunteled. The army has screwed me over and over again. I should of filed a law suit for failure to give medical aid, but I’m so frustrated and tired I just want to be done with it. I don’t want anything, not even benefits.

Having seen the army ignore it’s own obligations and bend the rules to suit its self, I really don’t feel obligated to report. Because of the things I’ve seen and heard in the last five years of active duty I think the army has no honor. They do not look out for their soldiers but for themselves, they look out for their PR. Perhaps I just had a bad experiance, maybe things were great for everyone else but I could write a book on how many lies I’ve been fed. Please just give me the Other than Honorable Discharge and I’ll go away quietly.

By: SGT John Doe

SGT John Doe — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:11:07 +0000

Greetings,

The Army has clearly violated the spirit of the IRR; use only in case of national emergency or extraordinary circumstances. Currently, the Army has attempted to make the IRR a Plan A for manning overseas assignments. Instead of recruiting 18 year old able bodied Americans who would be interested in serving, the Army is focused on “recruiting” 1-3 time OIF/OEF veterans against their will, preferably with bad knees and other ailments. IRR Soldiers should expect to receive 3-6 phone calls from Army “recruiters” each week. It is very important that discharged Combat Veterans understand what the Army has to offer with respect to training and schools. At least the Marine Corps appreciates the idea of “involuntary Recall.” There is no amount of service which is actually valued, and as such, there is no limit to the amount of times the Government is prepared to send you to Iraq/Afghanistan. I suspect that this mentality is a legacy of the Bush Era, as was Stop-Loss which is being done away with. Perhaps once Obama’s team really takes control of Defense these policies will change. Until then.

IRR Soldier

By: irr 11B soldier SPC

irr 11B soldier SPC — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:42:21 +0000

my train up was for 3 months … your probably going with a national guard unit. so you will only be in country for 9 months. and the guys that didnt show up got awol orders in the mail . i know because some guys missed there flight and showed up late, there wifes called to let them know they shipped the awol orders…. all the guys im here with did 3 years… just go the money is great and im happy to serve now … after the fact i come home in april

By: Jesse

Jesse — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:43:42 +0000

To U.S. Army Captain in Baghdad:

You should have just stayed home. I would have.

From,
Former Army Captain