Comments on: Army to Cease “Stop Loss”

By: Matthew Haynes

Matthew Haynes — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:54:00 +0000

I will tell you im a SGT in the Army Infantry. I will tell you that I am on my second term and 3rd duty station. I will also tell you that I am currently deployed, AGAIN.

I agree that stop-loss is legal. Stop-loss is an option that the government can legally impose. BUT, is it the right thing to do? I had no idea what stop-loss was until it happened to my fellow soldiers. Many, Many, Many soldiers had no idea what it was until they were already at their units. Should they have done more research? yes. Should that recruiter have told him about it THE WAY IT REALLY IS? yes. I was under the impression that I would only have to do 4 years ACTIVE….not 5 and a half years ACTIVE….and 4 years reserve. I knew that I could be recalled, but the recruiter ever so gently said that “IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN”, I know, because I still keep in touch with him.

Stop-loss ruins soldier’s moral so much that they are useless. Whether its in their contract or not you can’t deny that it ruins everything about that soldier. I know first hand, its not “alledgedly”, how much it really worsen a Soldier feelings about his service. That soldier is more of a threat to the army than the enemy. I will tell you the truth, I hate what the army has done to myself and my fellow soldiers. 4 duty stations in 5 & 1/2 years?! are you kidding me? screw that. I’m done with the army. Should have joined the airforce with their 3 month deployments.

THE ARMY HAS NO IDEA HOW TO KEEP ITS MEN HAPPY.

By: Trent

Trent — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:33:16 +0000

I agree with scott, I just got back from deployment and was sent to another brigade. that was deploying not by choice. I have 6 months left in the military and still on dwell time and I am already stoplossd. That is hard to deal with, Has that happend to you CJ. i wonder why is it that i would be upset or think i might desearve compensation.

By: RUSMCUSA

RUSMCUSA — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:24:07 +0000

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R40121.pdf

a good read to educate yourself about, “stop loss”.

By: RUSMCUSA

RUSMCUSA — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:38:12 +0000

CJ,

I was in the Marines for 6 yrs, 3 mos active. I re-enlisted into Army from the Marine IRR at about the 6 yr 9 month mark (total acttive duty/IRR service). I re-enlisted for 3 yrs (minimim). I was already over my 8 yrs after my first mobilization, with 2 months to go on the 3 yr enlistment when I got stop lossed. I did not re-enlist, and had no plans to. I think my DEP service may have also added up to my IRR time as well. I had a total of almosy 8 moths IRR DEP time as well, so I was well over the 8, if you count the IRR DEP time.

Technically, I had 2 months to go on my USAR contract when I got stop lossed for 374 days, plus the 90 days mimimum after demob.

By: CJ

CJ — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:00:28 +0000

RUSMCUSA, did you ever reenlistment during your nine years, two months?

By: CJ

CJ — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:58:39 +0000

It would be a difficult battle because of the whole “six months” clause during a time of war, but the fact is that you signed a contract with the government. That contract was for a length of time not to exceed eight years. However, there is a small clause that states, “in the event of war” you will be extended until up to six months after the war ended. Since that “war” is the Global War on Terrorism and the Obama administration has stopped just short of saying that war is over since they refuse to use that term according to a White House memo, that shouldn’t be in effect today.

The only way the military can keep you in past your contract is if the Congress passed a law altering that contract. To the best of my knowledge it has not. The enlistment contract is plain and simple. “If this is my initial enlistment, I must serve a total of eight (8) years. Any part of that service not served on active duty must be served in a Reserve Component unless I am sooner discharged.”

The contract is very explicit about what the military can do with you within those eight years. However, other than the war clause, there is nothing in there about keeping you past your eight years legally unless Congress dictates it by law. Since they have not, I would think that a contract lawyer would be a great place to go to civilly sue the military, since you are no longer bound by the terms of the contract signed. Another option around the “in the event of war” clause is to appeal directly to the President since that is the only other situation covered.

By: RUSMCUSA

RUSMCUSA — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:11:23 +0000

CJ…

My beef with you is done, as you said those who served past 8 deserve the money…I was at 9 yrs, with 2 months to go til ETS on my USAR contract, then got stop lossed for 374 days, (this is after just geting of a demob just 9 mos earlier) then demobbed and waited another 90 days, hoping they wouldn’t call me again.

What do you mean by a legal battle against the gov for breach of contract for those over 8…?

I am listening….

By: CJ

CJ — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:54:55 +0000

Scott, my feelings aren’t hurt. I’d have to care what people think about me. However, you started out your comment with threats of being “cut down a notch”. How does someone NOT take that as a threat? Maybe you can also explain this little gem to me: “I hope you run into one of the people you labeled as a brat and they beat the ever living crap out of you.” Why shouldn’t someone be sensitive to this?

Don’t worry about the rank thing. I’m not a First Sergeant here or I’d post as one. I just happen to play on in the Army. I can’t really respond to this comment because frankly you have me confused. This comment contradicts most of what you said in the last one. But, I won’t toil on it too long since you won’t be back to read this anyway.

By: Isaac

Isaac — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:07:07 +0000

“FNG” to Scott,
I admit that I am a “kid”, which is why I asked around my friends and family for advice before joining up. While the age of 17 is still a minor, I DO have a good presence of mind to know what such a contract entails.

In my country, ALL male citizens are placed under the IRR after finishing their 2 year draft until they are 55, no matter whether you volunteered as I have to serve longer or not.

Oh, and thanks for your best wishes, but don’t worry, I’m sure my NCOs and officers will probably be of a better sought than YOU in the MOS that I have chosen.

BTW, you might also want to at least honour that badge of military service by improving your ENGLISH.

By: scott

scott — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:19:48 +0000

Well, maybe I hit a nerve with some of you people, but as for my character and soldiering you are dead wrong. Never once in that statement did I say anything resenting my enlistment, If you read it clearly I stated that I signed at 17 and so do many others and your attention to detail at that age even up to your 20′s is sub-par with that of a adult. Being naive is part of being that age, you can’t learn without making mistakes. CJ, You can be “treated” as an adult at the age of 10-12 depending on the severity of your crime….so that statement of yours has no bearing, sorry. I do not need to prove my credibility as a soldier or as an adult, expecially on this blogg I have hundreds of fellow soldiers(subordinates, peers, and seniors alike), civillians, and family members to attest to my integrety and morals. I made no threat to CJ, however he may have taken it. My view of the military if it wants kids, and I stand by my word that high schoolers are still kids, that they initiate a system like other countries that everyone has to serve at least 2 years active duty. That would help our society and our country. Further more, I VOLOUNTEERED to go on deployment with my unit which carried me over my ETS(End Term of Service-for you Jon) and stop loss was just a added bonus, so don’t give me the “you don’t have the balls for soldiering or to commitment” crap. No, I admit I don’t like the Army, but I will not leave my fellow soldiers in need by running away from problems or commitments. Saying that I perform my duties above the standards of the Army, and have NEVER failed my chain of command, my soldiers, or my duties. I just think that the Army should make it’s recruiting practices take place at colleges and other facilities filled with adults instead of “harvesting” from school kids. I’m sorry if my outlook offends certain peoples, but I have earned the RIGHT to speak my mind as I see fit. I have NEVER disrespected a Senior NCO or Officer, I respect their rank and position even if I don’t respect them.
And about the “needs of the Army” I can give you references from my acutal contract if you would like that states that nothing in your contract guarantee’s your MOS, Station/Location or choice, bonuses, allowances or pay, and they can be changed without notice to you. If you would like these refrences……READ YOUR CONTRACT Start with Apendix C. Para 9. SubPara B. If you need more specific refrences and more examples then I can point you in the right direction down to the page and paragraph.
CJ, the cell phone contract was a metaphor….not from a literal contract…..sorry for the confusion about contractial law. Well, I see my time on here was missrepresented by my own words and perhaps my point was a little vague. I apologize for my misconstrued and abrasive take on the subject and towards people, that’s just he way I am and the way I will always be. I am MAN enough to realize if I have wrongfully accused someone of something that they had ment nothing by. I still stand by my opinion that if someone is truly misserable at their decision to join the military then they should be released. I wouldn’t take back my enlistment, but I wish no one to have to suffer through 8 years of a contract that they really had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Because face it, all of you 17 year olds really don’t have an earthly idea what you are getting yourself into….you may have a faint idea but it is nothing like you are thinking and it’s not right for everyone. Having said that, I hope you the best with your upcomming enlistments and hopefully you will enjoy it as much as CJ and Old Blue. I will not be placing anymore comments to this site as it would be unnecessary. Again My apologies for any hurt feelings, maybe you shouldn’t be so sensative to others opinions. Best regards to all of you FNG’s. and to all of you Retired Soldiers. And had I known CJ’s rank(being that it isn’t posted) I would have addressed him differently.