60-year-old Army retiree wants back in

[unhappycamper]

60-year-old Army retiree wants back in
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jan 1, 2008 11:32:13 EST

BEREA, Ohio — A man who turned 60 and was forced to leave the Army because of a retirement policy said he wants the military to take him back for another tour in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Austin Asher, a former master sergeant, retired in 2007 after serving 31 years in the Army, National Guard and Army Reserves, including two tours of Iraq.

He’s applied for active duty under the Army’s Retiree Recall Program and wants to go back to the Middle East to reassume his second-deployment role as a mess sergeant who ran chow halls serving up to 3,500 meals daily.

Asher, who lives in suburban Cleveland, gets pensions from the military and from his 30 years working for Ford Motor Co. but said he’d be willing to take a demotion and corresponding pay cut to get back in.

“The Army can take the pension back. Money is not an issue with me,” he said. “Just give me soldiers. Give me some food and let me feed them.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_armyretiree_080101/

[DrDan]

1. good heavens . . . forced retirement is such a ridiculous policy

for career paths like this. Absolutely no reason this guy cannot successfully run a chow hall - provided he meets the other physical requirements of the Army.

[Captain Hilts]

2. 'Up or out' makes NO SENSE for enlisted personnel. Let him go. Why not be 1st class for 20+ yrs?