50,000 troops forced to serve under stop-loss policy

[Marleyb]

The US Army has forced about 50,000 soldiers to continue serving after their voluntary stints ended under a policy called 'stop-loss,' but while some dispute its fairness, court challenges have fallen flat.

The policy applies to soldiers in units due to deploy for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The Army said stop-loss is vital to maintain units that are cohesive and ready to fight. But some experts said it shows how badly the Army is stretched and could further complicate efforts to attract new recruits.

'As the war in Iraq drags on, the Army is accumulating a collection of problems that cumulatively could call into question the viability of an all-volunteer force,' said defence analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute think tank.

'When a service has to repeatedly resort to compelling the retention of people who want to leave, you're edging away from the whole notion of volunteerism.'
http://www.tradearabia.com/tanews/newsdetails_snDEF_article99911_cnt.html

[DS1]

1. One third of the force in Iraq would be gone if they weren't under stop-

loss. Wow.

[KittyWampus]

5. putting it those terms makes a very powerful statement.

[FormerRepublican]

2. We'll have a draft soon. Especially if they decide to hit Iran next...

[KittyWampus]

7. Don't you think they'd just rely on mercenaries more? They've stolen so

many billions/trillions they can certainly pay.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. I wonder what the stop loss policy is for those attending the academies

I'll bet they can never get out.

[TahitiNut]

6. Typically, during the first two years they're out-out. After that ...

... they can find their butts in uniform.

[jmowreader]

10. Stop-loss is only really valid for enlisted people

An enlisted person serves under a contract which states that on a specific date in the future, unless extended by a period of national emergency, he will no longer be employed by the military.

Officers serve under a commission. The commission must be resigned for the officer to leave the service, and the military is not obligated to accept that resignation.

They can get kicked out, but in wartime you'd almost have to commit rape. If the shit REALLY hit the fan, I don't think murdering someone would be enough to get your ass cashiered--they might just put down "one confirmed kill" and ship you off to the infantry.

So yeah, the officers can never get out if the Army doesn't want to release them.

[TahitiNut]

4. "cohesive"?? Sounds more like adhesive, to me.

Between "stop-loss" and corporate mercenary (privateers) personnel, we've gone 'over the rainbow' with our military. HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS A YEAR!

[lindisfarne]

8. csmonitor says 12,500 active troops are currently under stop-loss

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0131/dailyUpdate.html?s=rel
"Stop-loss," a policy used by the Army to keep US soldiers and reservists in the military beyond the date when their service was supposed to end, has been used on more than 50,000 members of the armed forces since the war in Iraq began. Currently stop-loss is being used to extend the duty of 12,500 troops. Reuters reports that the measure applies to units about to deploy to Afghanistan or Iraq.

Under the policy, soldiers who normally would leave when their commitments expire must remain in the Army, starting 90 days before their unit is scheduled to depart, through the end of their deployment and up to another 90 days after returning to their home base. With yearlong tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, some soldiers can be forced to stay in the Army an extra 18 months.

[TheBaldyMan]

9. can you get kicked out for using dope in US army?

if you can they'll be a glut of dealers outside military bases.

[Wilms]

11. Wow. n/t