Kerry's Debate Flip-Flops

The military is voluntary. How we going about recruiting teenagers with very little options right out of high school is another story but its voluntary. I get the sense you were trying to hit on the class issue about the rich and poor doing service (when you mentioned bush’s kids) but I’m confused as well.

Speaking of our voluntary military, what do you guys think about U.S soldiers who have been out of service for years being recalled?

If our military is voluntary, should we bring those who wish not to serve again up on military charges like we have been? Wouldn't they technically have the right to choose whether they want to go back into the military?

if you've got some specific instances i'd like to hear them, i haven't heard a lot about this. my understanding (from a friend of mine who served in the gulf in the late 90s) is that you're considered an "active reserve" during a certain number of years after you're discharged, during which time you can be called up if your career field is needed. this is something that became more common after 9/11 when it wasn't exactly certain what military might be needed so more soldiers were kept on active reserve, not discharged as early, etc.

chris

matt has to attack me why? who cares i cant spell, or read, im not the president of the USA he is expected to, you the one that write these stupid posts trying to help bush when in fact there is no helping that idiot yes i said it that idiot. The US army is NOT voluntary, only to rich americans, and before you go blow you top, let me explain something to you, i dont know how it is over there in your farm land but , Lets say you a college student and need financial aid, guess what you need to sing up with selective services and its not by choice you have to, and people get this if you want to vote yes vote you have to sing up for selective services , If i remmember correctly u must sign up on your 18 birthday and if you dont you can not register to vote. If you want to become a citizen of this contry YOU must sign up as well. Why do you think the politicians dont want a draft?? cause then and only then will their kids be subjected to serve and put their own lives at risk like the rest of us. Then again they will probably just send them over seas like usual. Come on matty i know that tax return wasent that big for you, or is those 300 bucks enuff to buy your vote

I'll quote his entire post, just you all can attempt to read and/or understand it again. I care that you cannot spell or read. If you are going to reply to a political debate, I would expect that you be able to present yourself in a self-respecting manner, and for the sake of everyone else having to read your post. And like Fig and Flack both said, the U.S. Military IS voluntary. I did not come from a rich background, and I was not forced to go the military. Being poor, you have far more options for government assisted financial aid for college, minus signing up the military. I won't deny that the large majority of soldiers serving come from poor backgrounds, but I won't allow you to say that they had no other choice. I know plenty of kids who were, money-wise, from the bottom of the pyramid, but did not go to the military. These were smart kids, who got plenty of government scholarships, Pell Grant money, and private scholarships.

And politicians don't want a draft: 1) Because we don't need it, and 2) Because it would make them non-suprisingly unpopular, causing them to lose their position come the next election.

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Yes, one of the reasons I support Bush is because of his tax policies, but that is far from the only reason. Though I am a big, big anti-tax guy, I do have more concerns on my plate than taxes. I support the anti-terror 'movement'. I support the 'Defense of Marriage'. I support 'No Child Left Behind'. I support the banning of abortion. I support the death penalty. I don't support a government-funded nationwide health-care system. I support the privatization of Social Security. You are ignorant to assume that I support Bush for one reason only.

[QUOTE=Fig]if you've got some specific instances i'd like to hear them, i haven't heard a lot about this. my understanding (from a friend of mine who served in the gulf in the late 90s) is that you're considered an "active reserve" during a certain number of years after you're discharged, during which time you can be called up if your career field is needed. this is something that became more common after 9/11 when it wasn't exactly certain what military might be needed so more soldiers were kept on active reserve, not discharged as early, etc.

chris[/QUOTE]

I'm talking about when someone's been out of active duty for years. When does it become non voluntary when you have a war that has no end in sight?

Small article on some of what I'm talking about.

Exactly as Fig said, and I'll quote from the article:

Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)

The Individual Ready Reserve is made up of 111,000 people who have completed their voluntary Army service commitments and have returned to civilian life but remain eligible to be mobilised in a national emergency.

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So to reply to Flackbait, who said:

Wouldn't they technically have the right to choose whether they want to go back into the military?

No, their contract states that they can be called up for a specified period of time after discharged. You found the answer yourself, which you may or may not have read.

When does it become non voluntary when you have a war that has no end in sight?

This question is about as clear as if DreamDesign had typed it. I'm not sure I get what you mean.

Now the Stop-Loss situation mentioned at the end of the article, is not something that I necessarily support. What I don't have enough information on, is whether these soldiers contacts are up, or if it simply a step-ahead of the IRR call-up. I think the worst effect that the stop-loss situtation is the effect on troop morale.