OK, I was happily skimming through articles in Blog Navigator when I came across an article on OhMyNews! .
You can check it out here - U.S. Reservists Wary of Reactivation . I'll only cut and paste parts of it, so to get the full view, go read it.
start rant
The article really got me going because it seems that the author is trying to make Reservists out as complete victims. Now, I do feel for Reservists getting call ups. It's a tough, tough situation. No doubt. But, getting called up is part of the job description!
The specific example that he cites is a Reservist that lives in Korea and works for a Korean university. He states that the person even hopes to retire from that job in a few years. The author states that the reason many people choose to serve in the Reserves as -
Some enjoy PX and commissary benefits, while others need the paycheck or are working towards retirement. For the most part, the duty is easy -- one weekend each month, or attendance at a two-hour meeting once per week. In some ways it is more of a social get together that provides an escape from the daily grind than what one would consider military duty.
He then moves on to specifics about this Reservist that lives in Korea -
Imagine his surprise when he discovered that he had been activated and had about 30 days to get his affairs in order and report for duty. This person has not been on active duty for over 25 years. He is in his 40s, has small children and a wife and all of them live in Korea.
Nothing is said about the nature of the call up. The author focuses on the fact that the person has been off active duty for 25 years. Yet, no mention of whether the call up was for an entire unit or a specific job specialty. I doubt (although, I really don't know, honestly) that the Army was watching the immigration counter for this guys return and nailed him at first oppurtunity. Also, if the guy was in the Reserves for 25 years, you'd think at some point in time, he'd have been briefed on the possibility of being called up. Maybe?
The next couple of paragraphs deal with the fact that in the US, Reservists that are called up enjoy certain protections under the law. Employment. Housing. That sort of thing. We do try our best to make sure nobody takes advantage of our citizen Soldiers (during the time some might argue the Army is taking advantage of them). But, this specific Reservist doesn't get any of these benefits as he lives in Korea and is employed by a Korean university.
So, we should pity him for his own choices?
Well, have no fear, this Reservist won't be deploying anywhere. He petitioned the Army to not be activated and was given his discharge.
In the case of the Korea-based reservist, he recently received news that he has been granted a discharge due to hardship. This is a relief to him, but also a source of great disappointment. He has served his nation for 17 years and looked forward to receiving a meager pension after completing his 20th year; unfortunately, that no longer seems an option. Although he has not had to put his life on the line like the men and women fighting in Iraq, he too has become a casualty of the war in Iraq.
A casualty of the war in Iraq? I say, he's a casaulty of his own decisions. He chose to join the Reserves. He chose to enjoy the benefits that allows him (PX and commissary benefits in Korea are a gold mine alone). He chose to live and work someplace where he would not receive the protections of US law. He chose to ask to not be activated. I don't have an issue with his hardship. It's real. Leaving his job and home in Korea would cost him greatly. Just as it would cost many stateside Reservists. They too were allowed to apply for a release from the call up. I just don't get how they can be disappointed about being discharged.
It is unfortunate that so many Reservists have been called up and sent overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan (among other places). It truly is. But, we can't just pull active duty troops out of some magic foxhole. Some may say that is the fault of the current administration for stretching the military thin. Some may say it's Clinton's fault for overseeing such a massive drawdown in the 90's leaving our military understrength for the task at hand. Some say it's Bush Sr.'s fault for not finishing the job the first time. Some may say it's Reagan's fault for overseeing such an oversized force during the 80's that required the country to eventually chop it down to size.
I say, it really doesn't matter. This is reality. Reservists are taking it in the shorts, but so are active duty troops. In the end if you want to enjoy the benefits, you have to be willing to answer the call. If you're not willing to answer the call, then don't let the door hit you on the ass when we say good-bye.
AND, don't cry to the press like a poor victim when you're not willing to do the job you agreed to.
end rant