Troop Levels in Iraq

Troop levels to remain steady (147,000) thru next spring according to MSNBC. Looking for a link now...

Ben

 

It seems to me that since US troop deaths have gone down by roughly 50% over the last few months, we have no need to bolster numbers, at the same time we shouldn't be pulling out too early, so steady levels look to remain the way to go

 

Pulling out, HAHAHAHAA. I've got buddies who are leaving next week for 1 year tours. Has anyone in the flying corps been tasked for short tour duty yet?

Ben

 

Talk this side of the pond about pulling UK troops out, we are begining to feel the stretch thanks to the short sightedness of our politicians who will insist on cutting back defence spending!!

De Orc

 

I'm leaving next month.

 

I wish I could go. In a heartbeat if asked!

 

Copy that. Good luck, fly safe, keep an eye on your six, and come home in one piece. :bow: :bow: :bow: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Ben

 

Good luck, you fight for your fellow Americans, like Danr. :rolling: Sorry. Think of Cindy Crawford and now American Mariya Sharapova.:kewl:

 

Bq you stay loose and alert mate :thumb: any one gets in your way :hammer: :hammer: just put the hammer down

De Orc :thumb:

 

What breaks my heart is seeing those Guardsmen (women) and Reservist have to go. Just terrible for families.

 

No sympathy here. Before this war many of the ones (Reserve and Guard) I know always had Dr. appointments for them or their families scheduled, spent time replacing lost ID cards, lost uniform items, or had abbreviated college class's scheduled when it came time for their two weekends and one month in the summer. It was a country club atmosphere back then. But now things are different.

 

I just got back and my nephew just left so I guess troop levels are indeed remaining constant.

 

Welcome home... Job well done! :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

 

Though I m not a big fan of the war, I do thank you. Nice to see ya back. Any interesting stories?

 

BD I am surprised at you. These guys (and gals) are leaving well paying jobs and thair families. OUCH.

 

Yeah, well the Guard/Reserve is a paying job too. Just as much as an active duty member with the SAME retirement benefits. MANY, here didn't even show up when recalled after 2001 and are now listed as AWOL and guess what their excuse was???

Many have requested and received deferments. But you cannot expect for Uncle Sam to allow a paid (volunteer) military member off the hook when they have (susposedly) prepared so well during those two weekends per month and (my error earlier) two weeks per year. I guess they should have taken care of all those little things earlier like commissary and BX/PX shopping before they were recalled...

It's a shame for all of them to be over there but this IS the lesser of two evils.

Ben

 

Must be a western states thing. The vast majority of the reservists that came in on weekends where I was stationed were actually solid vets that had 20+ years and joined the reserves to continue in their career fields as civil service employees which required them to maintain reserve status. Most were war veterans and some even served in 2 wars. The ones that I got to know (pilots and flightline personel) were VERY dedicated and very good at their job and were FAR from slackers. I am sure there are reservists, guardsman and even active duty personel that take advantage of Uncle Sam.

 

The individuals I dealt with my last year in were the 'Ready Reserve' who had done 4 years of an 8 year commitment. Those yobo's drove me crazy, LOL :goofer: Our National Guard base "Camp Rapid" had similar problems trying to get some of their (released) soldiers back to Uncle Sams standards.

I can't tell you how many told me they were going to go get a haircut and would be right back...

Ben

 

Ok, that clears up a lot of things. Those guys/gals feel that they have already served their commitment to the Govt. and can slide the remainder. But one group does not represent the majority. As I stated above, there are many dedicated "weekend warriors" that DO take their jobs and responsibility seriously and will do whatever their country asks of them. This has been proven throughout history and is going on today.

 

Every time I read some of these posts I get kind of down and regret that I haven't done my part in this mess. I would really like to join the Navy and go over seas, not as anything special, but just to serve my country. I thought of this a while back and my dad said he would kill me way before anyone else could do it if I didn't go and finish school first.
I guess the best recource is now that I''m in school, I could join the ROTC and at least be trained if it becomes possible to enter the service later after school. I know that if you accept a commission that you are expected to serve at least four years. That would be fine with me and if it turned out to be something I liked, then I could spend more time.
It's just that sometines I feel like a slacker and some of my friends feel the same way.