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Army recalls thousands for Iraq duty
By Tom Squitieri and Dave Moniz, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is calling up nearly 10,000 more troops, more than half of them soldiers who had thought they had finished their active-duty time, Defense officials said Wednesday.
Underscoring how the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have stretched the military's resources, the call-ups include 5,674 members of the Army's Individual Ready Reserve, or IRR. Those are soldiers who were honorably discharged after finishing their active-duty tours — usually at least four to six years — but remain part of the IRR for the rest of the eight-year commitment they make when they join the Army. Those being called up will receive mailgrams beginning July 6.
In addition, 4,000 more Army National Guard and Reserve members will be activated. (Video: Tough times ahead for soldiers)
The IRR call-up is the first major one in 13 years, since 20,277 troops were ordered back to duty for the Persian Gulf War.
Although members of the IRR are aware they can be recalled at any time, "There's going to be soldiers who, yes, will be shocked," said Col. Debra Cook, commander of the Army Human Resources Command.
Word got out weeks ago that the IRR might be activated when the Pentagon sent letters to 25,000 IRR members to warn them.
Cook said about 3,000 members of the IRR recently joined Army National Guard or Reserve units that just returned from Iraq or Afghanistan as a way to avoid being sent to those theaters, since units just back from the war are usually not redeployed without a long break. "I would not say there has been a mass exodus (from the IRR) but we are seeing movement, a spike," she said.
The call-ups will be made in three increments from July through December. Cook said those notified will be given 30 days to report. Pregnant women will be exempted.
Once they report, individuals will receive a minimum of 30 days of training, and those with weight or health problems will likely be screened out.
The Army is targeting its recall on individuals who recently left the service and have fresher skills, and so should need less time for re-training.
Among the skills being sought are military police, mechanics, truck drivers, combat engineers, supply clerks, carpentry and masonry specialists, food service personnel and cable system installers.
In the last several months, the Pentagon has extended tours in Iraq for troops due to rotate home and put in effect "stop-loss" orders that bar troops in or headed for Iraq to leave the service, even if their voluntary commitments are fulfilled.
Also, the Pentagon signaled Wednesday that it plans to call thousands more members of the IRR back to duty next year.
"We are doing this to meet mission requirements as our all-volunteer Army moves into one of the most demanding periods for fighting and winning the nation's wars in its modern history," said Robert Smiley, the Army's director of training, readiness and mobilization. He disputed the idea that the IRR activation was a response to the Army being overextended and said it was the proper use of a manpower pool that demonstrated good planning.
Some members of Congress disagree.
"Calling up the Individual Ready Reserve is an effort, much like recent stop-loss orders, to mask profound problems in our military's recruitment and retention programs," said Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., a member of the House Armed Services Committee. "I believe this is a dangerous step that could bring us closer to breaking our military."
http://www.usatoday....29-troops_x.htm
By Tom Squitieri and Dave Moniz, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is calling up nearly 10,000 more troops, more than half of them soldiers who had thought they had finished their active-duty time, Defense officials said Wednesday.
Underscoring how the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have stretched the military's resources, the call-ups include 5,674 members of the Army's Individual Ready Reserve, or IRR. Those are soldiers who were honorably discharged after finishing their active-duty tours — usually at least four to six years — but remain part of the IRR for the rest of the eight-year commitment they make when they join the Army. Those being called up will receive mailgrams beginning July 6.
In addition, 4,000 more Army National Guard and Reserve members will be activated. (Video: Tough times ahead for soldiers)
The IRR call-up is the first major one in 13 years, since 20,277 troops were ordered back to duty for the Persian Gulf War.
Although members of the IRR are aware they can be recalled at any time, "There's going to be soldiers who, yes, will be shocked," said Col. Debra Cook, commander of the Army Human Resources Command.
Word got out weeks ago that the IRR might be activated when the Pentagon sent letters to 25,000 IRR members to warn them.
Cook said about 3,000 members of the IRR recently joined Army National Guard or Reserve units that just returned from Iraq or Afghanistan as a way to avoid being sent to those theaters, since units just back from the war are usually not redeployed without a long break. "I would not say there has been a mass exodus (from the IRR) but we are seeing movement, a spike," she said.
The call-ups will be made in three increments from July through December. Cook said those notified will be given 30 days to report. Pregnant women will be exempted.
Once they report, individuals will receive a minimum of 30 days of training, and those with weight or health problems will likely be screened out.
The Army is targeting its recall on individuals who recently left the service and have fresher skills, and so should need less time for re-training.
Among the skills being sought are military police, mechanics, truck drivers, combat engineers, supply clerks, carpentry and masonry specialists, food service personnel and cable system installers.
In the last several months, the Pentagon has extended tours in Iraq for troops due to rotate home and put in effect "stop-loss" orders that bar troops in or headed for Iraq to leave the service, even if their voluntary commitments are fulfilled.
Also, the Pentagon signaled Wednesday that it plans to call thousands more members of the IRR back to duty next year.
"We are doing this to meet mission requirements as our all-volunteer Army moves into one of the most demanding periods for fighting and winning the nation's wars in its modern history," said Robert Smiley, the Army's director of training, readiness and mobilization. He disputed the idea that the IRR activation was a response to the Army being overextended and said it was the proper use of a manpower pool that demonstrated good planning.
Some members of Congress disagree.
"Calling up the Individual Ready Reserve is an effort, much like recent stop-loss orders, to mask profound problems in our military's recruitment and retention programs," said Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., a member of the House Armed Services Committee. "I believe this is a dangerous step that could bring us closer to breaking our military."
http://www.usatoday....29-troops_x.htm
War! It's never been so much fun!
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