We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:04:52 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ...and a Regular commission is technically for life, so yes, I've done this (yes, Beth - I did it right after 9/11). However due to my disabilities and the fact that artillerymen and sims geeks are not in high demand, I have *zero* expectation of getting a call - but I agree with the spokesman in this piece- it's not scraping the bottom of the barrel - it's leveraging experience and training you already paid for. And it ain't the great deal you might think. If you retired 5 years ago, and are recalled, after you re-retire, your retired pay... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html Tue, 18 Jan 2005 08:57:51 -0600 AFSister - The Air Force essentially does the same things (with the exception of the Attack guys) on deployment as they do stateside, i.e., babysit the airfield, fly refuel missions, babysit the fighter pilots, load ordnance and complain about the limited choice on cable. The Navy (again, with the exception of the Attack guys--and SEALS) pretty much does the same--one patch of ocean looks pretty much like every other patch of ocean. The problem with limiting Army and Marine deployments is that, after six months on the job, the guys are getting really, really good at what they do, and "really, really good" is what we need on the ground, whether it's rooting around looking for IEDs, training the local military and paramilitary forces, or just plain showing the local folks we're not the "Bad Guys, Only Taller." And the latter part of that year-or-longer deployment is spent by the troops teaching their replacements the ropes, and those replacements aren't supposed to be turned loose until they're as close to really, really good as time and training permit. BTW, most of the dissatisfaction expressed by Guard and Reserve about deploying, re-deploying and re-re-deploying is caused by the jerking around they get stateside, during what is supposed to be a trainup for the mission and by the way some in the higher echelons in the Real Army treat them once they do arrive in-theater... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12149 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12149 Thu, 20 Jan 2005 14:37:54 -0600 Thanks!!! I appreciate your thoughts on the Reserves. I'm not sure what to think. I know someone who was called up for a year, off for a year, and is getting ready to go back again for another year. I wish the Army and Marines would limit deployments to 6 months like the Navy and Air Force does. I think that would dramatically reduce burn-out- for both the soldiers and their families. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12097 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12097 Wed, 19 Jan 2005 20:12:53 -0600 I remember reading (was it here) about a very old guy getting called back up (a doctor, maybe) and then seeing Jerry Pournelle's comments on the subject. He (Jerry) said IIRC that he thought himself fairly safe, being older than 70, and not familiar with the new fire-control systems, and thinking he knew that there were no towed guns anymore. Well, you betcha, a coupla his loyal readers did some research and found some towed guns still in use. I betcha even more,(than zero) that he didn't post some emails pointing out how we might really NEED old guys experienced in analog graphical gunnery calculations. Sorry, am listening to Tammy Bruce on the radio talking about Boxer vs. Rice. Am seriously feeling the grumpiness. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12078 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12078 Wed, 19 Jan 2005 11:29:13 -0600 I'm 16, so I'm too young to volunteer. I'd like to though; the armed forces are doing good things and a vital job (besides, the tanks are cool) so I don't have much experience in these matters but here's my thought: if there are all these former soldiers wanting to re-enlist and do the vital things the army is doing. and they are getting the chance to, that's pretty cool! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12064 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12064 Wed, 19 Jan 2005 04:40:13 -0600 I've scratched a bald patch in my noggin as I ponder exactly what it will take to get the divisions of lethargic Euro and other-world (Oh, Canada?) armchair pilots engaged in a meaningful fight for What's Right. You're not holding your breath either? I didn't think so. Engaging the reserves (I'm one) appears to be one way to keep our whoop-ass engine running for the foreseeable future. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12057 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12057 Tue, 18 Jan 2005 19:08:29 -0600 Do you think they're relying to heavily on the Reserves to fill empty spots? I heard on the radio this morning that two Louisiana Congressmen are all up in arms about the over-use of Reserves. It's a common thought, along with criticism of stop-loss programs. Just wondering what you all thought about that... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12036 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/i_do_solemnly_swear_to_defend_and_uphold.html#comment-12036 Tue, 18 Jan 2005 09:10:16 -0600