70 Year old Lied to, and sent to Afghanistan
Retired Army colonel, 70, sent to Afghanistan
Dr. John Caulfield thought it had to be a mistake when the Army asked him to return to active duty. After all, he’s 70 years old and had already retired – twice. He left the Army in 1980 and private practice two years ago.
“My first reaction was disbelief,” Caulfield said. “It never occurred to me that they would call a 70-year-old.”
In fact, he was so sure it was an error that he ignored the postcards and telephone messages asking if he would be willing to volunteer for active duty to “backfill” somewhere on the East Coast, Europe or Hawaii. That would be OK, he thought. It would release active duty oral surgeons from those areas to go to combat zones in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Topics: Broken Promises |
Re-enlistment bonus Denied
National Guard member denied his promised re-enlistment bonus money
By Dan Bewley
A re-enlistment bonus offered by the Michigan National Guard has a West Michigan couple confused. The couple says they were told they would pocket $15,000, only to find out later they can’t get the money.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken, this was a decision he made…that he wanted to get back in the military,” said Carrie Bunker.
Carrie’s husband, Tommy, decided last month to re-enlist in the National Guard. He spent most of the 1990s serving his country. Now, hard financial times and deep patriotism helped spur the decision.
Topics: Broken Promises |
When a Bonus isn’t a Bonus
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon has reneged on its offer to pay a $15,000 bonus to members of the National Guard and Army Reserve who agree to extend their enlistments by six years, according to Sen. Patty Murray (D-Seattle).
The bonuses were offered in January to Active Guard and Reserve and military technician soldiers who were serving overseas. In April, the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs ordered the bonuses stopped, Murray said.
Topics: Broken Promises |
Military Broken Promises
The military recruiters are pressured to make promises to get new recruits, but there is no obligation in the military contract you sign for those promises to be kept. The military can change your job training program, your job assignment, your duty station, at any time, for any reason. They can extend your service for as long as they want. They can say you’ll get a bonus, and then cancel the program.
Soldiers and veterans have experienced all of these and more. Other broken promises are less specific, but not less important. Women who are sexually assaulted in the military probably expected to be treated with consideration, and their attackers to be prosecuted. But it doesn’t always happen that way.
Topics: Broken Promises |
When You Enlist, You Lose Your Basic Rights
- If you leave your work without permission, you can be arrested.
- Any disobedience can result in criminal punishment.
- You can be punished without the right to see a lawyer or have a trial.
- Your right to say what you think when and how you want will be restricted.
- Individual expression through the way you dress and wear your hair won’t be tolerated.
- You will be subject to routine urine tests for drugs.
- The terms of your enlistment “contract” can be changed by the military at any time.
Topics: Military Facts, The Basics |
Homophobia
Discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals is not only intense within the military, it is official policy.Witch hunts to kick lesbian and gay personnel out of the military continue. Since the so-called “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was introduced, the pace of forced discharges has actually increased. Violence and threats against those suspected of being gay are routine.
Ronald Chapman thought the Army would provide him with a career. What he found instead was antigay harassment and physical abuse. Ronald had a rough life growing up. His parents divorced when he was 3. He was put into foster care at 4, and his foster mother booted him out at 19 for being gay. But Chapman had a plan to seek deliverance from life’s cruel disappointments. He would join the Army, serve his country, and see the world.
Topics: Discrimination, Military Facts, Veterans Speak Out |
WAR – Think it won’t happen to you?
Many of the U.S. soldiers who fought in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama and the Persian Gulf, never expected they would be the ones to see combat. Many of the Reserve soldiers who fought in the Gulf had been told that this would never happen to them. Recruiters often tell new enlistees that they won’t be going to Iraq, they make promises about special training programs and technical job assignments.
Remember, your training, location and job assignment can be changed by the military at any time, for any reason, no matter what you were promised, and no matter what it says in your enlistment “contract”. The main purpose of the military is to fight wars, and if you enlist you will have no choice if you are ordered to fight for something you don’t believe in—like protecting a foreign dictator or oil profits.
Topics: Broken Promises, Military Facts |
Detroit Area Job Training Programs
If you don’t want to go to college, there are lots of other ways to get job training. This is a list of over a dozen places to contact for job assistance.
Topics: Job Training |
Did you sign up for the Delayed Entry Program?
If you have signed up for the DEP, many recruiters will tell you that you can’t get out of it. This is not true. There are a variety of reasons for DEP discharges, like enrolling in college, finding a long-term job, family hardship, etc. To quit the DEP, you will need to take steps to get discharged before your date to report for basic training. Your recruiter normally will not help you. Getting out of the DEP is simple: write a letter addressed to the Commander at the recruiting station where you signed up, requesting separation, explain why you are unable or unwilling to serve. If there is more than one reason, explain them all. Don’t say anything to the recruiter until after this letter is written and sent. Call the GI Rights Hotline 800-394-9544 for more information.
More about Getting Out of the Delayed Enlistment Program
Topics: Military Facts, Recruitment |
Raped, then Treated ‘Like A Criminal’ By The Army
Few problems have been more persistent or produced more bad news for the military than the issue of rape within its own ranks. Allegations that not enough is being done to help victims or prosecute offenders have been raised from the service academies to the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan — where hundreds of cases of sexual assault have been reported by women in uniform.It was that revelation, plus pressure from Congress, that’s forced the Pentagon to once again examine sexual misconduct in the military – which has been done 18 times in the last 16 years. The result has been more recommendations and sweeping policy changes. But there are plenty of skeptics, and one of them is Lt. Jennifer Dyer, who talks to Correspondent Steve Kroft in her first interview after accusing a fellow officer of rape.
“They’ve done nothing but lie to me and treat me like a criminal,” says Dyer.
Topics: Discrimination, Women Soldiers |