I mentioned in an entry a couple of weeks ago that MSNBC has an active roster of all of the US casualties in Iraq since the “end of operations” on May 1st, 2003. I also mentioned that the link was sent to me by my best friend, US Army Sergeant John Glynn (aka Juice). Thirdly, I mentioned that Juice would like us look closely at the list, and understand exactly why these people are dead before we cast our votes in the next presidential election.

Since then, Juice has been called back into active duty, nearly 8 years after enlisting and 6 years since serving. In less than two months, he will be sent to Baghdad or Afghanistan and put in harm’s way once again.

Backstory

Juice enlisted himself in 1996 at the age of 18. After boot camp and specialist training, he spent a full initial tour of two years patrolling borders and keeping peace in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Upon returning to the states in 1999, he sought to return to a life of relative normalcy and begin the college career his GI Bill would be helping him to fund. Unfortunately, there was a serious breach in GI Bill obligations on the part of the US Army. It took several months and a Class Action lawsuit before promises were kept.

Studies went well. School became a priority. Several days a week, Juice supplements his finances by working for the Army either training recruits or filing paperwork. Two or three nights a week he and I studied karate together. Eventually, Juice’s studies brought him to Arizona where he currently lives.

On Wednesday, November 5th, Juice received word that he had been officially accepted to a study abroad program for the following semester in Florence. The next day, November 6th, he received a voicemail from his former Commanding Officer telling him that he would report to base in Massachusetts and prepare for a full 12 month combat tour in the Middle East instead of a semester in Florence.

End Term-Of-Service

A soldier is normally in active duty for a two year tour after enlisting. During this time, he will normally train on base, perhaps learn a specialty, and often take college courses. Some, such as Juice, are sent into active duty on foreign soil if there is a hostile situation. Maybe Juice got a bit of a raw deal there. After the initial tour of duty, the soldier is then relegated to the Army Reserves. A Reservist may be called into duty at any time, and must dedicate some weekend time to training, but is otherwise free. I’ve learned recently that each soldier is issued an ETS or End Term-Of-Service date to occur eight years from the day he becomes active. After this date, he can no longer be called back into active duty unless he re-enlists. Juice is several months from his ETS.

Right now the US Army has enacted something called a Stop ETS. This essentially prohibits any active soldier from becoming inactive for any reason short of death or dismemberment. Any soldier who reaches his ETS is not currently eligible for release. Any officer of retirement stature is not currently eligible for retirement. Any person who willfully leaves active duty will be considered AWOL and court marshaled. In addition to this, Juice has told me that the platoon that he is being sent to relieve has been there for 15 months of a 12 month tour. Not long before they were to be sent home, they were issued a 3 month extention. Juice expects something similar to happen to him.

Essentially, the US Government doesn’t seem to see fit to honor any agreement set forth in peace-time with with soldiers and citizens. Apparently, all bets are off while we are at war. Unfortunately, most of the American public seems to have forgotten there is a war at all. An overall apathy has washed over this country with the same entirety with which civil unrest and protest did in 1967. Our soldiers have it bad, and no one knows or cares.

Be the second party another country, the UN, or the soldiers enlisted in it’s own army, the United States has shown no interest in reason and no intention of honor.