Thank God not all schools are like the one in Saelttle, WA mentioned the other day. Its a shame these stories are so few and far between in the MSM.

Happy Easter

Seattle, opps.

I love the story about the Soldier adopting the disabled Iraqi boy - it brought tears to my eyes! Thank you Mrs. G for bringing wonderful stories like this to our attention!

Great stories...I also liked the adoption story and the "Small Army of Supporters" story. Stuff I would never, ever see in the DC papers.

BTW- Great Banner (again) although I must admit I was initially surprised by the fuzzy pink bunny and fluffy yellow chicks. :-)

The health insurance thing is a shame. They are making it look like this is a "thank you" for serving. However, deep down in there (and thanks to the NY Times not so buried) is the fact that you have to STAY IN THE RESERVES to get it! So, this is not a thank you but a realization that everyone will get out when they come home.

The only ones who will stay are the ones who need healthcare. Again, get the poor to fight.

Kevin,

What a load of hooey.

The use of stereotypes only shows ignorance. "They're poor, they're uneducated, they have no other options, they're minorities". Are you aware that there is no data to substantiate those stereotypes, and that in fact, the numbers show quite the opposite? You don't have to take my word for it. The studies have been done for years and are readily available on the web.

My husband is currently deployed. He left home 397 days ago.

He took a substantial cut in pay while he has been deployed, as have many others.

We are not rich, but we are by no means poor. We lead a comfortable life. We own our home free and clear, we built and paid for a home for my husbands mother several years ago. We've worked hard, and we live a good life.

A few weeks ago, my husband and several others in his platoon stood on top of a tower, in front of our flag and in view of the enemy; those men raised their right hand, and re-enlisted....

He didn't do it for the money, he didn't do it for the benefits, he did it because it's something that comes from deep inside of him.

I actually find it quite sad that you don't understand. To me, it would be a rather empty life if I didn't feel that there are some things worth fighting for.

Tink,

You completely miss Kevin's point and in doing so reveal your own binary "yes/no", "black/white" view of the world.

Let's see... Healthcare for 8 years for returning reservists, but only if the reup.

Who will view this as manna from heaven? Answer: those with no civilian health insurance. They will, out of desperation, be tempted by this program. Those with good civilian/government jobs that provide health insurance (ie. NOT poor people) will not be tempted by this proposal.

There IS substantiated evidence for what Kevin is saying. In fact, LTG Helmly, the Chief of the Army Reserve alluded to this in his most recently "leaked memo." He said, up front, that financial carrots seeking volunteers to mobilize cull only from those with lesser civilian skills and job responsibilities.

Your husband is the EXCEPTION - a small minority. If patriotism and "something deeper" is what makes most join the Army for, we wouldn't be in a recruiting crisis while in a war. DUH!

The Guard/Reserve is hemoragghing junior NCOsright now. I see the Gains/Losses from a number of units in NY,NJ and PA. The numbers are not pretty.

Maybe you should step back from hubby's view of the world and see how others feel.

IRR.

Actually, Kevin missed the point of the extended benefits, as did the New York Times.

If you research the healthcare and the reasons behind it you'll find that this has been in the works for quite some time. Guard and Reserve readiness was taking a pounding because of the percentage of those who were nondeployable due to health issues. Thus, healthcare is now available to deploying Guard and Reservists for 3 months before their orders begin, and healthcare is available to those who return and remain active, drilling, Guard and Reserve.

It's a readiness issue, it was first presented as a readiness issue and has been reported as such by the Army Times since at least early 2004.

Second, I'm a big girl, I'm quite able to formulate opinions on my own. I don't depend on my husband to do it for me.

I live in a state with a strong military tradition and very strong community support. Our Guard's strength is currently at 105%, we consistantly rank between 1-5 in deployments per capita.

I know the men of this company, I know their families. I've seen these men pace the floor when other units were deploying and they weren't. I know how many showed up at the armory on September 11, asking what they could do. I know how many have re-enlisted since that time knowing that deployment was imminent, and they know about deployments, this is the third deployment in 10 years. I know how many volunteered to fill in when other companies have deployed. One of our men just re-enlisted after losing his left arm, another after taking schrapnel across his face, neck and arms. They would do anything possible to be back with their platoon, but as one of them says, it's just a bump in the road.

That's not benefits and bonuses, it's in their blood. That's the "something deeper". I've seen it in my father, I've seen it in my brother, I see it in my husband, I've seen it in our friends. Are there those that don't feel that way? Yes. But then, they usually don't stay around, do they?

My experience says that you are the exception, not my husband and not these men.

Third. I was referring to stereotypes. The studies are available online and have been for a number of years. The "poor, uneducated, minority, no other options" stereotype is wrong. The enlisted ranks, as a whole, have a higher education level and come from a higher socio-economic background than the general population. Minorities make up a higher percentage of the military population than of the general population, but combat arms has a higher pecentage of whites than does the general population. The "get the poor to fight" is an inaccurate stereotype.

Fourth, Yes, there are recruiting issues, I didn't deny that. There have been recruiting issues in the past, and there will be again in the future. I wouldn't say that heath care AFTER deployment is going to be a big pull. Argue it if you like, but leave the stereotypes and generalizations out of it. They may make you feel better, but they are wrong and they are insulting to those who serve with pride and with honor.

You know, I actually find it rather funny, watching people try to prove that they are the ones who "care about the troops" by playing "one up" with the benefits and pay. We were here long before they started this, and we'll be here long after.

But do you know what I find even more funny? Watching people who pretend to care about the troops but have so little faith in them, and show virtually no respect for them.

Those people make themselves known in a heartbeat.

You say I have a black/white view of the world. Believe what you want, I'm not the one stereotyping. I'd say "take a step back and look at how others feel", but I have seen by your past comments that how others feel is of no concern to you.

Now have a nice evening, I have some baking to do.

Tink,

Too late - you've been exposed for having a binary view of the world. Actually, doesn't that claim already sound quaint and old fashioned, even though it was a favorite of the left-wing superior/rest of the world ignorant masses crowd just a few short months ago?It's a corrolary to the "subtle nuance" argument for making John Kerry President of the United States.

It's appearance here should be a definite sign that you're arguing with a couple characters with thumbs in their ears, but your counterpoint is much appreciated by those who may be reading this site looking for all sides of a story.

Boil IRR and Kevin's points down and they come to this: The government uses pay and benefits to get people to join the military. Most of us see that as a simpe matter of fact, a point that couldn't be argued. McDonald's, after all, uses a similar scheme to get people to make French fries, and Universal Studios convinces people to act in their movies with the same tactic. But a die-hard communist sees it as an affront to everything the revolution holds dear.

You don't have to read much between the lines at all to see where these two are coming from.

Jeebers,

YOU are a case study in binary thinking. Example: your linking of my words to "vote for John Kerry." In your world, unless one 100% parrots the words of Rumsfeld, you must be a Kerry voter. Hence the binary thinking: "100% Bush or 100% Kerry" - no deviation.

The real world is a wee bit different. A good example is the Schiavo case where many Republicans disagree with Congressional action and many on the left (like Kevin) agree that her life should be spared.

Tink,

And why do you think the Pentagon has been "working on" Reserve healthcare? Answer" Congressional pressure and the fact that retention is in freefall. To say that this is some altruitic action is completely naive.

You know, many states have strong military traditions... Pennsylvania's 28th Infantry Division, NYC's "Fighting 69th" Infantry... most USAR Civil Affairs units. Still, they have all taken serious hits in retention. I've seen the reup numbers USAR wide. They aren't pretty. The 81st RRC (The southeast) doesn't look any better than the 63rd (California) or the 77th (NY/NJ).

My experiences are not the exception. We wouldn't be in Recruiting/Retention meltdown if they were.

Whites can be poor. Your third point infers that poor=black. Don't put words in my mouth. Healthcare for dependents is not an incentive to get an inner city 18 year old to join. It IS an incentive aimed at, say, a 33 year old E-6 with 3 kids and no health insurance.

You know, I started to respond in a point by point manner. The altruism that you were the only one to mention, the 4 stereotypes which are thrown around so easily by others, even when they are factually incorrect.

Then I thought, why bother.

Someday you may figure out that there are people who actually think in different ways than you do, even when they have all the facts. You may learn that people do things for reasons you can't comprehend. You may begin to actually read the words someone types instead of letting your assumptions take over and putting words into their mouths. You'll either grow out of the arrogance or you won't.

In the meantime, I'll wish for your discharge just as fervently as you do, but for slightly different reasons.

I see it all clearly now - anyone who disagrees with Kevin or IRR Soldier is a binary thinker, and there's no two ways about it.

Jeebers,

If you are not a binary thinker, why did you mention "vote for John Kerry" in your response?You are incapable of seeing that those that may disagree with you and may think the Army is on a path to self-destruction are not all Democrats.

Tink,

In you remarks about seeing others perspectives, I'd ask you to do the same. After all, I''m visiting this site (which I mostly disagree with) aren't I?

Perhaps you should spend some time at Kevin's new blog, The Command TOC. I'm doing my part to engage in dailogue with my political enemies - you should too.