This article indicates that conscription is alive and kicking in the Army.

Doesn't this have a serious negative effect on morale? And if it does, isn't a disgruntled soldier hardly better than none at all? What about those about to retire who already have lined up jobs outside the military? Will they be compensated for missing that job opportunity?

I don't really understand how this works or why the Army would want to do it. I know. I read their reasons too. Just doean't make much sense to me.

Most Soldiers understand that that risk exists when they come in and accept it. Doesn't mean they like it or are happy about it but they drive on with what they have to do. Most are professionals who feel that it is the job that they have been asked to do, many will complain about it but their actions will belie what their mouth says. No, they receive no compensation other than what they are already paid and/or retirement pay. It's a culture that many don't know anything about so hard to explain it to them unless they have experienced it. Self-sacrifice is perhaps the best word.

Following release from active duty, every soldier (or sailor or airman or marine...) spends several years on "inactive reserve" subject to recall in any case. Usually these people are called up only after the active reserves, but not invariably. I can imagine that they find the present situation frustrating and annoying, however.

Alan Moore

StopLoss (when people are not allowed to leave Active Duty) goes on all the time, not just during war. We've had StopLoss in some career fields in the Air Force for years, long before 9/11 or the war in Iraq. It's an expected part of military service. I can't say as to it's effect on morale--that depends on the individual soldier or sailor or Airman. Some don't mind it because they have no intention of leaving anyway.

Further, virtually every enlisted person in all of the branches signs a contract when they join that specifies a certain number of years of Reserve or Guard service after separation. My husband enlisted for 6 years of Air Force with 2 years of Reserve or Guard after. It's been like that for a very long time, and it's almost unavoidable. This is because, should something happen, and the military service require trained, experienced people at a moment's notice, they are going to find them in the recently separated, NOT the regular Reserves or Guard.

This is not conscription. Conscription is

quote:

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Compulsory enrollment, especially for the armed forces; draft

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They are already in.

Also please keep in mind that it is almost impossible for the miltiary to absolutely prevent people from leaving. They always have an option to leave. The thing is, they would have to return to the military those benefits they have received but not yet earned. For example, the Air Force is doing "force shaping" where they are trying to encourage Airmen in overmanned career fields to leave the Air Force. If they leave during their first enlistment, they have to repay whatever portion of their sign on bonus they haven't earned, also any educational assistance they received, and they get no more health care. Most people do not want to do this, so they are staying in.

Even without force shaping, there is always an option to leave. It is up to the individual if they are willing to suffer the consequences of breaking the contract they signed. Sometimes, especially during war, those consequences can be pretty severe, such as the death penalty. That goes to show that you shouldn't sign a contract unless you are SURE you will fill it, NO MATTER WHAT.

My wife graduated from tech school on May 7. Two things the Air Force is trying to push right now are Palace Chase or cross-branching.

Palace Chase basically converts the time you signed up for active duty into time with the Reserve.

Cross-branching is being suggested, as well, seeing how the Air Force is supposedly overstaffed by 16,000 and the Army is understaffed by 30,000. Surprisingly enough, (yeah, right) neither of these options are getting much thought from those she's talked to about it, including from her.

Mx2, Langley's really nice. I just miss the 24/7 Class VI. BTW, they've got a few F-16s here, but in a separate hangar.

Another option is for AD Airmen to go to the Army. I don't think anyone had taken that one yet.

My husband's cousin is on Langley, but she's a pediatric aide. She likes it. I'm glad you like it--probably cooler than here right now!!