Reservists pay steep price for service

I don't think the historical trend would show that big of a dip in reenlistments after major deployments. I'd guess the reenlistment rates will drop for a year or two and then go back to "normal" levels.

The Guard and Reserves usually don't have to many problems attracting people. The benefits packages offered are often much better than what the same person would get if they went on active duty.

I doubt we'll see a need to increase active duty strength or institute the draft.

I agree with fishin's opinion about the future enlistment trends.


I don't know if this is across the board, but my brother was recalled for the USCG and he gets extra pay for housing even though they already pay to house him, he gets some 'make up' pay to make for the difference between what he was making before and now, and all of his purchases are expensed. I know there are reservists who went to Iraq that are getting similar perks. My brother was a union carpenter, so there is no 'job holding' that goes on for him because he works with contractors. However, I think anyone employed at a specific company has to have their job held.

And I didn't get a bonus or a raise this year either. A lot of people didn't because of the lousy economy (or some excuse like it).

I'm not saying that getting recalled doesn't put a big dent in your life, but it was OK for these reservists signed up to get an extra check to do their one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. If the possibilty of going to any war or being recalled for any reason was unattractive to them for financial, family or career reasons, they should have thought about that before volunteering. Because it still is volunteering and I don't feel bad for them at all. Many of the men and women in our military have been in a while, sitting around and getting nice perks (education, etc.) just for wearinga uniform - and that's great. But sometimes they get called to perform the job they signed up for. Who knows? Maybe things like this will weed out a few people who just sign up for a free ride through college.

OK - a real tangent of a rant, I'll admit. Happy monday. pppbbbttthhh

Sugar
You seem to have mixed the reserves and national Guard the enlisted or regular services.
Yes, I would suppose that many in the Guard and reserves are there for the money and other perks [if there are any] the question was will the recent and seemingly constant callups effect the rate of enlistment in those arms of the military?

Sugar
I was recalled to active duty during the Korean war. It put another 21 month dent in my life. You can be assured that I did not reinlist.