Fulfill Your Obligation, Then Fulfill Your Obligation, Then Fulfill Your Obligation 0
Signed up for life–well, at least for longer than you thought:
The 24-year-old is one of thousands of soldiers and Marines who have been deployed to Iraq under a policy that allows military leaders to recall troops who have left the service but still have time left on their contract.
“I thought it was crazy,” said Carlson, who has found himself protecting convoys on Iraq’s dangerous roads as part of a New Jersey National Guard unit. “Never in a million years did I think they would call me back.”
Although troops are allowed to leave active duty after a few years of service, they generally still have time left on their contract with the military that is known as “inactive ready reserve” status, or IRR. During that time, they have to let their service know their current address, but they don’t train, draw a paycheck or associate in any other way with the military.
(snip)
According to the U.S. Army Reserve, approximately 14,000 soldiers on IRR status have been called to active duty since March 2003 and about 7,300 have been deployed to Iraq. The Marine Corps has mobilized 4,717 Marines who were classified as inactive ready reserve since Sept. 11, and 1,094 have been deployed to Iraq, according to the Marine Forces Reserve.
Meanwhile, back on the ranch . . .
