I just contacted The Army Reserves!

[Pale Horse]

They will be on me like stink on sh*t now............once they get your scent it's over. My wife said no way but tough crap, I'm gonna check it out anyway. My biggest fear is that I will lose my house because I will be poor as FVCK if I get activated.

[SwoleCat]

Ouch!

~SC~

[West Coast All Star]

Wow! Good luck, bro. You can bank on being activated ASAP. No such thing as reserves anymore.

[Pale Horse]

I know I think that active military in combat should be allowed by law to have their installment debt/mortgagaes frozen with zero interest or payments while they are deployed until they can get back on their feet it's the least that could be done for tham.

[West Coast All Star]

I agree, but there should be a limit. I don't think, if Bill Gates had a mortgage, and the balls to fight for the US we should be freezing a multi-million dollar mortgage. But for your average Joe...**** skippy!

[Pale Horse]

well move over laddies, gramps is on the move

[hung-solo]

I know I think that active military in combat should be allowed by law to have their installment debt/mortgagaes frozen with zero interest or payments while they are deployed until they can get back on their feet it's the least that could be done for tham.

ill be honest with ya vic, it might be more trouble than its worth. not that serving your country isnt more trouble than its worth but lets get real. you are secure in your life right? mortage and etc..? why risk it? not that age is a big deal but come on man. if i were you, and i know i am not, i would give this more thought..you arent going through some mid life crisis are ya?? be honest with us! no matter what decision you come to we all here will back ya up 100%

[SwoleCat]

Yeah, f*ck war.

I mean, I applaud those who fight for us, TOTALLY.

I'd just never sacrifice myself for someone else's stupid ass decision.

F*CK THAT!

~SC~

[BDTR]

Same here.

I'll go to war if someone starts banging on my door, but there is no chance my ass is going to iraq to rot in the desert. I've made it this far, I'm not losing it over some rich politicians descion. I got a hard enough time staying alive in America, I dont need arabs shooting at me too.

Yeah, f*ck war.

I mean, I applaud those who fight for us, TOTALLY.

I'd just never sacrifice myself for someone else's stupid ass decision.

F*CK THAT!

~SC~

[Pale Horse]

Guys I understand and it may well be that I can't do it because of all of the family mortgage etc... Midlife crisis? Anything is possible, but I can think of better things to do like buy a Corvette instead of getting my azz shot off it if is a midlife crisis.

[sp9]

Been looking into the same thing. I encourage you to look into it. Don't make the decision lightly. I have been talking to one of the online recruiters. My employer will guarantee my exact job back if I return withing 120 days from enlisment training. Any longer then that and I am guaranteed a comparable job. The recruiter told me there is no allowance for any gap in training betweem basic and advanced individual (job training) so I would be out more than the 120 days. More like 6 months total for the jobs I am interested in. I have done well career wise and would hate to think my employer would put me in something totally different but comparable compensation, and geographically. Right now I am leaning toward not doing it. My manager could decide to let me be out the 6 months and hold my job for me but that is very unlikely.

I will have a grad degree done shorlty. Even with that all they do for you if you enlist is give you E4 status (Specialist). Did you look at the pay grades? Lets just say I am making currently what a 2 star general with many years of exp. makes.

If I am put on active duty my employer will pay me for several months my full salary and benefits but nothing for the initial training so I would have to use savings for the mortgage, etc.

It's a tough decision and everyone is right, you would most likely get deployed and go on active duty and if your job was combat realted a good chance you could see some or a roadside bomb. What I have done the past few days is watch all available internet videos from the war - roadside bombings, convoy ambushes, everything. It's not a pretty site.

Good luck with your decision. With the options they give you in conjuction with your employer's it is kind of a drag that they don't make it more attractive.

Another thing to do is go to the web site and read each day what you do in basic as well as what you can and can't bring. They really do own you once your in.

I think everyone that goes through that and servers their country is a huge hero.

http://www.us-army-info.com/pages/ranks.html#enlist

[sp9]

Take a look at this to. It's pretty sad to see how everyone has died:

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/ira...es/casualties/

[Pale Horse]

I agree with everything you have said, I've got some college but no degree but I am one of the most knowledgable people I know regarding carbon steel, stainless and aluminum besides a metalurgist. It is going to be a problem trying to get "old guys" like us to join up. We have too many responsibilities financial and otherwise. It may not be able to be done at all on my part.

I really like the idea of combat soldiers getting their debt frozen etc , that would make it doable.

[bigcut77]

Guys I understand and it may well be that I can't do it because of all of the family mortgage etc... Midlife crisis? Anything is possible, but I can think of better things to do like buy a Corvette instead of getting my azz shot off it if is a midlife crisis.

Then buy a vette! I have one now so I guess I am fu-ck-ed when my midlife comes around. LOL

[jc3]

Good for you 1vic. I think it is very honorable. I know how you feel about this Country and I applaud your thoughts of joining. I completely support our troops and this Country in any war or occupations we are or ever will be in.

Good job 1vic.....nice thread......JC

[jc3]

I also believe that an active military person in combat should get debt frozen. Or at least paid by the Gov't (and you pay back later) until they are brought back to normal conditions. Maybe more people would sign up that way too....

[sp9]

I really like the idea of combat soldiers getting their debt frozen etc , that would make it doable.

Take a detailed look at the Soldiers and Sailors act. It was meant to help with the financial and other problems realated to active duty. It doesn't go as far as many feel it should.

http://www.dod.mil/specials/Relief_Act_Revision/

[bigcut77]

I also believe that an active military person in combat should get debt frozen. Or at least paid by the Gov't (and you pay back later) until they are brought back to normal conditions. Maybe more people would sign up that way too....

That sounds like a great idea...but I bet creditors would begin to discriminate against active duty military folks for there loans.

[bigcut77]

Take a detailed look at the Soldiers and Sailors act. It was meant to help with the financial and other problems realated to active duty. It doesn't go as far as many feel it should.

http://www.dod.mil/specials/Relief_Act_Revision/

I remember reading that when I was on active duty, but you are really screwed if say you make $100,000 a year on the outside and get called back on active duty from reserve. I am sure your home mortgage is higher than 1200 with that kind of salary. They should have a lot more protection than this.

[hung-solo]

Take a detailed look at the Soldiers and Sailors act. It was meant to help with the financial and other problems realated to active duty. It doesn't go as far as many feel it should.

http://www.dod.mil/specials/Relief_Act_Revision/

act of 1940? **** thats outdated. i am sure that there are so many loop holes now its not funny..

[Pale Horse]

Yes it seems antiquated for sure......

[jc3]

Bigcut...yeah, they very well could start sh*t like that. It's bad for our Country that people have to worry about making it when they are defending us.

[bigcut77]

Bigcut...yeah, they very well could start sh*t like that. It's bad for our Country that people have to worry about making it when they are defending us.

It is sad. They have to wake up everyday at war wondering if they are gonna make it home alive to their families, and on top of that wonder if their families are making ends meet or if their **** is evicted on the street.

[Pale Horse]

I just talked to my wife and told her all she said was "Just make sure your life insurance is paid on time!"

[MILPOLDAN1]

well tell her the army will give you 250,00 life insurance to

[taiboxa]

well tell her the army will give you 250,00 life insurance to

yep and since ur married u get like seperation pay and other benifits...
but iraq and Kuwait blow kuz of sand chiggers they'll eat u alive.

[MILPOLDAN1]

i loved it in iraq i was there twice like being in the game grand theft auto, but my wife(my avatar) is there now for a year

[3Vandoo]

reserve: HAHAHAHAMAMAMABABABAHAHAHWAAHAHAHAA!!!!

rental rental where is your cute skinny ass for the navy, tell me rental

[Pale Horse]

Fondue you fvck I'm too old for anything else AND I make good money, something you are unfamiliar with you pesky, short index fingered bastard!

[3Vandoo]

Fondue you fvck I'm too old for anything else AND I make good money, something you are unfamiliar with you pesky, short index fingered bastard!

They pay me 83k a year

[Pale Horse]

Okay, who?

[Red Ketchup]

Okay, who?

Dirty old men in the park?

[Pale Horse]

That's what i was thinking!

[GREVEN]

I suppose youre going to sexually serve all of our men abroad. Good for you, youve got soft hands.

[Pale Horse]

Maraxus...........I mean Greven........ you like my soft hands

[CoRnErBaCk_BlItZ]

Just to help clear some things with iraq..

Yep we went to war on some pretty shaky intelligence, but I am glad i went as the humanitarian side of it is what you do it for, technically the unit i am in isn't 'heart and minds' but i can see the end product of months of hard work and sacrifice id say 80% of Iraqis want us there.

Plus you don't really fight for your country you fight for your buddies, and then subconsciously your flag, you see a guy take a shot and your buddy and your first instinct is nah uh mofo... and take him out.

Plus with all the casualties just remember the geographic size of iraq, violence is usually confined to 1 or 2 hot spots, so getting sent isn't a death warrant... im living proof... out of 10 months i spent 9 in close proximity to insurgents outside of the bases...

I say go for it, the stories, laughs and memories and second to none, even if you don't get sent anywhere..

[max2extreme]

Been looking into the same thing. I encourage you to look into it. Don't make the decision lightly. I have been talking to one of the online recruiters. My employer will guarantee my exact job back if I return withing 120 days from enlisment training. Any longer then that and I am guaranteed a comparable job. The recruiter told me there is no allowance for any gap in training betweem basic and advanced individual (job training) so I would be out more than the 120 days. More like 6 months total for the jobs I am interested in. I have done well career wise and would hate to think my employer would put me in something totally different but comparable compensation, and geographically. Right now I am leaning toward not doing it. My manager could decide to let me be out the 6 months and hold my job for me but that is very unlikely.

I will have a grad degree done shorlty. Even with that all they do for you if you enlist is give you E4 status (Specialist). Did you look at the pay grades? Lets just say I am making currently what a 2 star general with many years of exp. makes.

If I am put on active duty my employer will pay me for several months my full salary and benefits but nothing for the initial training so I would have to use savings for the mortgage, etc.

It's a tough decision and everyone is right, you would most likely get deployed and go on active duty and if your job was combat realted a good chance you could see some or a roadside bomb. What I have done the past few days is watch all available internet videos from the war - roadside bombings, convoy ambushes, everything. It's not a pretty site.

Good luck with your decision. With the options they give you in conjuction with your employer's it is kind of a drag that they don't make it more attractive.

Another thing to do is go to the web site and read each day what you do in basic as well as what you can and can't bring. They really do own you once your in.

I think everyone that goes through that and servers their country is a huge hero.

http://www.us-army-info.com/pages/ranks.html#enlist

if you are getting your degree soon, then dont join the reserves, especially enlisted. join the military as an officer. coming from experience.

[Red Ketchup]

I just talked to my wife and told her all she said was "Just make sure your life insurance is paid on time!"

Personally what worries me most about being shipped off to Irak isn't being killed... I mean once you get killed it's over... no worries there. It's sad for the 1000+ soldiers who died, but well... thats war.

The thing that is worrysome is the tens of thousands of severely wounded soldiers being shipped back to the US. I was watching a BBC newscast and they were going thru American VA hospitals filled to the brim with young American soldiers with limbs blown or shot off, mangled like crazy. They were saying that right now in Irak for every soldier that comes home in a box, 10 are crippled for life.

Makes ya think twice about it.

Red

[Pale Horse]

This is not directed at anyone...

Yes living thay way would be hard to take, I guess that's where that stupid religion and God thing will help me out. I'll bet it has to be really hard for agnositcs and athiests, not a slam, just a statement

[3Vandoo]

Insurance will not pay your family if you are killed in war or in duty as in wartime or militaty service, except militay insurances.