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I was offered 15K to re-up in 1968. (11B Sgt E-5, infantry squad leader.)
It was in cash, spread over a bunk at the Repo Depo at Bien Hoa, Vietnam, by a re-enlistment officer who had bought me a bunch of beers the night before I was to rotate back to the world.
I said "Make it Fifty grand." (This was 1968, remember....)
He said no.
End of (true) story.
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I believe it but its not done that way now lol . I didnt think they had reup bonus till Iraq war began.
Surprised they took that money to the field . I was at Casey in 2ND Korea before going to Afghanistan .
I ETS an E4 no big deal and hated it last 6 months . My thinking changed .
I have seen reup money ill spent in the village by Casey but didn't think it was given before time was served.
They couldnt pay me enough to be 11B as 13B sucked enough and that's a vacation compared to 11B.
I still feel bad for that soldier know you disagree.
I rather see the Chicken Hawk Limbaugh crowd rot in prison than him.
I was offered 15K to re-up in 1968. (11B Sgt E-5, infantry squad leader.)
It was in cash, spread over a bunk at the Repo Depo at Bien Hoa, Vietnam, by a re-enlistment officer who had bought me a bunch of beers the night before I was to rotate back to the world.
I said "Make it Fifty grand." (This was 1968, remember....)
He said no.
End of (true) story.
Are you surprised or expected it ? I am surprised even got that much and I like Mccain but not "new" GOP.
Yes, but wouldn't common sense tell you that if you sign up for the military, despite what they may tell you to the contrary, the possibility of going to war is inherent? ...Especially when you sign up to serve during a time of war, like the man in question did?
Do you not realize that most recruits are kids just out of highschool? They oft make poor, spur of the moment decisions and don't realize the gravity of their actions until too late. Also there is the whole "believing what authority figures tell you" aspect of the situation, especially if it's someone in uniform...
Usually recruiters do not tell you the truth. They say things like oh if you sign up for this job you will not see war at all and you get your college completely paid for.
I do not blame the guy the recruiters lie to people about what could happen to them so they can fill their quota.
Do you not realize that most recruits are kids just out of highschool? They oft make poor, spur of the moment decisions and don't realize the gravity of their actions until too late.
I do realize that. But I also know that despite the fact that young adults commonly make stupid decisions without realizing the gravity of their actions, even teenagers know that a main function of the military is to fight during war times, and that joining the military in most capacities means agreeing to the inherent possibility that they'll have to be deployed. This is especially true when said teenagers are signing up in the middle of a war. I mean, duh. Even teenagers have enough common sense to know that if you sign up for the military during a time of war, there's more than a decent chance you're going to have to fight in said war. They'd have to be pretty dang idiotic to not realize that, no matter what the recruiter says.
This is all not to mention that the man in question is not a teenager now, and wasn't a teenager when he joined the Army. He was 21 when he joined. He served three years. Then he fled when he was 25. He has been in hiding for four years, and is now 29. He is married and has a child. He knew exactly what he was getting himself into when he signed up. He has now broken his (very important) contract, and will (hopefully) be punished for it. End of story.
Usually recruiters do not tell you the truth. They say things like oh if you sign up for this job you will not see war at all and you get your college completely paid for.
I do not blame the guy the recruiters lie to people about what could happen to them so they can fill their quota.
Not true. Recruiters can not lie to you. They may omit facts however. They may gloss over the things that suck and glorify the mundane but not lie.
These deserters joined understanding there was a war, understanding that war or no war they were now obligated to serve out the term of their enlistment. Anyone with an IQ above 75 knows that when you join up you no longer have the right to decide weather or not you feel like going to work today. You are in the army now....
I am sick of hearing well he was only 18. 18 old enough to drive a vehicle, old enough to be held accountable for making a baby, old enough to know about obligation. Why do people insist on making excuses for others. Its called personal accountability. At what age does it begin? For some never. Deserted at age 25....... Not a youth anymored joined at 21 not an 18 yr old hs grade anymore.... Unless he enlisted for 5 or 6 years he re-enlisted for a bonus. Sorry he gets no walk on this one.
When you are part of a unit you are part of a team. People depend on each other and its lives that might be lost when someone just doesn't feel like its a good day to play soldier.
This man deserves levenworth and all the labors to follow.
Not true. Recruiters can not lie to you. They may omit facts however. They may gloss over the things that suck and glorify the mundane but not lie.
These deserters joined understanding there was a war, understanding that war or no war they were now obligated to serve out the term of their enlistment. Anyone with an IQ above 75 knows that when you join up you no longer have the right to decide weather or not you feel like going to work today. You are in the army now....
I am sick of hearing well he was only 18. 18 old enough to drive a vehicle, old enough to be held accountable for making a baby, old enough to know about obligation. Why do people insist on making excuses for others. Its called personal accountability. At what age does it begin? For some never. Deserted at age 25....... Not a youth anymored joined at 21 not an 18 yr old hs grade anymore.... Unless he enlisted for 5 or 6 years he re-enlisted for a bonus. Sorry he gets no walk on this one.
When you are part of a unit you are part of a team. People depend on each other and its lives that might be lost when someone just doesn't feel like its a good day to play soldier.
This man deserves levenworth and all the labors to follow.
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Your both correct they can't in theory say 'You will never go to war"
but the can phrase it so an 18 yr old doesnt see the big picture.
Never mind 18 year old anyone who doesn't know the military won't see the big picture .
They can say " yes you will be a truck driver who makes deliveries"
And put you like they did to this poor guy in my squad in artillery "deliverying" a Howitzer lol.
It was funny . So yes they can't flagrantly lie but you know how it works.
Usually recruiters do not tell you the truth. They say things like oh if you sign up for this job you will not see war at all and you get your college completely paid for.
I do not blame the guy the recruiters lie to people about what could happen to them so they can fill their quota.
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Well said they may not lie (though many do) but they "play" with words,phrases and distort facts .
In my case I wasn't lied to but met MANY who were (facts distorted) .
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