Both MTV and The Washington Post reported today that there is a provision in the law allowing you to finish the remainder of your 8 year obligation (after the active duty part) in either the active reserve, the Individual Ready Reserve, or the Peace Corps.

This is important and I will post more on it later but here are the links:

Washington Post - Peace Corps Option for Recruits

MTV - Military Allowing Peace Corps Options for Recruits

I continue to get mail asking about how likely it is to be exempted from a call up due to declaring CO status. My response is that if you are going to declare CO status, DO SO BEFORE THE ORDERS COME. DO IT NOW if that is the path you are going to take.

Once you are under orders, you will be required to report to have the CO status declared and most likely they will be very skeptical of the application.

I recently received a letter from an IRR soldier who has applied for an exemption due to being in College and declaring CO status. I am looking forward to finding out how it is ruled on but here was my answer (name removed to protect privacy):

_____________________________

Dear XXXX

Unfortunately, I have not heard of being an undergraduate student (Whether good or not) being the reason for exemption. I have heard of medical students, in medical school (not pre med) being deferred but not exempted. Further, they are absolutely right that the way the regulations are written, you cannot have the CO declaration ruled on until you report. In fact, I highly recommend people NOT declare CO if they can help it once they are under orders as it is almost a sure fire way for them to say that you have to report.

The key things to try to use are: 1) Medical, 2) Legal/technical problem with the call up (i.e., called you up at the wrong grade etc.) 3) Family hardship 4) Financial... and I would say in that order.

I cannot emphasize enough to everyone that if you think you are a Conscientious Objector, DECLARE IT NOW!! Do not wait for the orders to arrive. Once they arrive, you are required to report for the CO to be ruled on. Further, ensure you truly are a CO. It is NOT a trump card or "get out of jail free" card. Ensure that everything you do is congruent with the activities of a CO. Finally, fully expect that they will ask you to do "non combat duties" even if they approve the CO. The military is highly skeptical of those who declare CO after the orders are cut.

Let me know if you need anything else and sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Kevin

________________

The Command T.O.C. ...Your source for all that is military....

I have not posted at all about the success of a variety of exemptions I have been involved in so I thought it was time to give everyone an update. I have successfully helped over 10 people win full exemptions from deployment and they all were for very good reasons. Here are some lessons learned

1) If you are not under orders yet, and you do not want to deploy, RESIGN now (if you can)! Do not wait until the orders come through to determine if you will apply for an exemption.

2) Always apply for an exemption and if they give you a delay that is great, but you should ask for an exemption. This will ensure it is somewhat permanent. If you apply for a delay they may "approve" it for the length of time it takes them to rule on the delay which is really not an approval at all.

3) Load up your first letter with everything you can, especially medical, family, hardship, financial and work related issues. This will ensure that you can use all of that on appeal if necessary. Technically, you can not add "new" reasons when you appeal so load up the first letter.

4) Quote the regulations a lot. I have found that most people in HRC do not know the regulations and have no desire/initiative to read them. You can very quickly become more informed than they are.

5) Be prepared to appeal. Chances are, HRC St. Louis will turn you down as it appears they have a rubber stamp machine which says "denied". Almost every case I have won has been in appeal not in the initial.

6) Get written records of everything and get your Congressman involved early. If for no other reason than ensuring the Army knows you are serious, ensure your Congressman is involved.

7) Look for inaccuracies in your records and leverage them. Three times I have helped people who should have been promoted and weren't. After doing the research we found they were two time non selects and had to be removed. The Army complied nicely.

So, those are the learnings so far. Good luck.

The Command T.O.C.

If you are in the IRR and clearly have received orders you better either file a D/E or report. The Army has decided to begin reporting those soldiers as AWOL. This was reported by Mi Vida Loca but did not have the ability to link.

Here is the link: IRR Soldiers to be AWOL.

Another one of the many who fought this IRR call up and won. Rob West , who blogs at The Sedge Court Journal not only received a delay but now has an honorable discharge in his hand. Congratulations Rob!

For those who have actually READ my postings (That excludes Tim for the most part) you will see one of my main concerns is that Bush and Rumsfeld have put us into a "12 division war with 10 divisions" which is exactly what Shinseki warned us about as he was being fired by Rumsfeld and Bush.

Bush claimed that there was no way for a draft to happen yet he does not explain how we are going to conduct this world crusade with the soldiers we have (Remember that veracity thing Tim).

Now the Vice Chief of Staff states that the pace is unsustainable. In this article Stars and Stripes - Vice Chairman he clearly indicates that the leadership of today's Army (Both Civilian and Military) are leaving the all volunteer force a broken force that will either require us to retrench our efforts or require a draft. A couple of key items from the article:

- Cody says, " the current pace could be crippling"

- The Army is about to add 100,000 soldiers to the CONUS based forced yet have CUT BASE FUNDING by 30%.

- The Army has lost 3 companies of Bradleys, 3 companies of tanks and 79 aircraft that are not being replaced at the right pace.

- Experts say to keep this pace will require a draft.

So, for those who think I am a traitor I ask, who the hell is REALLY supporting the troops? Those who have put them into this situation, refuse to give them what they need and are forcing the military back to a draft which we know would be devastating to the force?

I have said over and over again that Rummy and Bush are killing the all volunteer Army. Here is more proof: Minorities not joining the military

BTW, why does this site not work in Firefox on a MAC? Firefox is the best browser by far but it appears if you do not use Microsloth products here you are dead in the water. Oh, well, cut and paste the link above.

I know this has been discussed before but I want to bring everyone's attention to a disgusting tactic being used by National Guard Recruiting in Missouri. They have sent out letters to IRR Soldiers (even non Army IRR servicemembers) saying that you should join the NG now or your fate will not be in your hands as the IRR is recalled. This is reported in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Specifically, the letter states: "With the current world situation, the IRR is a very unstable place to be. You can be called up to join any deploying unit no matter what your job skills are. If you choose to join the National Guard you have more control over your military service." This is nothing but a scare tactic. Do not let them scare you into doing something you may not want to do. Your decision is a personal one but I want to alert you to the scare tactics being used. According to a spokesperson from the Missouri National Guard, this language was approved by the National Guard Bureau so the defense of an "overzealous" recruiter does not hold water. Make your own decision... do not let them intimidate you.