Army desertions on upswing due to wars

[Big]

A total of 3,196 active-duty soldiers deserted the Army last year, or 853 more than previously reported, according to revised figures from the Army.

The new calculations by the Army significantly alter the annual desertion totals since the 2000 fiscal year. In 2005, for example, the Army now says that 2,543 soldiers deserted, not the 2,011 it had reported. For some earlier years, the desertion numbers were revised downward.

www.nytimes.com/2007/03/23/us/23awol.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[ugly]

It doesnt surprise me especially when guys are having to do multiple tours with less than a year at home in between rotation and with the lack of good medical attention for the injured nobody want to be in that position.

[Avallone]

You know what your getting into when you sign up, be a man and fulfill your obligation. Most of the deserters were probably just looking for a free education and did not think or hoped that they would not have to put their lives on the line.
As far as we can trace, every male member of my ancestors has served in the military in their country. More then likely my son will continue this tradition.
If you are not willing to serve your country in some capacity then leave you do not deserve to live here.

[Donkey]

avallone said:

You know what your getting into when you sign up, be a man and fulfill your obligation. Most of the deserters were probably just looking for a free education and did not think or hoped that they would not have to put their lives on the line.
As far as we can trace, every male member of my ancestors has served in the military in their country. More then likely my son will continue this tradition.
If you are not willing to serve your country in some capacity then leave you do not deserve to live here.

I guess if you enlist in our country's all-volunteer army, but you happen to do so during an actual time of war it means it is "bullshit" based soley on the fact that it is, in fact, an actual time of war. Oh that means our process of doing an all-volunteer army is stupid because some people are pascifists so how could this technique EVER be appropriate... yes, that's correct, NEVER.

[Avallone]

lefty said:

avallone said:

You know what your getting into when you sign up, be a man and fulfill your obligation. Most of the deserters were probably just looking for a free education and did not think or hoped that they would not have to put their lives on the line.
As far as we can trace, every male member of my ancestors has served in the military in their country. More then likely my son will continue this tradition.
If you are not willing to serve your country in some capacity then leave you do not deserve to live here.

I guess if you enlist in our country's all-volunteer army, but you happen to do so during an actual time of war it means it is "bullshit" based soley on the fact that it is, in fact, an actual time of war. Oh that means our process of doing an all-volunteer army is stupid because some people are pacifist's so how could this technique EVER be appropriate... yes, that's correct, NEVER.

If you enlist during a time of war then you should expect to go to war.
I guess if you are a pacifist then you would not enlist, but there are other ways to serve your country.
There is no draft, so it is an all volunteer army.
I don't see your point, try again.

[ugly]

You also expect the Army to hold to its end of the contract. I served in the army and I can run down a list of things the army regs said the army should do but they never did, but I was expected to follow my contract to the letter. It isnt too much to ask to have good medical services when you are injured in war and it isnt too much to ask to have a decent amount of time at home before you go back to war. Its not to much to ask to have the proper equipment when you do go to battle. So yes I agree that if you sign up you should do your duty as specified in the contract but you should also demand the military do the same. Sometimes the only option is to desert if you feel the military isnt living up to their end of the bargin because they sure as hell wont change if you are in.

[Avallone]

ugly said:

You also expect the Army to hold to its end of the contract. I served in the army and I can run down a list of things the army regs said the army should do but they never did, but I was expected to follow my contract to the letter. It isnt too much to ask to have good medical services when you are injured in war and it isnt too much to ask to have a decent amount of time at home before you go back to war. Its not to much to ask to have the proper equipment when you do go to battle. So yes I agree that if you sign up you should do your duty as specified in the contract but you should also demand the military do the same. Sometimes the only option is to desert if you feel the military isnt living up to their end of the bargin because they sure as hell wont change if you are in.

Nothing is perfect in life (not being a smart aleck) that is just the way it is. I agree our Vets are not treated good enough, I know first hand about this.
Remember 2 wrongs do not make a right and 2 wrongs will never fix a problem.
Nothing in the military is perfect, just as nothing at anybodys current job is perfect. If it was then we would all be in Heaven.
I still believe if congress had let Storming Norman do his job instead of calling him off then we would not be there now.

[goferphan]

i respect the hell out of all that go when called to war...

those who are deserting are deserting their comrades and turning their backs on their duty and their country...desertion numbers historically are always underreported...it is a morale thing...it has happened in every war the US has ever been in...