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| Historic re-enlistment at Fort Carson |
| 2004-12-02 |
| More than 400 soldiers raised their right hands Wednesday to extend their time in the Army. It was the biggest event of its kind in the history of Fort Carson. Driven by their loyalty to the Iraqbound 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and enticed by enlistment bonuses as big as $15,000, the soldiers made a pledge that all but guarantees they will head to war early next year. Most said they decided to stay in the Army to be with the soldiers they fought beside during the regiment's first yearlong tour in Iraq. "I owe it to my boys to be there one more time," said Spc. Abimael Marquez, who signed up for another tour that will separate him from the woman he married two months ago. "He made that decision before we met," said his wife, Mandi Seltzer, who said she supports her husband's choice. While elements of the Army, especially the National Guard and Army Reserve, have struggled to meet recruiting and retention goals in recent months, Fort Carson and the 5,200-soldier regiment have exceeded expectations. The regiment has more than doubled its goal for keeping soldiers in the Army, and the post as a whole remains well over its retention goals. Re-enlistments actually skyrocketed after the unit got its Iraq orders in July, said Staff Sgt. David Henderson, who has worked in the regiment to retain soldiers. "This is all about loyalty," he said. Loyalty on a large scale. "I have never seen before and I will probably never again see a re-enlistment formation this big," said Brig. Gen. Joseph Orr, the post's deputy commander. Most members of the regiment, which served in Iraq for a year that ended with homecomings in April, are combat veterans. The unit's commander, Col. H.R. McMaster, said keeping that experience is crucial to survival in Iraq. "We really need the soldiers who re-enlisted," he said. McMaster, who administered the enlistment oath to the soldiers who stood in formation in a gymnasium, called the event "humbling." "They feel like they are part of an effort bigger than themselves," McMaster said. More at link... What a great bunch of Americans! Damn proud of each of them. |
| Posted by:GK |
| #6 I keep volunteering, and the military keeps saying I'm too old, I've been out too long, and I can't meet current physical standards. That doesn't mean I can't still do the #^%#$^%%^$ job HERE, and free up someone to go THERE. Sometimes, I think our military "leadership" suffers from group Alzheimer's. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-12-02 10:04:00 PM |
| #5 Yet another reason to go to the basement and wonder if I could still fit in the uni. Yeah, if I was looking for work as a manikin in a military museum. I feel small. Maybe that's one reason some of us actually, in some part of our hearts, kind of think about the terrs trying something here. Close enough so the aging knees aren't a hindrance, because, other than a few issues of wind and vision, what it takes, we still got. Haven't we? And then we might not feel so small. |
| Posted by: Richard Aubrey 2004-12-02 9:27:33 PM |
| #4 I spent 4 years at Ft.Carson as a civilian paramedic at Evans Army Community Hospital. The troops I took care of all seemed to be highly motivated and proud of their units. When I was reassigned to Ft. Stewart, I left glad to have met these guys, and came to another great unit. |
| Posted by: graduate flyboy 2004-12-02 7:38:56 PM |
| #3 His wife, Kathy, said she didnât argue when her husband decided to spend more time in harmâs way. âI just felt it was his decision.â Only because he also believes in you and that you will cover his back just as much as his fellow squad mates. No reenlistment NCO, no commander is a greater influence in whether a man stays or leaves the service than his spouse. These spouses don't get the recognition they truely deserve for supporting their servicemembers in harms way. |
| Posted by: Don 2004-12-02 5:06:39 PM |
| #2 The ACR has always been a feather in the cap of any American Army soldier. Those folks are the first to make contact in combat, first to inflict casualties, and they have the means to tear an ambitious enemy a new dirt chute. Amen to that, Captain America. May God Bless and Protect them in all ways. |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-12-02 4:31:54 PM |
| #1 America's finest. We are so fortunate to have such brave men and women protecting us. |
| Posted by: Capt America 2004-12-02 4:21:05 PM |