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| MARINES IN IRAQ SURPASS REENLISTMENT GOAL |
| 2007-01-04 |
| Not quite sure how to categorize this story but think it's important that we see it. CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Marines currently stationed in Iraq reenlisted at 146% of the entire annual goal in the first two months of the fiscal year. Overall, retention efforts at I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) (I MEF (FWD)) resulted in 663 first-term Marines signing up for another four-year tour. Most of the Marines who reenlisted are either directly involved or are supporting the development of the Iraqi Security Forces or the conduct of counterinsurgency operations in Al Anbar Province. "I'm extremely proud of these great Americans who selflessly serve and who by reenlisting demonstrate a desire to continue to serve our nation during time of war," said Maj. Gen. Rick Zilmer, Commanding General of I MEF (FWD). "I also commend all leaders for taking care of our Marines in combat by helping them make decisions about their futures without losing focus on the fight," Zilmer said. "The strength of our Corps is its Marines, and there is no better way to ensure the Marine Corps' success in the years to come than by retaining our best." Although I MEF (FWD) is currently at 146 percent of its original goal for first-term Marines, the U.S. MARINE CORPS' mission for the fiscal year will not be complete until all Marines who are part of the FY 2007 First-Term Alignment Plan, or FTAP, population are retained in the Marine Corps or transitioned back to civilian life. The campaign goal may be adjusted throughout the fiscal year depending on changes in the overall Marine Corps retention objective. "We are prepared for any changes in the Marine Corps FTAP mission and stand ready to help meet the Marine Corps manpower requirements," said Zilmer. |
| Posted by:Glenmore |
| #8 Significant numbers of US Armed Forces retirees settling in Iraq afterward? Now that would be an interesting experiment in radical cultural change -- for the Iraqi host culture, I mean. And certainly would have a curious effect on the interactions of the other groups and nations in the region... |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-01-04 20:37 |
| #7 RD: I know that it sounds down, but the worst problem is its novelty. After war, many soldiers are perfectly normal. Some have combat fatigue, depression or delayed stress. A few become adrenaline junkies. But never have this many soldiers felt they had such a purpose before. And their problem is less being over there than coming back here. When the place settles down, a lot of soldiers are going to want to live in Iraq. They will have developed a deep attraction to the place, associating it with the feelings they got from truly being needed and useful. But there is so much we just don't know. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-01-04 18:48 |
| #6 I'm very proud of our Marines over there, I hope they got a respectable re-enlistment bonus. There always has been a hard re-adjustment period for these guys returning to civilian life from what I've read. (Rambo springs to mind, man I loved Rambo heh.) It would be good to know if there has been any measures taken to improve this re-adjustment and training. My son has a few more years before he re-enlists again, and I'm kind of hoping that he gets out and has a family this next time, it's a mom thing. Right now he's married to the service. But I do worry about the adjustment period for him. Moose has some good points here. |
| Posted by: Jan 2007-01-04 18:20 |
| #5 jebus moose not again! piss on the parde why don't ya. |
| Posted by: RD 2007-01-04 17:45 |
| #4 Stay in the Marines? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-01-04 17:36 |
| #3 This has long concerned me. The numbers are too high. Compare it with Alan Greenspan's "irrational exuberance"; or, as we used to say in the Army, "Remember, it's not an adventure, it's just a job." Soldiers who have this high a morale maintained for this long are going to have problems adjusting back to what amounts to the blase normality of civilian life. There is no way civilian life is going to have anything close to the value of what they are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. But psychologically, what the hell is going to happen to them when it is all over? And this is what concerns me. We can pretty well guess that it won't be like what happened to soldiers after past wars, with a few exceptions. But how can you make up for a time when you were really, truly needed, and everything you did really, truly, life-or-death mattered to people in desperate need? How can you match that? |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-01-04 15:00 |
| #2 This will be in every newspaper that reported the recruiting shortfall (on page one divided by zero). |
| Posted by: Zarquon Pebbles in Blairistan 2007-01-04 13:36 |
| #1 "Re-enlist or have lunch with John F'n Kerry". |
| Posted by: Brett 2007-01-04 13:07 |