Good luck, and watch yourself in Iraq....

[Dave1982]

(Note: I am NOT intended to start a debate about the merits of sending more troops to Iraq or anything else relating to what's going on over there. This is just about my colleague).

I found out yesterday that our best technician - after more than a year of being OUT of the Army - has been reactivated for 400 days of duty in Iraq. This is the same tech that Captain Jellico was screwing with a while back. He has to report for duty January 17th (oddly enough, he's being sent out with the Louisiana National Guard), then will spend NO MORE than 25 days training with them at Ft Benning (which neither of us think is enough) before being shipped out to Iraq.

And he had JUST finished all the paperwork for a new full-time job that would have paid a LOT of money. Somehow I doubt that opening will be held for him for 400 days while he's overseas. I know there are laws about this sort of thing, but technically he hadn't even started that job yet. Obviously, he's PISSED about this, and I don't blame him one bit.

This guy has already served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He was lucky enough to returned unscathed. I hope nothing happens to him this time, because he's a good guy.

I wished him luck and told him to watch his ass.

And - just thought of this now, as I was typing out this post - I'm thinking we - as in me and my other colleagues - should take him out for a couple beers or something before he has to report for duty.....

[tropicsgoddess]

I don't blame your colleague for being po'd about having to give up a good paying job for another tour in Iraq. Best of luck to him and give him a round of these and a for me.

[Teskeria]

Best of luck to your CW. My family will keep him in our thoughts!

[Hobbs]

Any ideas where he'll be once he goes? I could probably contact one of my cadre to see if they have contacts over there.

USERRA is the law you're thinking of, and if he can sneakily get hired before deployment, he should have it reserved.

I remember when I was in ATL airport. I met a specialist in the food court line and I wished him luck. I wish I had kept in touch.

Take care. Our branches might make fun of each other, but we're all purple now

[lobo94]

Tell your friend to keep his powder dry and his head down.

[Dave1982]

Well, apparently the Army can't figure out who they need and when, because his call-up has been deferred until at least the end of February, and might just be cancelled outright.

[Hobbs]

Well, with the President saying decisively we'll pull combat troops out of Iraq by a certain date, the Army probably is thinking it can outlast with the troops it has until the deadline.