Army Desertion Rate Jumps Sharply

[Kornman00]

Article (http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,156409,00.html?ESRC=army-a.nl).


Soldiers strained by six years at war are deserting their posts at the highest rate since 1980, with the number of Army deserters this year showing an 80 percent increase since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003. While the totals are still far lower than they were during the Vietnam war, when the draft was in effect, they show a steady increase over the past four years and a 42 percent jump since last year.

According to the Army, about nine in every 1,000 soldiers deserted in fiscal year 2007, which ended Sept. 30, compared to nearly seven per 1,000 a year earlier. Overall, 4,698 soldiers deserted this year, compared to 3,301 last year.

The increase comes as the Army continues to bear the brunt of the war demands with many soldiers serving repeated, lengthy tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Military leaders - including Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey - have acknowledged that the Army has been stretched nearly to the breaking point by the combat. And efforts are under way to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps to lessen the burden and give troops more time off between deployments.

Despite the continued increase in desertions, however, an Associated Press examination of Pentagon figures earlier this year showed that the military does little to find those who bolt, and rarely prosecutes the ones they get. Some are allowed to simply return to their units, while most are given less-than-honorable discharges.


:v

[Emmzee]

That's what happens when the Army lets Michael Moore do a USO show.

[Bodzilla]

well Maybe if they whernt futilly chasing people that live in caves you wouldnt have this problem.

no war, or a better war.

[Leiukemia]

Americans are always ranting and raving about the size of their military, why are they having to put these guys in for so long that they just fuck off?

[n00b1n8R]

and that's why you aim to get a better job then the army.

like the airforce! :awesome:

[Pooky]

stupid Americans are always ranting and raving about the size of their military, and ones like Bush who actually believe that shit are why this is happening
ftfy

[Kornman00]

like the airforce! :awesome:
:raise:

more like a civilian job.

[n00b1n8R]

that was a joke :P

[Pooky]

pff, everyone knows kangaroos don't joke ~:awesome:>

[Kornman00]

that was a joke :P
ur mom's a joke...n00b

[rossmum]

So yeah about all those kids boasting that the US could smash anyone in non-nuclear warfare... :rolleyes:

Hardly a surprise, really. The US military is stretched way too thin and has been for quite a while.

[Kornman00]

we just need to leave war to video games tbh

[Skiiran]

So yeah about all those kids boasting that the US could smash anyone in non-nuclear warfare... :rolleyes:

Hardly a surprise, really. The US military is stretched way too thin and has been for quite a while.
What?

Who said this? Because they have their heads up their asses.

[Bodzilla]

we just need to leave war to video games tbhi'll drink to that
:beer:

:)??

[n00b1n8R]

What?

Who said this? Because they have their heads up their asses.
every 12 year old kid evar.

except the smart ones, but their obviously not cool enough to be counted.

[Kornman00]

i'll drink to that
:beer:

:)??
iawtp

http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/rubshandstogetherandgrinsevilly.gif

HEY JASDHFDHFGKSJFHGJSGHSFG

<:mad:>!!!

[Masterz1337]

well Maybe if they whernt futilly chasing people that live in caves you wouldnt have this problem.

no war, or a better war.
Let's fly airplanes into your buildings and watch you just sit back and take it.

You're a fucking fool if you think our war in Afganistan is pointless.

[rossmum]

Maybe he wasn't talking about Afghanistan.

[Bodzilla]

Let's fly airplanes into your buildings and watch you just sit back and take it.

You're a fucking fool if you think our war in Afganistan Iraq, IRAN is pointless.
.

[Emmzee]

HEY GUYS LET'S DERAIL THIS THREAD

Oh wait, it's already been done.

[Skiiran]

HEY GUYS LET'S DERAIL THIS THREAD

Oh wait, it's already been done.
Titties.

[Zeph]

Doesn't matter as the Army is now exceeding their recruitment goals since they lowered the quota.

[n00b1n8R]

no it's not, were discussing why people are deserting.

learn to read.

[SnaFuBAR]

.
yeah because IRAN is a total threat omg:rolleyes:

[Bodzilla]

yeah because IRAN is a total threat omg:rolleyes:
that was the joke omg :rolleyes:

[rossmum]

I can use :rolleyes: too omg :rolleyes:

[Kornman00]

I can use :rolleyes: too omg :rolleyes:
I too can use :rolleyes: as well, omfg :rolleyes:

[Pooky]

Titties.

:rolleyes:

omg.

And in a shallow attempt to make this seem constructive... I disapprove of army desertion.

[n00b1n8R]

:rolleyes:

omg.

And in a shallow attempt to make this seem constructive... I disapprove of army desertion. omg how dare you try to make a constructive post.

[Dole]

.
America's fighting a war in Iran? Well maybe eventually, and maybe soon, but not yet, so save your breath for now.


Maybe he wasn't talking about Afghanistan.
Oh come on, don't bother playing naive.

[rossmum]

What the fucking shit are you talking about? Did you go out and buy a crystal ball while you were banned or something?

Considering I actually know Bodie, I think I'd have a better idea of what he meant than you, thanks.

[Kornman00]

America's fighting a war in Iran? Well maybe eventually, and maybe soon, but not yet, so save your breath for now.
If your american, I hope they draft your ass first tbh.

[nooBBooze]

desertion, huh?
i always thought some full-metal-jacket-badass-drillseargeants would hunt any deserteurs down and either shoot or skullfuck them.


America's fighting a war in Iran? Well maybe eventually, and maybe soon, but not yet, so save your breath for now.
Why not sooner than later?
in 10 years from now they COULD start developing nuclear weapons. &#180;magine that. D:

[Bodzilla]

What the fucking shit are you talking about? Did you go out and buy a crystal ball while you were banned or something?

Considering I actually know Bodie, I think I'd have a better idea of what he meant than you, thanks.
where still in Afghanistan :confused2:
:P


but yes dole, back off with the Assumptions plz.

[Masterz1337]

well Maybe if they whernt futilly chasing people that live in caves you wouldnt have this problem.

no war, or a better war.


Let's fly airplanes into your buildings and watch you just sit back and take it.

You're a fucking fool if you think our war in Afganistan is pointless.

Last I checked Iraq doesn't have caves, and we weren't chasing people in caves.

He was clearly referenceing Afganistan.



Maybe he wasn't talking about Afghanistan.

[rossmum]

People live in caves all over Asia and the Middle East, so no. Hell, some people live in them here.

Last time I checked, damn near every country on the planet has caves. I know of at least 3 major cave systems within a few hours of my house.

[Kornman00]

Even more proof the caveman is still prominent in today's world. Silly Geico.

[Zeph]

no it's not, were discussing why people are deserting.

learn to read.
Wow, aren't you smart. Learn to think and find a dictionary to look up the word satire.

[Kornman00]

Wow, a:words:rt. Learn to http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/emot-shivdurf.gif look up the http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/emot-downswords.gif http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/emot-techno.gif.
n u zeph. that takes too much http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/emot-effort.gif

[Warsaw]

Part of the problem is that this isn't a total war effort. It is basically a sideline event in our everyday lives. The other problem is that the Army is not acting like an army, it is acting like a special police force (which isn't their fault), since the natives are either incapable or cannot be trusted with defending their own nations. The result is long tours and repeated tours, coupled with higher desertion rates from disgruntled soldiers.

Also, to whomever said that the US is boasting about the size of its military is wrong. We don't boast the size, we boast the power. Size =/= power. :v

[Cortexian]

The U.S. is flawed in oh so many ways... Not that Canada isn't, but at least your stupid war has done one thing positive. Raised the value of our dollar.

Constructive:
I seriously think that you should just be able to quit if your going to go and desert... Mmmm desert!

[Pooky]

Mmmm desert!
I agree, sand is magically delicious!

[n00b1n8R]

Wow, aren't you smart. Learn to think and find a dictionary to look up the word satire.
I have no idea what my post was in response to >___>