They want to send my son overseas

[Mari333]

Hes in the National Guard in MI and WAS supposed to be OUT in November...he just found out they wont let him out, and now they might force him to stay in and go over to The Sinai desert for 6 months...
any tips on how to get OUT of this???
Hes pissed at Bush and thinks hes nuts..
If they send him, if he goes, I will become even more radical then I am right now...
so Radical that the BFEE will make me into their No 1 FEAR...a mother who will do anything to keep her son from fighting for MURDEROUS BASTARD THUGS WHO TOOK OVER MY COUNTRY...

so mad now I could scream.

[Yaoi_Huntress_Earth]

1. I am so sorry

I wish you the best for you and your son. I have a friend in the Navy and I'm worried for his safety so you're not alone on this one.
Love,
Yaoi Huntress Earth

[gully]

2. Uhm, Canada? BTW, So sorry for what you must be going through...

[Friar]

3. He needs to scam the system

He should find a doctor who'll certify him with a medical problem. Migraines are good because they cannot be disproved. Even an opthamologist can certify this. Muscle spams...well, there are many ways out.

When I was drafted in 1969 my Dad wanted me to do this but I was an 18 year old crazy fundie type christian at the time (too much LSD, I guess) and I refused to lie. Needless to say, I don't feel that way anymore.

[Mari333]

4. Yes I told him that and have a shrink he can see

hes also working with a lawyer and some other ideas..the guys in his Unit all HATE Bush.

[Friar]

8. the shrink

can legitimately do the migraine thing. If your son looks up the symptoms and tells a doctor he is experiencing these, they don't really have a choice but to certify this.

"My headaches keep getting worse. Sometimes there's a red ring around my vision and I can't even move when they get bad." That sort of thing.

[Friar]

21. lawyer can't help

He cannot condone anything illegal or lying or anything like that that might actually work. Don't waste your money there.

[FloridaPat]

5. Conscious objector status.

It is criminal what the Bush people are doing to out troops.

[Kamika]

6. Whats in sinai

Why would we send soldiers to sinai??

[diamondsoul]

17. Multi-National Forces Observers

It's the UN Peacekeeping force. Nice duty assignment, even with the trouble there. Both my husband and my father did a stint in Sainai. They loved it, and huibby so much he wanted to go back....yeesh, thanks, honey, I love you too!:eyes:

[Jacobin]

7. You have my utmost sympathy

I have four sons. Fortunately, the two older sons haven't joined the military (although one considered it until Smirk was elected and he saw that Smirk wanted to conquer the world).

My two youner sons will be draft age soon. If Smirk is re-elected, I have no doubt whatsoever that the draft will be re-instated as there are not enough in the military to let him finish the PNAC agenda. There will be a drop-off in re-enlistments after the poor folks in the M.E. come home, there can be no doubt about that.

There must be support groups for people in your situation and perhaps websites with people who have expertise in the military code for this situation.

I wish you and your son the very best of luck.

[shanti]

13. i also have 4 sons

and fear for the time when the draft could take them. two of them have no desire to join the military. unfortunately, my oldest joined the a.f. this year, but he is being sent to germany for 2 years and not the middle east. thank god! his job classification is in finance, so i doubt he will see any type of combat situations.

i think that when you have more than one son, the thought of them being taken by the military enters one's mind...

peace

[Cha]

9. I could only imagine how upset you are! If it were happening to

my son I would totally be Freaking Out!

I hope there is a way that your son will Not have to go over to that place!

:-(

[JackSwift]

10. He should do the same thing Bush did

use drugs, marijuana is pretty harmless, and he won't pass the drug test.

[Friar]

19. they'll fix the test

I know. I want my son to join the Army and they as much as told him he would pass the piss test with their help even though he smokes too much pot (what're ya going to do?).

I hate the idea of him joining the military with these madmen in charge but he needs to get on with his life and I think the Army is just what he needs.

[searchingforlight]

28. This may sound crazy but if he has to go in tell him to join the Air Force

Even the enlisted men aren't ground troops and chances are he will be far back from the fray.

[wryter2000]

11. I can only imagine what you're going through

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Wish I had some advice.

[sandnsea]

12. He believes he would be committing war crimes????

I mean, doing things because you're commanded to is illegal now. Could he be the one to bring a case against the CiC for an illegal war by filing a legal case to refuse to participate in it?

Lawyer input please.

[diamondsoul]

14. Does he have family?

I mean wife, kids? And is he full-time National Guard or Reserve?

[Mari333]

23. National Guard reserves..

Hes about to get married, owns 2 restaurants which will GO UNDER if he leaves...

[sandnsea]

36. Sailor & Soldiers Relief Act - maybe

Here's an article about it - http://www.associationtimes.com/april303.html

And here's an ombudsman site

http://www.esgr.org/employers/thelaw.asp

Maybe there's something in there to help him if nobody else can run his business. And there is a big difference in signing up to help your state if there's a short term crisis. The National Guard is supposed to be for that or a war because our country is actually under attack. I understand his position completely, how could he have known Bush would go rampaging around the world the way he has.

[diamondsoul]

37. Bingo-

Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act.
He can apply for a hardship discharge for financial reasons. My own husband has talked about filing for a hardship if his unit is activated. As much as I hate it, I'd prefer he do that than get killed for W.&co's wealthy cronies.

**on edit- He may want to take it easy if they are shipping him to Sinai. First find out if he's being issued a weapon. If not there's a good probability he's going to take a spot in the MFO, in which case he won't see any combat. MFO soldiers don't carry weapons because their function is not combat, it's peacekeeping. Just a show of force. I'm thinking with MFO soldiers usually being active duty, they may be pulling reinforcements from there rather than have a lot of inexperienced Guardsman out in the combat zone. I may be wrong, but that makes a lot more sense than the alternative.

[Poiuyt]

15. Call your congressman

I had a friend who got out of the service by calling his congressman and telling him that he made a mistake in joining. He received an honorable discharge. You might have to come up with a good excuse.

On another note, why is the National Guard going over to the Sinai. Aren't they supposed to be guarding our nation? What happens if there is some kind of natural disaster or something. Do we call out the Boy Scouts?

[diamondsoul]

20. Hey!?

"On another note, why is the National Guard going over to the Sinai. Aren't they supposed to be guarding our nation? What happens if there is some kind of natural disaster or something. Do we call out the Boy Scouts?"

You're right, wth ARE the Guard supposed to do in Sinai?? I wonder if there's something going on with the UN. That's the only logical explanation for Guard to go there, if they pull our troops from the MFO to head for Iraq and need to replace them.

[Mari333]

24. BFEE is running out of war fodder

and my son joined the NG reserves to protect us HERE...not sit in 120 degree heat being shot at in some fucking country we shouldnt even BE in....

[JackSwift]

16. Could he seek asylum in

say France? Check it out before he tries it.

[TeeYiYi]

18. Smoke pot, get a boyfriend and move to Canada . . .

. . . seriously Mari333, I'm sorry to hear you are going through this. I wish you and your son the very best. You'll figure it out . . .

TYY

[goobergunch]

22. Find some way to get your son out...

I really feel bad for you, being of draft age myself in a couple years.

:-(

[Friar]

26. don't you feel a headache coming on?

I think they will start the draft again and you should begin preparing for it.

[Mari333]

27. My middle son is 23..he will leave the country

if the draft comes back....he already said so....and my 20 yr old, thank god, has a herniated disc that is so severe it would keep him out...
But my 25 year old , against my wishes, joined the damned NG reserves...I warned him....but he was being a hero, thought he could help the country...INSIDE the US, not in some damn overseas unit to prop up the BFEE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$...and their fucking friends...

One good thing has come of this..I called my mom, my sons Gramma..and told her...she voted for Bush...she is furious...she will NOT vote for him again...
she called Bush a little Napoleon...I never thought I would hear that come from my mom///
She truly hates Bush.
Its personal now, real personal.

[Cha]

30. That part is good news about "Gramma"...but what a way

for her to have to "hate bush"! :-(

[Mari333]

31. she was already starting to question him

this was the catalyst...sadly.

[searchingforlight]

32. I am wondering if they will start the draft.

The thing to do is for the parents and boys coming 18 to sue the U.S. government now for discrimination because the 18 year old women do not have to register.

I doubt many congressmen want to vote for a draft when it could mean that the young girls of the country have as much chance of being drafted as the young men.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. Grab him and RUN!!!

Best of luck to you. My heart goes out to you.

[never cry wolf]

29. have him change his name to

george herbert walker pierce bush. seriously, i feel for you. my son will be 18 in 5 months, may have to "winterize" the family cabin in ontario.

[PaDUer]

34. Do you..

want company?

[never cry wolf]

38. sure

lots of chores for everyone. no electricity tho, may have to install a solar collector and passive solar to keep the water tank from freezing. only phone is the newly installed cell service.

[MuseRider]

33. 2 sons draft age

and I have been very worried. I am so sorry to hear this. I would be frantic and I can't even imagine the rage I would feel since I already feel enough that my head feels like it is going to pop. Do whatever you have to do and let the rest of us know. I was glad to learn about the migraines since my oldest does have them. I am really afraid that they need these kids so badly that they will take them anyway. Good luck, my heart is with you.

[Kamika]

35. seriously, why are you mad?

If it would be iraq i could understand. But to be part of a Un obervation force in the Sinai? i dont see the problem really.

[diamondsoul]

39. Sinai is not necessarily final destination.

That's where they're sending him as far as she knows, but from there he can be sent anywhere in the Middle East.

Remember they shipped troops to Kuwait before we sent them into Iraq too, and none of the families were told they'd be going in. They knew purely because there was so much talk about it from the White House.

[laruemtt]

40. lots of good advice here-

you have my sympathy and prayers. my sister has two sons and if they start the draft, she's taking them to canada. life is too precious to throw it away in an illegal, immoral war. pro-life - what a crock. pro-life until you're born, and then look out - you're just more cannon fodder.

[MuseRider]

41. The rules don't seem to apply

anymore. They can and will do with you what they want. I assume that is the way it always was but now it is with little thought. WHo knows when and where the next fight will be, where it is is where they will go. I would worry too.

[Mari333]

42. You think I trust the BFEE where they send my son??????????

Thats like trusting a HOOKER with needlemarks on her arms that she doesnt have AIDS...
They think of my son as FODDER...for MONEY...they lie and lie and lie...First the Sinai, then Iraq...who knows WHERE they will send him..
Those lying thugs dont care who they kill for PROFIT.

[seemslikeadream]

47. maybe Bring Them Home Now would have some ideas

www.bringthemhomenow.org

[Mari333]

49. I just wrote to them! thanks

good idea..

[never cry wolf]

55. you are soooo right mari.

2/3 of our regular forces are already deployed overseas, generally speaking 1/3 of your force should be held in reserve and the troops on active duty desperately need a rotation. EVERYONE in any service is liable to be rotated to where there's some shooting eventually.

i tell you, this shit is really getting my blood to boil!!!!! :mad:

[SoCalDem]

43. My friend's son was "safe" in germany, until they sent his unit to

Iraq:(.. If you are IN the military ANYWHERE, you are NOT SAFE fro being deployed there.:(

[laura888]

44. are enlistments going down?

because of the chances of being sent to Iraq?

I have not heard anything on this... but surely, the usual enticements: tuition aid, training, etc. are overshadowed by this very real threat?

[Robbien]

46. They passed that bill recently allowing recruiters to go into schools

and entice the kids into service. A lot like letting drug dealers into schools.

[Zorro]

45. Why did he join the National Guard?

I no doubt have a different perspective on this than the other posters, but I think that if one voluntarily obligates oneself to serve in the National Guard or any branch of the military, then they're responsible to obey the orders they're given. Otherwise your son's word loses its credibility.

There were lots of guys sucked up during the Viet Nam era that chose to follow the edict of the draft board and go to that theater of operation, but didn't agree with the policies that were putting them there.

Yes, I am a veteran, and I've spent a number of years in several out-of-the-way places that most people would never consider spending time in. But every place I've been to has been as much as an adventure as not. It all depends on one's attitude going in; if he's convinced he's going to hate an assignment, then he'll be unhappy. If he goes with an open mind, then he'll gain new experiences and an education he couldn't buy for money.

Peace.

[Mari333]

51. He joined to help with Homeland Security

and he and maNY other soldiers in the reserves here have had a wake up call about BUSH....
Many Vietnam Vets , in retrospect, wish they had burned their draft cards...many refused to go..
There is more HONOUR in NOT going to a war based on LIES then going.

[Dookus]

60. wow..l.

45 posts before someone said what I was thinking.

I feel bad that ANYBODY is being deployed in the ME, but we do not have a draft. Anybody there CHOSE to enter the service, with full knowledge of what the possibilities were. Hell, I'D join the service if I could get the benefits without any of the risks.

There are many ways for him to get himself dishonorably discharged. And skipping out of a commitment *IS* dishonorable. If he doesn't go, you know, somebody ELSE'S child will go.

I don't want to appear callous. I'm against this whole damned war, and feel bad that lies are being used to send anybody there. If he was being drafted, I'd pay for his ticket to Canada myself.

*puts on flame suit*

[Rex]

48. Out as in ETS or out as in obligation was done in Nov?

I was MI (96R) and my total (8 year obligation) was up last month. I'm not sure if the NG operates like regular army, but if it does and he ETSs, he will still owe a certain amount of years in the inactive reserve pool. I hope that your son can find someway around being deployed.

[Mari333]

52. Obligation, done in NOV

But now they say NO...to all the men in the unit who are supposed to have fulfilled their duty..HEY RUMMY needs dead bodies to justify his FRIEND$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Rex]

54. Then I think he has a very strong case for being released

His obligation is almost up, he owns 2 businesses, has a family. I'm suprised that they have some kind of stop-loss in effect for ING units. This IMO means that we are in a lot worse shape as far as 'readiness' goes.

He should go to the IG and plead his case, it sounds like he is needed at home (running his business). If anything, he can claim that being deployed will cause a financial crisis - maybe undue stress on the children.

My heart goes out to you Mari333, I hope he can get out of it!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

50. i know this is rough but my son has already asked this of me ...

"to take a baseball bat to his kneecaps" if the draft starts up...my daughter too....not that he is afraid of dying but rather that he is afraid of having to kill another human being :(

[Mari333]

53. I told him to shoot himself in the foot

I hope he does.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

56. Mari333...i hear ya ....or have him say he is gay?

[Postman]

57. Try your Congressperson or Senator...

If you haven't already. See if they could pull some strings to get him out. Try for a hardship discharge somehow. Or at the very least a transfer within CONUS.

[Mari333]

59. I think hes going to try for a transfer to another unit

and by the time the shit hits the fan, he can get out...
I guess Rummy is desperate for fodder....Homeland Security ???????????????? My ass...theres no one in the Guard or reserves LEFT here for it................Our congressmen is a Bush Butt kissing Puke..
But Carl Levin is my senator...Ill write to him........

[dkf]

58. Mari333, I really hurt for you.

How dare they do this to your son, to you, to your family, and to our young men and women who only want to show their love for our country.

Bush & Co. are beyond despicable and I have only contempt for their lying weasel hides.

I shake my head in disgust.