Washington Post - December 29, 2003
Army Stops Many Soldiers From Quitting Orders Extend Enlistments to Curtail Troop Shortages
By Lee Hockstader Washington Post Staff Writer
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The three are among thousands of soldiers forbidden to leave military service under the Army's "stop-loss" orders, intended to stanch the seepage of troops, through retirement and discharge, from a military stretched thin by its burgeoning overseas missions.
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A good friend, against my advice and, in a deeper sense, his better judgement, signed on for the Army reserves (after leaving the Army) several years ago.
Now he finds himself at the tender age of 37 in Iraq, participating in things he hates and nearly always frightened. His emails - haphazardly sent of course - have become ever more harrowing and bitter. When he (hopefully)gets back he's clearly going to be a different, and harder, person.
This *stop-loss* business has swept him up too. As you can imagine, he has very, very strong feelings on the issue. He's expressed a flaming desire to meet Rumsfeld in person to um, discuss the matter with vigor.
DRM