Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Extending Tours

This morning, in the New York Times, there was an article discussing the military’s plans to extend tours in Iraq to 15 months. Everyday, I wonder when it will be bad enough that the Army will say that I can come back to my job. Is it bad enough now? Soldiers are truly tired and frustrated with an undermanned military. They are worried about the affects on their families and overall unit morale. I don’t blame them. Over the last six months, I have been working on my master’s thesis which is about how military recruiting has been affected by civil rights movements during wars. American history shows that the military has often opened its doors to minority groups during military personnel shortfalls and after there was action taken by either the executive or legislative branches of the government. African Americans (President Truman’s Executive Order) and women (Women’s Armed Services Integration Act) are the most notable examples. The military did not initiate these changes. The military has a chance to change history. Frankly, I don’t need for General Pace to tell me he is sorry for calling me “immoral.” What I would prefer he do is sit down with his fellow service members and ask real questions. Is it more detrimental that we fill the foxholes with every able-bodied American or choose to discharge gays and not allow them to serve in critical specialties? It appears to me the answer is to expand the recruiting pool and not base eligibility to continue service on sexual orientation. Ending discrimination was the answer in the past and continues to be the answer now. - Former Sergeant First Class Stacy Vasquez

Labels: in the news, Iraq, Pace, recruiting

04-12-07