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Main Page U.S. Army Desertion Rate Soaring
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Posted by: kwflatbed

Number Of U.S. Army Deserters Up 80% Since Iraq War Started; Highest Rate Since 1980

(CBS News) WASHINGTON 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.

Nearly 64 percent of the desertions last year were reported from April to December, reports CBS News correspondent Sam Litzinger, which would suggest the pace is picking up.

Sgt. Phil McDowell is one of those deserters. Now living in Canada, he had served one tour in Iraq and was getting out of the Army when Uncle Sam said "not so fast."

"The reason I was being called back was to go to another tour in Iraq, and I didn't agree with that," McDowell told CBS News correspondent David Martin.

McDowell could eventually be deported from Canada and court-martialed, but for him that beats going back to Iraq.

"If I had been asked to go to Afghanistan I would have gone there," he told Martin. "But the Iraq War I didn't want to have any part of that any more."

The rate of desertions seems to be accelerating in a pattern that tracks almost exactly with the extension of tours in Iraq from 12 months to 15 months.

Analysts say the Army has borne the brunt of the war in Iraq. Marine and Navy desertions actually declined last fiscal year.

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 underway 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.

The report on rising desertion rates comes a day after two U.S. Army deserters who fled to Canada and sought refugee status on grounds of their opposition to the Iraq war lost their bids to have the Supreme Court of Canada hear their cases.

The court refused Thursday to hear the appeals of Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, who were rejected by Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board in 2005. Hinzman and Hughey deserted the U.S. Army in 2004 after learning their units were to be deployed to Iraq to fight in a war they have called immoral and illegal.

Arrest Of Deserter Who Sought Treatment For PTSD

Earlier this week, a soldier who served two combat tours in Iraq was arrested for leaving the Army without permission more than a year ago. The arrest occurred just hours after Sgt. Brad Gaskins spoke at a news conference saying he left his base in New York State in August 2006 because the Army wasn't providing effective treatment after he was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and severe depression.

"They just don't have the resources to handle it, but that's not my fault," Gaskins said.

Last month, the Veterans Administration said more than 100,000 soldiers were being treated for mental health problems, and half of those specifically for PTSD.

Gaskins, 25, of East Orange, N.J., was taken into custody at a Watertown cafe ono Wednesday by civilian police officers from Fort Drum and two local police officers, Ensign said. The lawyer said he had been on the phone with military prosecutors working out the details of Gaskins' surrender when the soldier was arrested.

Fort Drum spokesman Ben Abel said after a soldier is AWOL for more than 30 days he becomes classified as a deserter and a federal arrest warrant is issued. He said he was unaware of the specifics of Gaskins' case and declined to comment on it.

An eight-year Army veteran, Gaskins served two tours in Iraq and a peacekeeping tour in Kosovo. He said his mental health began deteriorating during his second tour in Iraq, which began in June 2005, when his job was to conduct road searches and locate improvised explosive devices.

He said after returning to Fort Drum in February 2006, he began suffering flashbacks and nightmares, headaches, sleeplessness, weight loss and mood swings that took him from depression to irrational rages. Military doctors sent him to the Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, where he spent two weeks and was diagnosed with PTSD. When he later asked his commanders about returning to Samaritan, they told him it would delay any chance he had at obtaining a medical release, Gaskins said.

At the time, the Fort Drum mental health facility had a staff of a dozen caring for approximately 17,000 troops, Ensign said.

Gaskins said that because he had been unable to get proper help, he requested a two-week leave and went home to New Jersey, where he has been living since.

Gaskins said he hasn't been able to get a job because of his PTSD, and that he and his wife have separated. He said he has only supervised visitation rights with his two children.

http://wbztv.com/topstories/topstori...320141823.html

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwflatbed

The court refused Thursday to hear the appeals of Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, who were rejected by Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board in 2005. Hinzman and Hughey deserted the U.S. Army in 2004 after learning their units were to be deployed to Iraq to fight in a war they have called immoral and illegal.

Shitbirds.....it's not up to you to make that decision. If you don't want to fight in a war, then don't enlist.

Posted by: TacEntry

(CBS News) WASHINGTON Soldiers strained by six years at war are deserting their posts at the highest rate since 1980

Yeah, thanks for your opinion CBS, Liberal Douchebags.

All volunteer Military. 6 years at war. Recruiters still making mission. Whats that tell ya?

The Hidden message: Lets just give up and hope radical islam isn't mad at us!

Posted by: GodblessThearmy

Quote:

An eight-year Army veteran, Gaskins served two tours in Iraq and a peacekeeping tour in Kosovo. He said his mental health began deteriorating during his second tour in Iraq, which began in June 2005, when his job was to conduct road searches and locate improvised explosive devices.

I can't figure that out, I did that for 15 months my first tour. I still have another 7 months left on this one... I saw some of these MED hold soldiers back when I leaving for Iraq a couple months ago. These people are just idiots to begin with, they talk about "PTSD" and how it fucks them up and they just wanna go home. I personally know people who will never be the same again. When everyone signs up, we sign up for 8 years. Shouldn't be no excuse for anyone to desert. Back to "PTSD", if anyone does a little research into it, it is a valid condition/disorder and can be treated. I notice symptoms in soldiers all the time who probably have no clue they have it and they can still function as soldiers. Then you have soldiers that feed into BS articles like this one and the prescription drugs they get and they want to world know they went to Iraq or feel sorry for them... But come time for the Civil Service test, they are fine.

imo "PTSD" is nothing more than a quick 10% for the rest of your life.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by GodblessThearmy

imo "PTSD" is nothing more than a quick 10% for the rest of your life.

There has been extensive research into PTSD which was featured in last month's American Legion magazine. Some people are much more susceptible to it than others, so you should probably just count your blessings and STFU about those who aren't as fortunate.

Posted by: OCKS

PTSD is also a symptom that can sneak up on you slowly not just after one traumatic incidence. There is research that people who see lots of violence and traumatic events over many years can also be affected by PTSD. Think of our job, fire fighters, EMS. how many of our brothers and sisters turn to the bottle or act out to handle stress from our work.

Posted by: dcs2244

My cousin (RIP) suffered PTSD (combat fatigue, shell shock) during the first engagement at the Kaserine Pass: our guys were decimated. He spent several years in a local psych hospital.

But he didn't whine to the press, seek attention or take advantage of the situation. Sure, he received a GI disability pension...and rightly so. He was able to do such work as he was allowed to do. He was very adept at personal computers and was able to write programs...not a big deal for us young whelps...pretty good for a guy that died two years ago at the age of 88.

My point is that PTSD is very real, but that there are people who will use it as an excuse for their fear/cowardice/personal gain/political agenda: choose all that apply.

Posted by: LawWoman

People who sign up and then decide they can choose how and where they are gonna serve just baffle me.

Posted by: BB-59

You have to love the timing of this latest revelation. Of course our un biased media would not be putting this in the headlines now that the democrats and republicans are fighting over the budget to fund the military.

I really give credit to the men and women who serve and are putting there lives on the line and have to here themselves get back stabbed by the elected officials who voted to send them there.

Not to mention the scum of a press that cares more about the terrorists then the people who are attempting to fight them.

It looks like history is repeating itself, just like in previous wars our enemies are using the press and the liberal base to undermine our troops.

Posted by: dcs2244

Let us not speak of the media bias: we know they are just dishonest crapweasels hiding behind a facade of logic and reason. Unfortunately the lemmings do not make the distinction...thus the political situation we have now. They are "democrats" (read: communists).

I fear for America, as it looks like Americans no longer "pack-the-gear" to secure their liberty. Sure, there's us and the military, but we are in the minority. Make plans to protect your families, as it will not be long before the scimetar is at the door: Live as a satan worshiping musselman, or die as a Christian.

In any event, I reckon we'll know how many "christians" there are in America, once the mooselimbs start sawing heads off: surprise, we were a mooselimb nation all the while.

Posted by: justanotherparatrooper

Deserters are scum. It is an unbelievable act of selfishness. How can a man live with himself KNOWING that by shirking his duty someone else might die.

Posted by: kwflatbed

They are COWARDS just like the others that can't step
up to the plate and serve their country that hide behind
their college enrolment and post grad,post grad,post grad
studies then flee to Canada.

Posted by: SargeLorenzo

Let's see, prior to my last deployment we were given a 3 day pass at our mobilization site to go say goodbye to our families. One kid, a green card carrying individual, never came back from the pass. He was picked up in Texas and transported to the lock up in FT Sill, OK. No citizenship for that shitbag!!

Then, while overseas, one of my troops went home on leave with no intention of returning. He worked at the Post Office and received a discharge that was "less than honorable". Naturally the dumbass lost his job. He's recently been hunting me and his squad leader down to give him letters of recommendation to try and get the job back. What balls on this douche bag, huh?! This is so dishonorable and disgraceful!! He even reenlisted and got a $15,000 dollar bonus that he now owes Uncle Sam.

Also, you get the self-proclaimed consciencious objectors claiming they can't deploy. They always screw this one up. To get this kind of status you have to request it from the Army, until it's approved/disapproved you need to pack your bags for deployment and drive on. They always end up just going AWOL.

Todays youth have no sense of duty to country. Whatever happened to the days of WWII when the lines at the recruiting station went down the block? (I know, no need to answer)

Posted by: redsox03

Cowards.

Posted by: Redleg13D

ah, screw it... Canada can have them

I, for one, don't want them around.

Posted by: redsox03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redleg13D

ah, screw it... Canada can have them

I, for one, don't want them around.

+1
I wouldn't want the cowards to be the ones watching my back.

Posted by: SargeLorenzo

No, sorry guys. You don't sign a contract and take an oath just to not fulfill your obligations. They can go to Canada after their mandatory castration, after all they want to be ball-less. Plus this way they can't breed any future cowards.

Posted by: GodblessThearmy

Quote:

Originally Posted by SargeLorenzo

No, sorry guys. You don't sign a contract and take an oath just to not fulfill your obligations. They can go to Canada after their mandatory castration, after all they want to be ball-less. Plus this way they can't breed any future cowards.

Exactly.

Posted by: Redleg13D

Quote:

Originally Posted by SargeLorenzo

Abso-f'ing-lutely.
EXCEPT, if they are made to answer for the crime, they wouldn't likely recieve the maximum penalty (death). Instead, let them be gauranteed to recieve a worse sentence (for most of us, anyway)... to live in hiding as a coward.

Posted by: MSP75

Deserters are the best way to check if your weapon is zeroed.

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