Army reopens retiree recall program

WASHINGTON — Army officials will allow more former soldiers a chance to return to active duty under the retiree recall program in an effort to close gaps in hard-to-fill specialties, service officials announced this week.

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In an Army-wide message, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli said restrictions put on the program in March will be rolled back, at least temporarily, “due to the recent approval of a temporary increase in active component end strength.”

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In March, as the Army reached its active-duty end-strength goals, officials announced plans to scale back the program, ending the opportunity for new re-enlistments for most retirees.

But last month Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced plans to increase the Army’s active-duty end strength by about 22,000 for the next three years, citing shortfalls in individual units’ manpower and staffing.

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Gonna need some more troops. Hey, how about the old guys? yup, they should work just fine.

hummmm why would the army do that. or more like what are they up to

It doesn't take a young pup to man a gun tower.

Any ideas on which jobs they need to fill most?

Guards, maybe?

No branch of the US armed forces will take a new recruit over the age of 38 though. Regardless of their skill level. But veterans up to the age of 60 are being signed up.

It's still a full volunteer system, regardless. And they don't seem to have any problem meeting enlistment quotas, even in a time of war. And the re-enlistment rate for troops in the combat zones is incredibly high.

The liberals say this is an unjust war, but apparently our troops see it differently.

Originally posted by KSPigpen

WASHINGTON — Army officials will allow more former soldiers a chance to return to active duty under the retiree recall program in an effort to close gaps in hard-to-fill specialties, service officials announced this week.

Link to Source

In an Army-wide message, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli said restrictions put on the program in March will be rolled back, at least temporarily, “due to the recent approval of a temporary increase in active component end strength.”

....

In March, as the Army reached its active-duty end-strength goals, officials announced plans to scale back the program, ending the opportunity for new re-enlistments for most retirees.

But last month Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced plans to increase the Army’s active-duty end strength by about 22,000 for the next three years, citing shortfalls in individual units’ manpower and staffing.

....

Gonna need some more troops. Hey, how about the old guys? yup, they should work just fine.

Yes, the "old guys" work just fine in the specialties mentioned in the article, physicians, linguists and chaplains. The doc at the FOB i'm at had been retired for 12 yrs when he decided to come back on active duty a year ago.