2008 Woodie Awards
Letters To The Editor
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Commentary
Stop-Loss Clause A Vital Military Reality
The article printed recently ("Students Join Iraq Protests," March 28) leaves several things unclear or undefined. The article fails to even mention or discuss the actual stop-loss clause that is in every military contract signed, and leaves readers with the misconception that stop-loss is a creation of the Bush administration.
The clause, in every military contract, allows the US government to extend service contracts in a time of war. The clause is explained in its entirety numerous times to any individual who decides to join the military before signing any contract. Every initial service contract is for eight years, regardless of how many years are served on active duty. It reads, "In the event of war, my enlistment in the Armed Forces continues until six months after the war ends, unless the enlistment is ended sooner by the President of the United States." An enlisted person is therefore liable for eight years of service, unless in a time a war, where the contract can be involuntarily extended.
The article incorrectly states that the orders prevent soldiers from returning home after their tour of duty, as if the Army was requiring soldiers without a current contract to stay behind after their units leave the combat zone. The reasoning behind these orders is to prevent a unit from losing experienced individuals that are vital for completing the unit mission. Stop-loss has existed since after the Vietnam Conflict, and was used for deployments in Desert Storm, Kosovo, Bosnia and other conflicts throughout the 1990s. With regard to stop-losses legality, federal courts have ruled that anyone joining the military agrees that their contract may be extended involuntarily.
The bottom line is that everyone is aware of this clause when they sign. Signing and then believing that it will never be used is extremely ignorant. If you volunteer for the military, you accept the terms of the contract, including stop-loss.
The article printed recently ("Students Join Iraq Protests," March 28) leaves several things unclear or undefined. The article fails to even mention or discuss the actual stop-loss clause that is in every military contract signed, and leaves readers with the misconception that stop-loss is a creation of the Bush administration.
The clause, in every military contract, allows the US government to extend service contracts in a time of war. The clause is explained in its entirety numerous times to any individual who decides to join the military before signing any contract. Every initial service contract is for eight years, regardless of how many years are served on active duty. It reads, "In the event of war, my enlistment in the Armed Forces continues until six months after the war ends, unless the enlistment is ended sooner by the President of the United States." An enlisted person is therefore liable for eight years of service, unless in a time a war, where the contract can be involuntarily extended.
The article incorrectly states that the orders prevent soldiers from returning home after their tour of duty, as if the Army was requiring soldiers without a current contract to stay behind after their units leave the combat zone. The reasoning behind these orders is to prevent a unit from losing experienced individuals that are vital for completing the unit mission. Stop-loss has existed since after the Vietnam Conflict, and was used for deployments in Desert Storm, Kosovo, Bosnia and other conflicts throughout the 1990s. With regard to stop-losses legality, federal courts have ruled that anyone joining the military agrees that their contract may be extended involuntarily.
The bottom line is that everyone is aware of this clause when they sign. Signing and then believing that it will never be used is extremely ignorant. If you volunteer for the military, you accept the terms of the contract, including stop-loss.
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