Expert: Rod Powers - 1/11/2006

Question
Hello!  I am a U.S. Army Reservist.  I was involuntarily activated on FEB 10th 2003.  I just got off of active duty in AUG 2005.  Yes that's right, 2005.  Luckily I wasn't sent overseas.  I went to a mobilization site and helped prepare soldiers to go overseas.  I have heard that a soldier cannot be involuntarily activated for more than 24 months out of every 60 months.  Basically 2 years out of every 5.  I also heard that it can be in bits and pieces, or all together like mine was.  Can anyone confirm this?  If so, where can I print out the proof so that I can keep it with me?  Also, I have heard that if you ETS is less than a year away, you cannot be activated and sent overseas, you have to be stationed somewhere in the states.  Can anyone confirm these things that I have heard?  If so, please tell me where I can get proof as well

                                                                                                  Thank You


Answer
Hi Adam,

For a "partial mobilization," (which is technically what is going on right now), Federal law only prohibits calling up for longer than 24 months at a time.

Technically, one could be called up for 24 months, released, then recalled for another 24 months.

However, shortly after the invasion of Iraq, in response to Congressional pressure about this, the Department of Defense (Secretary of Defense) announced a policy that stated that Reservists would not be involuntarily called up for more than 24 months (total) during a single enlistment period (Reserve enlistments are normally six years).

That policy remains in effect today, but I've never been able to find it written in any DoD Directive (I suspect it's in a policy letter, which are generally not available on the Internet).  The policy is, however, discussed in several Congressional testimonies.

If your ETS is less than a 12 months away, you can most certainly be activated and deployed.  This is what "Stop Loss" is all about.  A military member (active or reserve) cannot separate, during any period of Stop-Loss.  Right now, one is under Stop-Loss once they or their unit is notified of deployment, and comes off Stop-Loss 90 days upon return from deployment.  I've known Reservists who's ETS was only a month or two away, who were Stop-Lossed, activated, and deployed to Iraq for 12 months.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my military information website at:  http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com