"If you were 90 days from getting out, they could say whether or not you
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"Stop loss involves placing orders to prevent certain MOS (military occupational specialities) from retiring from duty, returning from combat, or leaving active duty."
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As of 2011, 120,000 soldiers have been redeployed beyond their enlistment period. This is due to the stop-loss policy which ensures that there will be experienced troops fighting in the war by causing soldiers to stay in the military past their enlistment and went into effect shortly after the 9/11 attacks.
Soldiers share different opinions on the fairness of this program. Some believe that it has unnecessarily harmed soldiers and their families because of fear of losing troops during the times of anticipated terrorist attacks whereas others believe that it is necessary because of how valuable their skill is to the military.
The program was condemned to being called the “back-door draft” by the soldiers who were not in favor of this program because they believed it was a discreet way of forcing service members into staying in the military and thought that the freedom they were fighting for was being violated.
Soldiers share different opinions on the fairness of this program. Some believe that it has unnecessarily harmed soldiers and their families because of fear of losing troops during the times of anticipated terrorist attacks whereas others believe that it is necessary because of how valuable their skill is to the military.
The program was condemned to being called the “back-door draft” by the soldiers who were not in favor of this program because they believed it was a discreet way of forcing service members into staying in the military and thought that the freedom they were fighting for was being violated.
"I know several soldiers who were stop-lossed including me. The reactions vary. Some soldiers get angry, some see it as no big deal since the skill they have is deemed critical. They only thing about stop loss is that it prevents soldiers from returning from combat when planned or from leaving the military as scheduled."
J.K., Iraq Military Doctor
J.K., Iraq Military Doctor
"It is done to prevent the loss of critical specialties in times of war. A critical specialty may vary, but might include for example, doctors, aviation, special ops, etc. It may include any special skill set the military deems in short supply and critical to combat or other missions." J.K., Iraq Military Doctor
"Stop loss benefits the military in that they can keep certain critical special skills when needed, when it suits the mission. ON the other hand, it does make for some ill-will among some soldiers, but again, the needs of the mission come first, so stop loss is not a big deal to me."
J.K., Iraq Military Doctor |
"Soldiers are being worked to the bone and abused by the stop-loss process."
Army Spec. Garett Reppenhagan "The stop-loss policy is unfair, a violation of the basic principle of contracts. People should
serve their time, and that should be it." Jules Lobel, Attorney of eight soldiers who tried to challenge the process in 2004 “The policy was supposed to be used during times in which the Pentagon needed as
many troops as possible.” Larry Shaughnessy, CNN Pentagon Producer |
Stop-Loss
Bailey Adolph
Senior Division Webpage
Senior Division Webpage