The Marines Are Looking For A Few Old Men...

So I see on the TeeVee news that the US Marines are planning to issue an involuntary recall of a few thousand jarheads who have done their active duty time, but who are now in IRR (Individual Ready Reserve) status.

Some in Congress are calling this a 'Backdoor Draft'. Yes, it seems as though someone has a draft up their back door. Basically, the Congress Critter known as McCain is blowing smoke up your jaxie. There's your 'Backdoor Draft'.

See, people who were not in the US military don't understand. You enlist for a certain period of time - in my day, it was six years, but they changed that to eight years a long time ago. You further agree to serve a minimum of X years on active duty (could be 3, 4, or 6, depending on your military specialty, training to be received, guaranteed promotions, and other stuff) and the remainder either in the Reserve (you drill two weekends a month and two weeks every year) or in the IRR, in which case you just have remain available for call-up.

And that's the point. Everyone the Marines are planning to call up are members of the IRR, and they AGREED to be called up if needed. And they're needed, apparently. This is not a draft, and the only thing 'involuntary' about it is that the Marines being called back are not stepping forward and saying "Take me!" They already 'volunteered' when they signed their enlistment papers.

All this said, when we saw this on the TeeVee news, Mrs. Wiggy gave me the hairy eyeball. I hastened to explain to her that my IRR days ended long ago - in 1985! Twenty one years (has it really been that long?) and 70 or so pounds later, I'm not likely to be on anyone's short list to be called up and given a pickle suit, a bad haircut, a boom stick, and a designated field of fire.

But Mrs. Wiggy knows me well. She sighed, looked at me, and said, "Yeah, but if the Marines called and said they wanted you back, you'd go, wouldn't you?"

You bet I would. Semper Fi, Baby.

I'm just old and fat. I never stopped being a Marine.

Is that a backdoor draft I feel? McCain, knock it off! Tickles.

Smooches,

Wiggy
MP Co, HQ Bn, 1st MarDiv, Camp Pendleton, CA (1979-1985)