Posted on 07/09/2007 8:16:14 AM PDT by Kaslin
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A Florida soldier who enlisted after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks plans to sue the military, fighting his fifth order to combat, according to a Local 6 report.
Twenty-six-year-old Erik Botta, who is a Port St. Lucie reservist, signed up for the service days after the Sept. 11 attacks. He did a tour in Afghanistan and three in Iraq, but he said enough is enough.
(Excerpt) Read more at local6.com ...
I’m gonna sue the company I work for because I’m tired of them making me work Fridays
Enlisted in 9/2001. So he’s had at least one re-enlistment....
He wasn't drafted. I wonder if he is a combat soldier or support staff who would rather stay home and go to school. Either way we thank him for his service.
I'm not sure how that works, but a less than honorable discharge at this point would be a clear injustice.
I am sympathetic to long, extended or multiple deployments.
However, I have no sympathy for someone going legal with it. I will lend a sympathetic ear until then, but...
I hope he crashes and burns with his case.
I think that today some hitches can be for 8 years.
“Enlisted in 9/2001. So he’s had at least one re-enlistment....”
Not necessarily. The Article say he is a reservist now.
After you do your initial enlistment, you move to active reserve, and then inactive reserve over the course of the next 8 years or so. Once you enlist your not completely finished until you complete all your reserve duties.
Agreed. He’s more than fulfilled his duty. FIVE TIMES? Come on...
It’s rather strange though, that’s being deployed every year since 9/11/01.
To some extent, I understand where this soldier is coming from. Reservists and National Guard should not be deployed as often as the regular army. Instead, we should have built up the regular army after 9-11.
The Cold War “peace dividend” is killing us by making us dip into our reserves too often. Guys like this can’t start a civilian career because they don’t spend enough stateside before getting shipped out again.
If the guy wanted to be a full time soldier, he would have signed up as one. Two, three deployments in an emergency... OK. But this many?
Build the regular army, dammit!
I heard on the Sean Hannity Radio Show that enlistment and re-enlistment numbers are through the roof. Why would this have to happen?
Things have changed since I was in.........We were active duty 4-years and 2 years inactive reserve. After that you’re a free man.......
Yeah I know. My comment was sarcasm
Uh-oh...Here comes the keyboard commandoes from Ft. LivingRoom...
After you do 4 combat tours, and then get called up for a 5th, you can rip on this guy. Until then, why don't you keep your mouth shut.
You’re damn right he’s done his time. Let’s let some of the Iraqi military fill in for him this time how about?Since it’s their country and this would be the guy’s FIFTH deployment maybe one of them would be willing to take his place this time !!!
When you are a reserve you are subject to call up at the pleasure of the service. If you don't know that going in, you were less than dilligent in considering your term of service.
As for "less than honorable," the story does not indicate, nor does he seem to be saying, that he will refuse deployment. I suspect that he will not do so and that he may receive a deferral from the service due to his college program. Of course he may not and I am fairly sure that a Court will not interfer with his deployment.
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