A cousin who is a veteran got a letter from the Army

[Ilsa]

telling him they want him to re-up, even though he's 60, sick, and partially disabled. He said other career army, now retired, are getting letters trying to call them up for service.

Is this typical, or is the military this desperate?

[Skittles]

1. for sure recruiting has likely nosedived

who the fuck would want to risk their lives for Netanyahu and Trump?

[mountain grammy]

3. You'd think so but numbers are way up.

Many sources, many reasons.

[Wounded Bear]

4. When the economy sucks, recruitment goes up...nt

[Wounded Bear]

5. When the economy sucks, recruitment goes up...nt

[Melon]

14. 2025 was the strongest in 15 years...

It’s only released annually, but it typically goes up during conflict.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. That's odd

[Norrrm]

6. Some people find it difficult to enlist

Tom DeLay and Dan Quayle military service

He and Quayle, DeLay explained to the assembled media in New Orleans, were victims of an unusual phenomenon back in the days of the undeclared Southeast Asian war. So many minority youths had volunteered for the well-paying military positions to escape poverty and the ghetto that there was literally no room for patriotic folks like himself. Satisfied with the pronouncement, which dumbfounded more than a few of his listeners who had lived the sixties, DeLay marched off to the convention.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/1999/05/what_did_you_do_in_the_war_hammer.html

[usonian]

7. I'll re-enlist in the Coast Guard once it's rid of DHS.

Working on my knots.

And by the way.

DRAFT ICE

• They are already "trained" (in random violence against civilians. Checks one box)

• Bonespur "victims" have already been weeded out.

• They are already government employees and must go where assigned. (saves TONS of paperwork)

• They already have weapons, and unspent budget money.
• They already have swell masks to protect from radioactive dust that bombing reactors creates.

• They (probably) already have military haircuts, and (this is big)
• Their kill to loss ratio is infinite.

Oh, and ...

• It's them or Barron. 



Danes Agree, YES, DANES!

[Dunc]

17. The Coast Guard is an amazing branch of the military.

I had a friend who was stationed in the Great Lakes.We enlisted both in high school back in 84. I joined the army he went off to cape May if i remember correctly.
Been years since we’ve spoken yet i think he was on a tender.

[displacedvermoter]

29. When stationed at Langley AFB in Virginia

met many Coast Guard personnel, and they all really loved their work, their quality of life, and the support they got from the service.

Always thought if I had one thing to redo, it would be I would join Coast Guard.

[Dunc]

30. Absolutely.

I do remember my friend telling me of rescues they had done in the Great Lakes. So honorable to serve your country in that capacity and to save lives.

[displacedvermoter]

33. Their ships, equipment and training were

always top notch, I imagine because they had a practical mission tied to supporting commerce and transportation. They really earned their keep!

[usonian]

36. Cape May in December is to remember (NOT!)

[Sequoia]

37. Agree, get the ICE guys on the ship.

By the way, your beer pic looks refreshing.

[haele]

8. I'll let you know if my spouse or I get one.

But I don't think that's something they would want, unless they're looking for certain MOS types and using AI to find qualified personnel.

There's a lot of conditions AI might miss, like a possible disqualifying status (type of discharge, retired status or disability retirement) or age (over 60).

[Dan]

9. Do you know if he is retired military?

A friend of mine that was retired military was sent a letter asking him if he wanted to return to active duty during the first ME fiasco. He said NO.

[Ilsa]

23. Cousin is not retired military. He is a vet with disability. nt

[Buddyzbuddy]

10. He really wants to turn us into Russia.

[rubbersole]

11. It's working so far.

[SSJVegeta]

12. ...?

That doesnt make any sense. Especially if they haven't activated the IRR yet.

(Ie: This young, very not-disabled Army vet has yet to receive anything similar)

Just googled that some people have received fraudulent letters which are scams.

[jfz9580m]

13. Good grief

Is it that desperate?
I found out yesterday that a young couple I know in the ME is close enough to the war zone that they can hear it . So scary..

[Tesha]

15. There is a scam going around

scammers are targeting veterans with fake, high-dollar recruitment offers

[LogDog75]

16. The letter is probably asking him to voluntarily to return

From what I know, as a retired AF SNCO, is the military will first ask for people to reenlist for up to two years. IF they don't get enough people to reenlist then they can go to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). From when I was active duty, when you enlisted you volunteered to commit to at least eight years. If you serve only one enlistment, when you leave the service you go into the IRR until your military obligation is completed. If you voluntarily or are involuntarily recalled you return with the rank you retired or were at when you separated, and the pay, housing/subsistence, and medical benefits, the extra time served is applied to your retirement pay, etc.. The drawback is you aren't eligible for promotion.

Most likely all he has to do is return the letter saying No.

I retired after 28 years and I served two years in the IRR to meet the 30 year commitment they said I had. No problem in that I never heard anything from the AF concerning whether they needed me again.

During the first Gulf War, I knew a Master Sergeant who retired just before Iraq invaded Kuwait. He was a medic and during his career he tried but never got to cross-train to become an independent duty medical technician which would make him the primary caregiver to a small unit or detachment. Once the Gulf War revved up the AF contacted him and asked him to return to active duty. He asked if they would make him an independent duty medical technician and they said no so he said no and stayed retired.

[Ilsa]

24. Thank you, that explains alot. nt

[wnylib]

35. My nephew completed 4 years in the Air Force.

After his discharge, he settled into civilian life with a job, family, and home. He later got called up for active duty in Iraq. AFAIK, he did not have an option to say no.

[Blue Full Moon]

18. Desperate they aren't telling truth

[Jacson6]

19. They can call back Retired Officers and NCO's.

But they rarely do.

[Kaleva]

20. This has been going on since 2024

https://starrs.us/army-seeking-retirees-to-come-back-to-work-amid-manpower-crisis/

[Kid Berwyn]

21. "You're gonna love Tehran!"

Making the world safe for Gangster Capital.

[Vinca]

22. Trolling for cannon fodder. The Orange King must have big plans.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

25. My late husband was Retired Military.

Had he lived, he would have been 81.

NO FUCKING WAY would he re-enlist. RETIRED means RETIRED! He put in his 22 total years.

Donald Trump, Petey H., Lindsey Graham, and Marco Rubio can go fuck themselves and the elephants they rode in on.

[travelingthrulife]

26. They could send all the ICE Cowards. They already have the outfits and weapons.

[underpants]

27. I'll see if I get one.

[Lovie777]

28. That's what Russia is doing as well as recruiting criminals from prison..............

that's pretty weird tho and quite concerning regarding the US.

This administration is not normal but evil.

[True Dough]

32. Well, if the U.S. begins tapping into the criminal population to serve in the military

there are plenty of them to be found in the Trump administration!

[surfered]

31. Have not heard this from any of my fellow veterans. Trump's DOD knows better than to waste a stamp on me.

[Woodwizard]

34. That sounds odd

I would be looking for a scam. I have a hard time believing the Army is trying to pull in people at that age.

I just was at th VA for my physical came out perfect no meds same age never heard anything about call ups.

I never got one for Iraq either.