Ok, for one this article sounds as if the end of the world is coming and I wouldn't doubt it if this author hasn't tried writing other articles about global warming, global cooling and other b.s. articles that make people think that America is going down the pooper. If this author would have even researched the Military he would have talked about the

The Individual Ready Reserve ("IRR") which is a category of the Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States composed of former active duty or reserve military personnel, and is authorized under 10 U.S.C. ch.1005. As of June 22, 2004, the IRR had approximately 112,000 members (does not include all service IRR populations) composed of enlisted personnel and officers, with more than 200 Military Occupational Specialties are represented, including combat arms, combat support, and combat service support.

"Presidential Reserve Callup Authority" (PRCA) is a Provision of a public law (US Code, Title 10 (DOD), section 12304) that provides the President a means to activate, without a declaration of national emergency, not more than 200,000 members of the Selected Reserve and the Individual Ready Reserve (of whom not more than 30,000 may be members of the Individual Ready Reserve), for not more than 400 days to meet the support requirements of any operational mission.

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Ok, basically what I am getting at is that since the author did not do his research, they are basically tagging along with all the other political idiots that think we are going to need to re-instate the draft and all this other b.s. which is completely overated b.s.

By the way author, when you sign a four year military contract you are really signing an eight year contract which is explained to you when you sign the contract. So basically you do four years "active" and four years "IRR"

Oh yea and one more point for the author. Just because you have a Ph.D. in political science from MIT and were the foreign and defense policy adviser to Congressman Les Aspin doesn't qualify you to write articles that use scare tactics and increase the aniexty of half the viewers who read your articles. If America's military would be going down the tube it would be because of so called "experts" such as you that give advice to idiotic congress representatives that have the finally say in things. Example, when Les Aspin called for a "reduced force structure still capable of fighting and winning two simultaneous major regional conflicts". "Forces would include 10 active Army divisions; 11 carrier battle groups, 45 to 55 attack submarines, and about 345 ships; 5 active Marine brigades; and 13 active and 7 reserve Air Force fighter wings". (Did you help in this?)

Kaplan's article increased your anxiety? lol

They already have been recalling the IRR. It's not well publicized, but it's been going on since at least 2004, quite possibly earlier.

They are even attempting to recall veterans who have been medically classified as disabled.

While the author of the article may have some of the math wrong, I think the idea that the Army is very close to the manpower breaking point is a valid one.

Your right SGTRJ!!

I have been working out here at the NTC (National Training Center) for over 8yrs and have seen the all types of units come and go from active duty, reserve, guard, special forces to name a few and on occasion I run into some people who retired and now are put back into duty after serving 20yrs. These 20 yrs vets tell me that they have a choice go back or loose there retirement when we were all told do your 20 and you set for life what a crock. So I guess it’s true what they mean what USARMY TAG stands for on the uniform (Uncle Sam Ain’t Release Me Yet).