tmedlin: blog 
tmedlin's blog
over 1200 troops re-enlist today in baghdad!
Published Jul. 4, 2008
BAGHDAD (AFP) - More than 1,200 US troops serving in Iraq signed up for extended service in the military to mark America's national day on Friday.
At least 1,215 troops re-enlisted for periods ranging from two to six years at the ceremony held at the spacious Al-Faw palace of executed dictator Saddam Hussein near Baghdad airport.
General David Petraeus, the head of US-led coalition forces in Iraq, said he was "proud of their decision to re-enlist and help the people of Iraq win their most important battle ... freedom."
The US military has regularly re-enlisted service members in Iraq but Friday's swearing-in was one of the largest, the military said.
More than five years after the invasion that toppled Saddam, US-led forces are still battling to stabilise the violence-wracked country.
The US military has lost 4,113 personnel since the March 2003 invasion, according to independent website www.icasualties.org.
But it says that overall violence has now fallen to its lowest levels since the invasion.
There is still hope for this country...
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Where I was going earlier was that I agree that nobody (well, pretty much nobody) makes the decision to reup just for a bonus, but speaking from experience, if I were going to reup anyway, I'd do it where it did me the most good, if that makes any sense. For a lot of these guys, doing it over there is the difference between getting a SRB and not getting one, and with what they're paid every extra bit helps.
Hope that didn't come across wrong.
GOLO member since July 4, 2008
July 4, 2008 8:10 p.m.
GOLO member since August 22, 2007
July 4, 2008 6:58 p.m.
GOLO member since July 4, 2008
July 4, 2008 6:12 p.m.
GOLO member since September 1, 2007
July 4, 2008 5:03 p.m.
Also, the selective SRB only being available to certain MOSes factor does not apply in combat zones. Troops re-upping in combat zones are qualified for SRBs regardless of MOS, as well as BEAR bonuses. SRBs are also taxable for regular troops, but not for troops who are in a combat zone when they are awarded.
So, for troops that were going to reenlist anyway, the program is a powerful incentive to do so while they are still in Iraq, etc. Those disinclined to reenlist are still stuck there due to stop-loss orders, so it's really a mixed bag.
GOLO member since July 4, 2008
July 4, 2008 4:51 p.m.
Would have been nice to have been deployed when I opted for the Redux retirement plan. Would have saved me $7K in taxes.
GOLO member since December 23, 2007
July 4, 2008 4:49 p.m.
The Bonus "Zone" is simply the amount of time the person has been in the military:
Zone A -- Soldiers who re-enlist with between 17 months and 6 years of service.
Zone B -- Soldiers, who -- at the time of re-enlistment -- have between 6 years and 10 years of service. Zone C -- Soldiers who re-enlist with between 10 and 14 years of service. The formula to compute the bonus amount is:
(BONUS MULTIPLIER) X (MONTHLY BASE PAY) X (NUMBER OF YEARS RE-ENLISTING FOR)
Bonuses are paid in Lump Sum, at the time of re-enlistment.
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/bonus/blarrenlistbonusinventory.htm
GOLO member since September 1, 2007
July 4, 2008 4:29 p.m.
GOLO member since June 12, 2008
July 4, 2008 4:16 p.m.
GOLO member since July 25, 2007
July 4, 2008 3:57 p.m.
Give me a break! Reread my comment...did I say they only reenlist for bonuses? NO. Nor did I imply it.
GOLO member since March 18, 2008
July 4, 2008 3:53 p.m.
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