WASHINGTON -- The Army will substantially reduce use of the unpopular practice of holding troops beyond their enlistment dates and will pay $500 to those still forced to stay in the service.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Wednesday that he had approved the plan for cutting the use of so-called "stop-loss" except in extraordinary circumstances.

Some critics have called "stop-loss" a backdoor draft because it keeps troops in the military beyond their retirement or re-enlistment dates. But the military has said it's a necessary tool to keep unit cohesion in times of war and to keep soldiers with certain skills needed in those units.

Under the plan approved by Gates, the Army Reserve in August will begin mobilizing units that don't include stop-loss soldiers and the Guard in September will do the same, a senior Army official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the policy.

The active duty Army is to deploy its first unit without stop-loss in January, he said.

Rep. John Murtha said Wednesday that the military also has agreed to begin $500 monthly payments to troops still forced to stay in service beyond their retirement or enlistment terms.

"I have said repeatedly that stop-loss is little more than a backdoor draft, disrupting the lives of our service members and their families," Murtha said in a statement.

Though the practice has been virtually ended in all other service branches, the Army said it still needed to use it because of the severe strain it has been under fighting the two ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There are currently some 13,000 troops being held beyond their exit times.

The intent is to cut the number of stop-loss soldiers in half by sometime next year, and to eventually stop the use of the program when it is feasible.

One official said they believe they can gradually reduce the number of stop-loss soldiers because of the drawdown in Iraq, because the Army has grown and because they are changing the way new units rotate -- something that gives units scheduled for combat more time to get the people with the skills they need as opposed to holding in service soldiers who have that skill.

According to the documents, 1 percent of the Army is affected by the forced extensions. As of January, the roughly 13,000 soldiers included 7,300 active duty Army, about 4,450 in the Guard and 1,450 reservists.

Under the new plan, the $500-per-month payments will be made retroactive to last Oct. 1 and are scheduled to be distributed soon, according to Pentagon documents. Payments before were not possible, officials said, because Congress did not appropriate funds for that. The costs for the payments for the budget year that began Oct. 1, 2008, are about $72 million.

The payments are planned to soften the effects of the practice, which makes it impossible for troops to make lasting work and family plans.

I got excited for a minute. My son is one of those. Thing is it says "if they can't be replaced". I sooo hope he can. But he is being trained in something they need him for. He hopes that he gets to come home in September with some of those that do.
Thank gosh...this is finally happening. He says that the recruitment is way up. It began to rise in Oct, Nov, Dec. They have even lowered the enlistment bonus's.

Kat

If they need more troops they should reinstate the draft

The core values of the young now would make that a disaster. it's not like in the 60s.

your probably right, I can hear 'em cryin now

Geesh, I have a lot more faith in our young people than that.

There are still some good young folks out there, but from what I see day to day, they are the minority these days

As I mentioned...enlistment is way up. I am sure the money is a big factor...but it would not surprise me to see a draft reinstated.

Maybe the military would do these out of control spoiled lazy kids some good.

Kat

at least they would learn how to wear their trousers properly and stop that stupid "sagging" and how to put a hat on straight

As someone who was formally in the military I can tell you if you have good skills when your enlistment is up they will throw you gold bars to keep you as long as they can.They offered me a $15,000 bonus just to stay another 2 years,any school I wanted,plus any command I wanted,and we weren't even at war.A lot of these stories about these guys who are past their enlistment are there because they have a good post and want the extra money.The only time they complain is when they get sent to a bad post and can't go home because they signed a extention on their contract.It's old news.It is also explained in detail when you enlist in the military that they may keep you longer than your contract in times of war because of national security.

Really all this bill is saying is that there is no more negotating extentions on contracts and you would probably have to sign a 4 or 6 year contract if you wanted to stay in the military.

Do you mean they will give you the money it would cost to recriut and train someone for your job. That $15,000 saves them money and it not because you are all that!!!!!! They offer most any rate or rank a retention bonous!!!!! IT SAVES MONEY they are not doing it just for you!!!!