N.C. Military Mom Arrives at Fort Benning with Kids

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

NC military mom arrives at Fort Benning with kids

By TOM FOREMAN Jr. (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
March 01, 2009 11:55 PM EST
DAVIDSON, N.C. - A North Carolina woman who was recalled to the Army four years after being honorably discharged drove nearly 400 miles and braved a Southeastern winter storm to report for duty Sunday, with her children by her side. Lisa Pagan said she reported in Sunday night at Fort Benning after a trying drive. "It was snowing, driving was a little uncomfortable," she said in a telephone interview. "Got a little scary, but I had to be careful."

Pagan is among thousands of former service members who have left active duty since the Sept. 11 attacks, only to be recalled to service. They're not in training, they're not getting a Defense Department salary, but as long as they have time left on their original enlistment contracts, they're on "individual ready reserve" status - eligible to be recalled at any time.

Pagan filed several appeals, arguing that because her husband travels for business, no one else can take care of her kids. All were rejected, leaving Pagan to choose between deploying to Iraq and abandoning her family, or refusing her orders and potentially facing charges. Pagan, whose job was truck driving during her first military stint, said it would likely be Monday morning before she knows what happens next. "I think our ultimate goal is to be honorably discharged," she said.

- snip -

Of the 25,000 individual ready reserve troops recalled since September 2001, more than 7,500 have been granted deferments or exemptions, O'Donnell said. About 1,000 have failed to report. O'Donnell most of those cases are still under investigation, while 360 soldiers have been separated from the Army either through "other than honorable" discharges or general discharges.

Read more: http://enews.earthlink.net/article/nat?guid=20090301/49aa2460_3ca6_1552620090301-1910233701

[northofdenali]

1. As honorable spouse says:

TAKE ME, TAKE MY KIDS.

She did what she was ordered to do. She showed up. Gutsy - I'd love to know her.

My new boss (finally got a job) may be called up, too - and he'd be in basically the same shape as a single father of 3.

[damntexdem]

13. Hey, the Army might send to kids to Iraq, too.

They're just filling spots with warm bodies -- no concern for an individual's capacity to go.

[bertman]

2. If anybody gets a deferment it should be this woman. Lisa Pagan, MotherTrucker

of the Army.

Sounds like quite a woman.

[TexasLawyer]

3. Join the military at your peril

This story is a huge ANTI-recruiting ad. Too bad there are so many of them.

[pasto76]

4. she might not be able to get out of this

specifically if she still falls under the time committment to the individual ready reserve (IRR). Family care plans are mandatory for all soldiers with children. That involves next of kin stuff and designated guardians.

Hopefulyl a few terms of normal people in Office will erase all of the bad reasons to not enlist. There are good reasons now too, although they are outshadowed (if not outright outwieghed) by current events.

SGT PASTO

[antimatter98]

5. No sympathy. She 'signed up' to protect America, knew what she was doing. n/t

[LostinVA]

8. And she served -- the IRR needs to be handled better

[rainbow4321]

6. CNN anchor said last night that the mom cancelled an inteview at the last minute

After advised to do so "by her lawyer". Base officials said that the mom and kids had arrived at the base, that officials would be addressing the fact that she brought her kids with her, and that (paraphrasing) they would do what they thought would be in the best interest of the kids.

[RantinRavin]

7. If she had time left and was in the IRR,

then she had not been honorably discharged as the OP stated. You do not receive your discharge papers until your complete time is over.

[mr1956]

9. Not true

She got her papers four years ago but the Irregular Ready Reserve troops are subject to be called back into the military. I've heard of soldiers doing 4 years active duty and 2 years of regular reserve which is different from what's going on here.

I got my honorable discharge in 1981 and got a letter a few years later about the IRR.

[Winterblues]

10. I think you are mistaken

I think you are confusing "separation Papers" with "Discharge Papers" While you can be separated from the military you still have time remaining on your original contract and usually are in some sort of "Reserve" capacity. Either Active Reserve or inactive reserve but still in Reserve. Once you have received an actual Discharge, whether Honorable, Dishonorable, or General you are out and not subject to recall at all. Recall at that point would be the equivalent of a Draft.

[Wildewolfe]

11. I got my DD214 and honorable discharge

at the end of active duty and still had several years of IRR left. I did national guard for another 2 years and got another DD214 and honorable discharge and still had 2 years of IRR left. Course this was a long time ago.

DD214 btw for those that don't know is the discharge proof of service and what type of discharge (honorable etc).

[Winterblues]

12. I received my DD-214 two years before I received my Honorable Discharge

I received my DD-214 when I separated from Active Duty along with my Separation Papers but I was not Discharged, that came in the mail years later. Once I had that Honorable Discharge Document/Certificate there is no way I could have been Recalled.